Leviticus 10

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 10 of 27

¹ And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each man took his firepan and put fire in them; and they put incense on it and brought strange fire before Jehovah, which He had not commanded them.

² And fire went out from before Jehovah and burned them up; and they died before Jehovah.

³ And Moses said to Aaron, It is that which Jehovah has spoken, saying, I will be sanctified by those drawing near to Me; and I will be honored before all the people. And Aaron was silent.

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Chapter Summary

1 Nadab and Abihu are burned by fire. 8 The priests are forbidden wine when they are in the tabernacle. 12 The law of eating the holy things.

Key Hebrew Words

זוּר strange, unauthorized H2114 · TWOT 542

אֵשׁ fire H784 · TWOT 172

קָדַשׁ be sanctified, treated as holy H6942 · TWOT 1990

חַטָּאת sin offering H2403 · TWOT 638e

כָּפַר make atonement H3722 · TWOT 1024

עָוֺן iniquity H5771 · TWOT 1577a

People & Context

Moses

Interprets the deaths, directs the removal of the bodies, forbids mourning, and confronts Eleazar over the sin offering (vv.3-20).

Aaron

Bereaved father who stays silent, then defends to Moses why the sin offering was not eaten (vv.3,19).

Nadab

Son of Aaron who offered strange fire before Jehovah and was consumed by fire (vv.1-2).

Abihu

Son of Aaron who, with Nadab, offered strange fire and died before Jehovah (vv.1-2).

Jehovah

Sends fire that consumes Nadab and Abihu, and commands the priests concerning wine and holiness (vv.2,8-11).

Eleazar

Surviving son of Aaron, charged with priestly duties; rebuked by Moses over the burned sin offering (vv.6,12,16).

Timeline

Nadab and Abihu's Disobedience and Death

Nadab and Abihu offer 'strange fire' not commanded. Fire from Jehovah consumes them. Moses explains Jehovah's sanctity. Bodies carried outside camp. Aaron and remaining sons forbidden to mourn.

Leviticus 10:1-7

Instructions to Priests After the Tragedy

Command not to drink wine/fermented liquor when serving. Instructions on eating offerings. Moses is angry about the sin offering being burned, not eaten. Aaron explains his fear after the event. Moses accepts.

Leviticus 10:8-20

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