Leviticus 10:1-7

Leviticus 10:1-7

[1] And Nadab  and Abihu,  the sons  of Aaron,  took  either  of them his censer,  and put  fire  therein,  and put  incense  thereon, and offered  strange  fire  before  the LORD,  which he commanded  [2] And there went out  fire  from the LORD,  and devoured  them, and they died  before  the LORD.  [3] Then Moses  said  unto Aaron,  This is it that the LORD  spake,  saying,  I will be sanctified  in them that come nigh  me, and before  all the people  I will be glorified.  And Aaron  held his peace.  [4] And Moses  called  Mishael  and Elzaphan,  the sons  of Uzziel  the uncle  of Aaron,  and said  unto them, Come near,  carry  your brethren  from before  the sanctuary  out  of the camp.  [5] So they went near,  and carried  them in their coats  out  of the camp;  as Moses  had said.  [6] And Moses  said  unto Aaron,  and unto Eleazar  and unto Ithamar,  his sons,  Uncover  not your heads,  neither rend  your clothes;  lest ye die,  and lest wrath  come upon all the people:  but let your brethren,  the whole house  of Israel,  bewail  the burning  which the LORD  hath kindled.  [7] And ye shall not go out  from the door  of the tabernacle  of the congregation,  lest ye die:  for the anointing  oil  of the LORD  is upon you. And they did  according to the word  of Moses. 

What does Leviticus 10:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Moses did not identify Nadab and Abihu"s exact offense in the text. However the "strange fire" seems most likely to have been an incense offering that somehow violated God"s will. It may have involved assuming the role of the high priest (cf. Hebrews 5:4) or offering incense at a time or in a way contrary to God"s prescription. [1] The incident took place on the eighth day of the priests" inauguration (ch9; cf. Leviticus 10:12; Leviticus 10:16). Perhaps Nadab and Abihu wanted to add to the festivities by offering an additional incense offering. Nevertheless their action constituted disobedience to God"s word regardless of how good its ends might have seemed to them. They acted in the things of God without first seeking the will of God.
This incident should warn modern readers against worshipping God in ways that we prefer because they make us feel "good." We must be careful about worship that is designed to produce effects in the worshipers rather than honoring God. Some forms of contemporary and traditional worship may reflect the selfish spirits of Nadab and Abihu. Such "self-made worship" often has "the appearance of wisdom" ( Colossians 2:23).
The same fire that had sanctified Aaron"s service brought destruction on Nadab and Abihu because they had not sanctified God ( Leviticus 10:2; cf. Exodus 24:17; Numbers 11:1; Numbers 16:35; Deuteronomy 5:22; 1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Kings 1:10; 2 Kings 1:12; Hebrews 12:29). Previously it had fallen only after all the sacrifices had been offered, but now it fell instantly. Then it signified God"s blessing, but now it manifested His judgment. Then the people rejoiced, but now they were silent.
"Just as "the fire that came from before the LORD" had been a sign of God"s approval of the dedication of the tabernacle and the priests in the previous chapter ( Leviticus 9:24), so also "the fire that came from before the LORD" in this chapter ( Leviticus 10:2) was a sign of God"s disapproval. The writer"s clear purpose in putting these two narratives together is to show the importance that God attached to obeying his commands." [2]
Moses explained God"s judgment to Aaron ( Leviticus 10:3). Aaron did not reply apparently because he accepted the rightness of God"s action in judging his sons" sin.
"If we reflect how holy a thing God"s worship Isaiah , the enormity of the punishment will by no means offend us. Besides, it was necessary that their religion should be sanctioned at its very commencement; for if God had suffered the sons of Aaron to transgress with impunity, they would have afterwards carelessly neglected the whole law. This, therefore, was the reason for such great severity, that the priests should anxiously watch against all profanation." [3]
The fire had not consumed Nadab and Abihu but simply killed them. Aaron was not to demonstrate any dissatisfaction with God"s judgment ( Leviticus 10:4-7). God permitted the people to mourn because of the loss the nation experienced in the death of these priests and so they would remember His punishment a long time. The anointing oil symbolized the Spirit of God who gives life. For this oil to have any contact with death was inappropriate.
Eleazar and Ithamar replaced their older brothers, Nadab and Abihu, in a way similar to the way Judah and Levi replaced their older brothers, Reuben and Simeon ( Genesis 49:2-7). In both families, Jacob"s and Aaron"s, the sins of the firstborn and secondborn resulted in God passing over them for blessing. They disqualified themselves from some of the inheritance that could have been theirs had they remained faithful.