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10 Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them. Fire came out from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying,

‘I will show myself holy to those who come near me,
    and before all the people I will be glorified.’”

Aaron held his peace. Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they came near, and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.

Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Don’t let the hair of your heads go loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so that you don’t die, and so that he will not be angry with all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled. You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you.” They did according to the word of Moses.

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The Deaths of Nadab and Abihu

10 And Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his censer, and they put fire in them and placed incense on it;[a] then[b] they presented before[c] Yahweh illegitimate fire, which he had not commanded them. So[d] fire went out from before[e] Yahweh, and it consumed them so that[f] they died before[g] Yahweh. Therefore[h] Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke, saying, ‘Among those who are close to me I will show myself holy, and in the presence of[i] all the people I will display my glory.’”[j] So[k] Aaron was silent.

Then[l] Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan the sons of Uzziel, Aaron’s uncle, and he said to them, “Come forward.[m] Carry your brothers from the front of[n] the sanctuary to outside the camp.”[o] So[p] they came forward,[q] and they carried them outside the camp[r] in their tunics, just as Moses had ordered.

Then[s] Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “You must not let your hair hang loosely, and you must not tear your garments, so that[t] you will not die and he[u] will be angry with all the community. But[v] your brothers, all the house of Israel, may weep because of the burning that Yahweh caused,[w] but[x] you must not go out from the entrance to[y] the tent of assembly lest you die, because Yahweh’s anointing oil is on you.” So[z] they did according to Moses’ word.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:1 That is, the fire
  2. Leviticus 10:1 Or “and”
  3. Leviticus 10:1 Literally “to the faces of”
  4. Leviticus 10:2 Or “And”
  5. Leviticus 10:2 Literally “from to the faces of”
  6. Leviticus 10:2 Or “and”
  7. Leviticus 10:2 Literally “to the faces of”
  8. Leviticus 10:3 Or “And”
  9. Leviticus 10:3 Literally “upon the faces of”
  10. Leviticus 10:3 Or “I will be glorified”
  11. Leviticus 10:3 Or “And”
  12. Leviticus 10:4 Or “And”
  13. Leviticus 10:4 Or “Come near” or “Approach”
  14. Leviticus 10:4 Literally “the faces of”
  15. Leviticus 10:4 Literally “from an outside place of the camp”
  16. Leviticus 10:5 Or “And”
  17. Leviticus 10:5 Or “came near” or “approached”
  18. Leviticus 10:5 Literally “to from an outside place of the camp”
  19. Leviticus 10:6 Or “And”
  20. Leviticus 10:6 Or “and”
  21. Leviticus 10:6 That is, God
  22. Leviticus 10:6 Or “And”
  23. Leviticus 10:6 Literally “the burning that Yahweh burned”
  24. Leviticus 10:7 Or “and”
  25. Leviticus 10:7 Or “of”
  26. Leviticus 10:7 Or “And”

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu(A) took their censers,(B) put fire in them(C) and added incense;(D) and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord,(E) contrary to his command.(F) So fire came out(G) from the presence of the Lord and consumed them,(H) and they died before the Lord.(I) Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“‘Among those who approach me(J)
    I will be proved holy;(K)
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.(L)’”

Aaron remained silent.

Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,(M) sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel,(N) and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp,(O) away from the front of the sanctuary.(P) So they came and carried them, still in their tunics,(Q) outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,(R) “Do not let your hair become unkempt[a](S) and do not tear your clothes,(T) or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community.(U) But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn(V) for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting(W) or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil(X) is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:6 Or Do not uncover your heads