Leviticus 10ASV
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Leviticus10

American Standard Version · Public Domain

1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them.

2And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.

3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that Jehovah 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.

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

5So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.

6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend your clothes; that ye die not, and that he be not wroth with all the congregation: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Jehovah hath kindled.

7And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of Jehovah is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

8And Jehovah spake unto Aaron, saying,

9Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10and that ye may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;

11and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Jehovah hath spoken unto them by Moses.

12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meal-offering that remaineth of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy;

13and ye shall eat it in a holy place, because it is thy portion, and thy sons’ portion, of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: for so I am commanded.

14And the wave-breast and the heave-thigh shall ye eat in a clean place, thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they are given as thy portion, and thy sons’ portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the children of Israel.

15The heave-thigh and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, as a portion for ever; as Jehovah hath commanded.

16And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, saying,

17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the place of the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and he hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Jehovah?

18Behold, the blood of it was not brought into the sanctuary within: ye should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.

19And Aaron spake unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before Jehovah; and there have befallen me such things as these: and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, would it have been well-pleasing in the sight of Jehovah?

20And when Moses heard that, it was well-pleasing in his sight.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Leviticus 10.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The sin and death of Nadab and Abihu. (1, 2). Aaron and his sons forbidden to mourn for Nadab and Abihu. (3–7). Wine forbidden to the priests when in the service of the tabernacle. (8–11). Of eating the holy things. (12–20).

vv1-2

Next to Moses and Aaron, none were more likely to be honourable in Israel than Nadab and Abihu. There is reason to think that they were puffed up with pride, and that they were heated with wine. While the people were prostrate before the Lord, adoring his presence and glory, they rushed into the tabernacle to burn incense, though not at the appointed time; both together, instead of one alone, and with fire not taken from the altar. If it had been done through ignorance, they had been allowed to bring a sin-offering. But the soul that doeth presumptuously, and in contempt of God's majesty and justice, that soul shall be cut off. The wages of sin is death. They died in the very act of their sin. The sin and punishment of these priests showed the imperfection of that priesthood from the very beginning, and that it could not shelter any from the fire of God's wrath, otherwise than as it was typical of Christ's priesthood.

vv3-7

The most quieting considerations under affliction are fetched from the word of God. What was it that God spake? Though Aaron's heart must have been filled with anguish and dismay, yet with silent submission he revered the justice of the stroke. When God corrects us or ours for sin, it is our duty to accept the punishment, and say, It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth him good. Whenever we worship God, we come nigh unto him, as spiritual priests. This ought to make us very serious in all acts of devotion. It concerns us all, when we come nigh to God, to do every religious exercise, as those who believe that the God with whom we have to do, is a holy God. He will take vengeance on those that profane his sacred name by trifling with him.

vv8-11

Do not drink wine or strong drink. During the time they ministered, the priests were forbidden it. It is required of gospel ministers, that they be not given to wine, 1Ti 3:3. It is, Lest ye die; die when ye are in drink. The danger of death, to which we are continually exposed, should engage all to be sober.

Cross References

Leviticus 10
v3Exodus 19:22thematic

Priests drawing near to God must sanctify themselves, the exact background warning Moses refers to here.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v1Exodus 30:9thematic

Direct prohibition of offering 'strange incense' on the altar, which Nadab and Abihu violated.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v91 Timothy 3:3thematic

Requirement for ministers to not be given to wine, parallel to the priestly restriction.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v9Ezekiel 44:21thematic

Ezekiel's temple vision reiterates the prohibition against priests drinking wine when entering the inner court.

Supported by John Calvin

v1Leviticus 9:24thematic

The holy fire from heaven just sent by God, which they ignored in favor of common fire.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v2Acts 5:1-11thematic

Ananias and Sapphira represent a parallel New Testament judgment at the start of a new dispensation.

Supported by JFB

v4Exodus 6:18thematic

Genealogy showing Uzziel as Aaron's uncle, identifying Mishael and Elzaphan as cousins/brethren.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v11Malachi 2:7thematic

The priest's lips should keep knowledge, acting as the messenger of the Lord to teach statutes.

Supported by John Calvin

v1Numbers 3:4thematic

Historical recap of Nadab and Abihu dying before the Lord for offering strange fire.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v3Exodus 29:43thematic

God's promise that the tabernacle shall be sanctified by His glory.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v6Leviticus 13:45thematic

Contrasts standard mourning rites like uncovered heads with the restriction placed on Aaron's family.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v7Leviticus 21:12thematic

High priest forbidden from leaving the sanctuary for dead relatives because of the anointing oil.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v12Numbers 18:9thematic

Law of the meal offering and sin offering designated as most holy for Aaron's sons.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v17Exodus 28:38typology

Aaron bearing the iniquity of the holy things, illustrating the priest's role in bearing sin.

Supported by JFB

v19Hosea 9:4thematic

Bread eaten in mourning is defiled; supports Aaron's defense that eating under grief was unacceptable.

Supported by Matthew Poole