10 2 Nadab and Abihu are burnt. 6 Israel mourneth for them. 9 The Priests are forbidden wine.
1 But (A)Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put incense thereupon, and offered [a]strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.
2 Therefore a fire went out from the Lord, and devoured them: so they died before the Lord.
3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be [b]sanctified in them that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified: but 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 [c]brethren from before the Sanctuary out of the host.
5 Then they went, and carried them in their coats out of the host, as Moses had commanded.
6 After, Moses said unto Aaron and unto Eleazar, and Ithamar his sons, [d]Uncover not your heads, neither rent your clothes, lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, all the house of Israel bewail the burning which the Lord hath [e]kindled.
7 And go not ye 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 Moses’ commandment.
8 ¶ And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 Thou shalt not drink wine nor [f]strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest ye die: this is an ordinance forever throughout your generations,
10 That ye may put difference between the holy and the unholy, and between the clean and the unclean,
11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath commanded them by the [g]hand of Moses.
12 ¶ Then Moses said unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and to Ithamar his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:
13 And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy duty and thy son’s duty of the offerings of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded.
14 Also the (B)shaken breast and the [heave] shoulder shall ye eat in a [h]clean place: thou, and thy sons, and thy [i]daughters with thee: for they are given as thy [j]duty and thy son’s duty, of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.
15 The heave shoulder, and the shaken breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to shake it to and fro before the Lord, and it shall be thine and thy sons with thee by a law forever, as the Lord hath commanded.
16 ¶ And Moses sought the goat that was offered for sin, and lo, it was burnt: therefore he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the sons of Aaron, which were [k]left alive, saying,
17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most Holy? and God hath given it you, to bear the iniquity of the Congregation, to make an atonement for them before the Lord.
18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought within the holy place: ye should have eaten it in the holy place, (C)as I commanded.
19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day [l]have they offered their sin offering, and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things as thou knowest are come unto me: If I had eaten the sin offering today, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?
20 So when Moses heard it, he was [m]content.
Footnotes
- Leviticus 10:1 Not taken of the altar, which was sent from heaven, and endured till the captivity of Babylon.
- Leviticus 10:3 I will punish them that serve me otherwise than I have commanded, not sparing the chief, that the people may fear and praise my judgments.
- Leviticus 10:4 Or, cousins.
- Leviticus 10:6 As though ye lamented for them, preferring your carnal affection to God’s just judgment, Lev. 19:18; Deut. 14:1.
- Leviticus 10:6 In destroying Nadab and Abihu the chief, and menacing the rest, except they repent.
- Leviticus 10:9 Or, drink that maketh drunk.
- Leviticus 10:11 Or, commission.
- Leviticus 10:14 Or, where is no uncleanness.
- Leviticus 10:14 For the breast and shoulders of the peace offerings might be brought to their families, so that their daughters might eat of them, as also of the offerings of firstfruits, the firstborn, and the Easter lamb, Read Lev. 22:12,13.
- Leviticus 10:14 Or, right or portion.
- Leviticus 10:16 And not consumed as Nadab and Abihu.
- Leviticus 10:19 That is, Nadab and Abihu.
- Leviticus 10:20 Moses bare with his infirmity, considering his great sorrow, but doth not leave an example to forgive them that maliciously transgress the commandment of God.