Now1
Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his censer, put fire in
it, and laid incense on it; and they offered unholy fire before the
Lord, such as he had not commanded them.2
And fire came out from the presence of the Lord3
and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.4
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘Through those who are near me I will show myself holy,5 and before all the people I will be glorified.’”6 And Aaron was silent.7
Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come forward, and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside8 the camp.” They came forward and carried them by their tunics9 out of the camp, as Moses had ordered.
And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation;10 but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn11 the burning that the Lord has sent. You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, or you will die;12 for the anointing oil of the Lord is on you.” And they did as Moses had ordered.13
And the Lord spoke to Aaron:14 Drink no wine or strong drink,15 neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common,16 and between the unclean and the clean;17 and you are to teach18 the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.
Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: “Take the grain offering that is left from the Lord’s offerings by fire, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy;19 you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the offerings by fire to the Lord; for so I am commanded. But the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is raised, you and your sons and daughters as well may eat in any clean place; for they have been assigned to you and your children from the sacrifices of the offerings of well-being of the people of Israel. The thigh that is raised and the breast that is elevated they shall bring, together with the offerings by fire of the fat, to raise for an elevation offering before the Lord; they are to be your due and that of your children forever, as the Lord has commanded.
Then Moses made inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and—it had already been burned! He was angry20 with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and said, “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and God has given it to you that you may remove the guilt of the congregation,21 to make atonement on their behalf before the Lord. Its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.”
And Aaron spoke to Moses, “See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been agreeable to the Lord?”22
And when Moses heard that, he agreed.23
1 My Study Bible ties this to the incident of the Golden Calf – in both cases, a major landmark in relationship with God is immediately threatened by an act of disobedience that threatens worship.
Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘Through those who are near me I will show myself holy,5 and before all the people I will be glorified.’”6 And Aaron was silent.7
Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come forward, and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside8 the camp.” They came forward and carried them by their tunics9 out of the camp, as Moses had ordered.
And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not dishevel your hair, and do not tear your vestments, or you will die and wrath will strike all the congregation;10 but your kindred, the whole house of Israel, may mourn11 the burning that the Lord has sent. You shall not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, or you will die;12 for the anointing oil of the Lord is on you.” And they did as Moses had ordered.13
And the Lord spoke to Aaron:14 Drink no wine or strong drink,15 neither you nor your sons, when you enter the tent of meeting, that you may not die; it is a statute forever throughout your generations. You are to distinguish between the holy and the common,16 and between the unclean and the clean;17 and you are to teach18 the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them through Moses.
Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: “Take the grain offering that is left from the Lord’s offerings by fire, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy;19 you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons’ due, from the offerings by fire to the Lord; for so I am commanded. But the breast that is elevated and the thigh that is raised, you and your sons and daughters as well may eat in any clean place; for they have been assigned to you and your children from the sacrifices of the offerings of well-being of the people of Israel. The thigh that is raised and the breast that is elevated they shall bring, together with the offerings by fire of the fat, to raise for an elevation offering before the Lord; they are to be your due and that of your children forever, as the Lord has commanded.
Then Moses made inquiry about the goat of the sin offering, and—it had already been burned! He was angry20 with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and said, “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? For it is most holy, and God has given it to you that you may remove the guilt of the congregation,21 to make atonement on their behalf before the Lord. Its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.”
And Aaron spoke to Moses, “See, today they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been agreeable to the Lord?”22
And when Moses heard that, he agreed.23
1 My Study Bible ties this to the incident of the Golden Calf – in both cases, a major landmark in relationship with God is immediately threatened by an act of disobedience that threatens worship.
2
The sin appears to simply be offering any fire before God in a
manner in which God had not commanded.
3
Emphasizes God's continuing presence in the temple, even in the
midst of unholy sacrifice.
4
It's not necessary for any interpretation to be made by man – God
takes care of the punishment and sends a clear warning to all of
them.
5
In this case, God's holiness and glory are demonstrated via killing.
6
Moses interprets the event using a statement that had not previously
been recorded in the Biblical narrative.
7
Aaron's silence appears to suggest that he knows there is no defense
for what was done.
8
“Outside” the camp seeming to allude to their sinful state.
9
The narrative is careful to show that their dead bodies were not
touched.
10
As priests, it is apparent that they are not supposed to mourn the
holy action of God, even though it was their sons/brothers who were
killed.
11
For some reason, it is okay for the rest of the congregation to
mourn them.
12
This threat is clearly not idle in that context.
13
For the second time in the passage, everyone is being clear to
follow Moses's orders.
14
Interesting that this command is directly to Aaron. This is the
only time that happens in Leviticus.
15
More commands were given for proper conduct by priests within this
somber setting.
16
Throughout Leviticus a clear distinction has been made between “the
holy” and “the common”. Was that distinction meant to remain
eternal?
17
Jesus appears to later invalidate at least some aspects of this
distinguishing between the clean and the unclean.
18
Besides the ceremonial duties, another duty of the priests is to
teach.
19
Different levels of holiness appear to be being assigned for the
different types of offerings.
20
Apparent sin on top of sin makes Moses angry.
21
The failure to treat the sacrifice appropriately is linked not only
to their harm, but to harm to the whole congregation.
22
Aaron appears to argue that the events of the day precluded any
eating of the sacrifice, either because the time was not right or
because the sacrifice was now contaminated. The fact that no harm
befell Aaron may help his case.
23
Moses had been angry, but Aaron's argument appears to have swayed
him.
Take-home: After a long series of careful instructions about proper disposition of sacrifices and ritual in the temple, an error by the priests and subsequent consequences dealt out by God bring home the seriousness of failing to follow through with God's commands. The somber setting is used to emphasize a couple new commands for the priests, though an interesting incident at the end suggests that some leeway for circumstances is allowed.
Take-home: After a long series of careful instructions about proper disposition of sacrifices and ritual in the temple, an error by the priests and subsequent consequences dealt out by God bring home the seriousness of failing to follow through with God's commands. The somber setting is used to emphasize a couple new commands for the priests, though an interesting incident at the end suggests that some leeway for circumstances is allowed.
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