1Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire are burned by fire from the Lord. 6Aaron and his sons are forbidden to mourn for them. 8The priests are forbidden wine when they are to go into the tabernacle. 12The law of eating the holy things. 16Aaron's excuse for transgressing it.
1AND Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his 1censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and 2offered 3strange fire 4before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
1 A vessel to kindle frankincense in; so also Num. 16:17. The Hebrew word does likewise signify a snuffdish, Exod. 25:38, and a firepan, Exod. 27:3.
2 Other, brought, that is, intended to offer.
3 Namely, such as was not taken from the holy fire of the tabernacle; of which see Lev. 1 on verse 7 and 6:12.
4 See Lev. 1 on verse 3.
2And there went out fire 5from the LORD, and 6devoured them, and theya died 7before the LORD.
5 See Lev. 9 on verse 24.
6 That is, put them to death, and consumed their life; for, both their garments and their bodies remained entire, and were not consumed by the fire; as appears below by verses 4 and 5.
a Num. 3:4; 26:61; 1 Chron. 24:2.
7 That is, in the court of the tent of the congregation.
3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD 8spake, saying, I will be 9sanctified inb them 10that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron 11held his peace.
8 Compare Lev. 8:35, where mention is made of the punishment of those who would not duly administer their office in the tabernacle.
9 That is, declared holy, namely, by punishing of those who do not observe My laws. So Ezek. 28:22. See the like use of the word justify in Psalm 51:4. God is hallowed likewise when He shows His mercies, and is declared by them kind and merciful, Ezek. 20:41.
b Lev. 8:35.
10 That is, who serve Me in the tabernacle, namely, the priests. See Exod. 19:22; Lev. 21:17; Ezek. 42:13, 14.
11 Not murmuring through impatience against the judgments of God.
4And Moses called 12Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of 13Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your 14brethren from before the sanctuary 15out of the camp.
12 Hebr. Mischaël and Eltsafan.
13 Hebr. Huzziël, the brother of Amram, the father of Aaron and Moses, Exod. 6:18 and Num. 3:19.
14 That is, cousins, for, they and Aaron were brothers’ children, but Nadab and Abihu were a degree further. See Gen. 24 on verse 27.
15 To be buried there.
5So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto 16Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, 17Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, 18and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your 19brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail 20the burning which the LORD hath kindled.
16 Hebr. Elhazar.
17 That is, ye shall not use or express any mourning over Nadab and Abihu, which signs were by going bare-headed and rending of garments, Lev. 13:45; 21:10.
18 Other, and the Lord became very angry with the entire congregation.
19 See Exod. 2 on verse 11.
20 Whereby Nadab and Abihu were burned.
7And yec shall 21not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the 22anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
c Lev. 21:12.
21 Understand, for that present time.
22 See Lev. 8:2, 30.
8¶And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9Do not drink wine nor 23strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, 24when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be 25a statute for ever throughout your generations:
23 The Hebrew word schechar signifies all kinds of drink, whereby men may be made drunk.
24 Namely, to administer your priestly office.
25 Heb. an institution of eternity. See Gen. 13 on verse 15 and Lev. 3:17.
10And that ye may put difference 26between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
26 Understand this in regard, firstly, of the doctrine, as in the next verse, etc., secondly, of the ceremonies, as in Leviticus 11, etc., thirdly, of morals, Leviticus 18, etc.
11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them 27by the hand of Moses.
27 Or, through the ministry. See Lev. 8 on verse 36.
12¶And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it 28without leaven beside the 29altar: for it is most 30holy:
28 Or, unleavened cakes, made of the meal flour of the meat offering which was offered to the LORD; see Lev. 2:1.
29 Namely, of the burnt offering, which stood in the court in front of the door of the tent of the congregation. Compare Lev. 1:3.
30 See Lev. 2 on verse 3.
13And ye shall eat it 31in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: ford so I am commanded.
31 That is, at the altar; in the previous verse, in the court of the Lord. See Lev. 6 on verse 16.
d Lev. 2:3; 6:16.
14And the 32wave breast and 33heave shoulder shall ye eat in a 34clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
32 Hebr. breast of the waving, or, of the wave offering.
33 Hebr. shoulder of elevation, or, lifting up; or, of the heave offering.
34Clean, namely, according to the ceremonial law, which might be anywhere in the camp; for, not only the men, but also the women were permitted to eat thereof. Consequently, this clean place is here to be distinguished from the holy place, mentioned in the previous verse, which was in the court of the Lord.
15The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; 35and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.
35 Or, which shall be an appointed part for thee and thy sons forever. Hebr. for an appointed part of eternity.
16¶And Moses diligently 36sought the 37goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was 38angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,
36 Hebr. seeking sought, that is, he sought most diligently.
37 Which was offered for the sin of the people, Lev. 9:15; understand, for that part of it which belonged to the priest.
38 Namely, for not having administered their office as they ought to, having burnt what they should have eaten.
17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the 39holy place, seeing it is most holy, and 40God hath given it you to 41bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?
39 See verse 13.
40 Or, he; namely, the Lord.
41 See Exod. 28 on verse 38.
18Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the 42holy place: ye should indeed have 43eaten it 44in the holy place, ase I commanded.
42 Hebr. holiness, that is, into the first part of the tabernacle, otherwise called: the holy place, in which this blood ought to have been brought. See Lev. 4:5, 16, which if it had been done, the he-goat must have then been burnt entirely outside the camp. See Lev. 4:12, 21; 6:30; 16:27.
43 Hebr. eating thou must have eaten.
44 That is, near the sanctuary in the court, where was the holy eating-place. See verse 12.
e Lev. 4:5; 6:26; 16:27.
19And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have 45befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been 46accepted in the sight of the LORD?
45 Or: met, or treated; namely, that I lost my two sons Nadab and Abihu and was not permitted to mourn over them, insomuch that I was not able, for grief of heart, to eat of that offering.
46 That is, would that have been pleasing and acceptable to the Lord? Namely, that I, being yet full of grief and sorrow by reason of the judgment upon my two sons, should have eaten of that sin offering with a sad and heavy mind?
20And when Moses heard that, he was content.