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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.

Lasting Statutes

Then[aa] Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying, “You and your sons with you may not drink wine or[ab] strong drink when you come to the tent of assembly, so that[ac] you will not die—it is a lasting statute for your[ad] generations— 10 and to distinguish between the holy and the unholy,[ae] as well as[af] between the unclean and the clean, 11 and to teach the Israelites[ag] all the rules that Yahweh has spoken to them through[ah] Moses.”

12 Then[ai] Moses spoke to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “As for the remaining parts,[aj] take the remainder of the grain offering from Yahweh’s offerings made by fire and eat it, the unleavened bread, beside the altar, because it is a most holy thing.[ak] 13 And you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your allotted portion and the allotted portion of your sons from Yahweh’s offerings made by fire, for so I have been commanded. 14 And the wave offering’s breast section and the upper thigh of the contribution offering you[al] must eat in a clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you, because they are given as your allotted portion and your sons’ allotted portion from the sacrifices of the Israelites[am] fellowship offerings. 15 They must bring the thigh of the contribution offering and the breast section of the wave offering in addition to the offerings made by fire, consisting of the fat portions, to wave as a wave offering before[an] Yahweh; and it will be for you and for your sons with you as a lasting rule, just as Yahweh had commanded.”

The Problem of the Uneaten Sin Offering

16 Then[ao] Moses sought all over for the goat of the sin offering and behold, it was burned up. So[ap] he was angry with Aaron’s remaining sons Eleazar and Ithamar, saying, 17 “Why did you not eat the sin offering on the sanctuary’s site, because it is a most holy thing?[aq] And he gave it to you to remove the community’s guilt, to make atonement for them before[ar] Yahweh. 18 Look, its blood was not brought inside the sanctuary.[as] Certainly you should have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.”

19 So[at] Aaron said to Moses, “Look, today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before[au] Yahweh, and things such as these have happened to me, and if I were to eat a sin offering today, would it have been good in Yahweh’s eyes?” 20 When[av] Moses heard, it[aw] was good in his eyes.

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”
  27. Leviticus 10:8 Or “And”
  28. Leviticus 10:9 Or “and”
  29. Leviticus 10:9 Or “and”
  30. Leviticus 10:9 Plural
  31. Leviticus 10:10 Or “the common”
  32. Leviticus 10:10 Or “and”
  33. Leviticus 10:11 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  34. Leviticus 10:11 Literally “by the hand of”
  35. Leviticus 10:12 Or “And”
  36. Leviticus 10:12 Implied by plural form of noun and the immediate context
  37. Leviticus 10:12 Literally “a holiness of holinesses”
  38. Leviticus 10:14 Plural
  39. Leviticus 10:14 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  40. Leviticus 10:15 Literally “to the faces of”
  41. Leviticus 10:16 Or “And”
  42. Leviticus 10:16 Or “And”
  43. Leviticus 10:17 Literally “a holiness of holinesses”
  44. Leviticus 10:17 Literally “to the faces of”
  45. Leviticus 10:18 Or “to the sanctuary inside” or “to the sanctuary within”
  46. Leviticus 10:19 Or “And”
  47. Leviticus 10:19 Literally “to the faces of”
  48. Leviticus 10:20 Or “And”
  49. Leviticus 10:20 Or “and it”

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.

Then the Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons are not to drink wine(Y) or other fermented drink(Z) whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance(AA) for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,(AB) 11 and so you can teach(AC) the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.(AD)

12 Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering(AE) left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the Lord and eat it beside the altar,(AF) for it is most holy. 13 Eat it in the sanctuary area,(AG) because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the Lord; for so I have been commanded.(AH) 14 But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast(AI) that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place;(AJ) they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. 15 The thigh(AK) that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering.(AL) This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded.”

16 When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering[b](AM) and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, 17 “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering(AN) in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt(AO) of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. 18 Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place,(AP) you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.(AQ)

19 Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering(AR) before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:6 Or Do not uncover your heads
  2. Leviticus 10:16 Or purification offering; also in verses 17 and 19

El pecado de Nadab y Abiú

10 Nadab y Abiú, hijos de Aarón, tomaron cada uno su incensario, y pusieron en ellos fuego, sobre el cual pusieron incienso, y ofrecieron delante de Jehová fuego extraño, que él nunca les mandó.

Y salió fuego de delante de Jehová y los quemó, y murieron delante de Jehová.

Entonces dijo Moisés a Aarón: Esto es lo que habló Jehová, diciendo: En los que a mí se acercan me santificaré, y en presencia de todo el pueblo seré glorificado. Y Aarón calló.

Y llamó Moisés a Misael y a Elzafán, hijos de Uziel tío de Aarón, y les dijo: Acercaos y sacad a vuestros hermanos de delante del santuario, fuera del campamento.

Y ellos se acercaron y los sacaron con sus túnicas fuera del campamento, como dijo Moisés.

Entonces Moisés dijo a Aarón, y a Eleazar e Itamar sus hijos: No descubráis vuestras cabezas, ni rasguéis vuestros vestidos en señal de duelo, para que no muráis, ni se levante la ira sobre toda la congregación; pero vuestros hermanos, toda la casa de Israel, sí lamentarán por el incendio que Jehová ha hecho.

Ni saldréis de la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión, porque moriréis; por cuanto el aceite de la unción de Jehová está sobre vosotros. Y ellos hicieron conforme al dicho de Moisés.

Y Jehová habló a Aarón, diciendo:

Tú, y tus hijos contigo, no beberéis vino ni sidra cuando entréis en el tabernáculo de reunión, para que no muráis; estatuto perpetuo será para vuestras generaciones,

10 para poder discernir entre lo santo y lo profano, y entre lo inmundo y lo limpio,

11 y para enseñar a los hijos de Israel todos los estatutos que Jehová les ha dicho por medio de Moisés.

La porción de los sacerdotes en las ofrendas

12 Y Moisés dijo a Aarón, y a Eleazar y a Itamar sus hijos que habían quedado: Tomad la ofrenda que queda de las ofrendas encendidas a Jehová, y comedla sin levadura junto al altar, porque es cosa muy santa.

13 La comeréis, pues, en lugar santo; porque esto es para ti y para tus hijos, de las ofrendas encendidas a Jehová, pues que así me ha sido mandado.

14 Comeréis asimismo en lugar limpio, tú y tus hijos y tus hijas contigo, el pecho mecido y la espaldilla elevada, porque por derecho son tuyos y de tus hijos, dados de los sacrificios de paz de los hijos de Israel.

15 Con las ofrendas de las gorduras que se han de quemar, traerán la espaldilla que se ha de elevar y el pecho que será mecido como ofrenda mecida delante de Jehová; y será por derecho perpetuo tuyo y de tus hijos, como Jehová lo ha mandado.

16 Y Moisés preguntó por el macho cabrío de la expiación, y se halló que había sido quemado; y se enojó contra Eleazar e Itamar, los hijos que habían quedado de Aarón, diciendo:

17 ¿Por qué no comisteis la expiación en lugar santo? Pues es muy santa, y la dio él a vosotros para llevar la iniquidad de la congregación, para que sean reconciliados delante de Jehová.

18 Ved que la sangre no fue llevada dentro del santuario; y vosotros debíais comer la ofrenda en el lugar santo, como yo mandé.

19 Y respondió Aarón a Moisés: He aquí hoy han ofrecido su expiación y su holocausto delante de Jehová; pero a mí me han sucedido estas cosas, y si hubiera yo comido hoy del sacrificio de expiación, ¿sería esto grato a Jehová?

20 Y cuando Moisés oyó esto, se dio por satisfecho.

10 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord 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.

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

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

And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.

And ye shall not go 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 the word of Moses.

And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

11 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

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 without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

13 And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded.

14 And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean 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.

15 The 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; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the Lord hath commanded.

16 And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were 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 atonement for them before the Lord?

18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.

19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?

20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.

The Profane Fire of Nadab and Abihu

10 Then (A)Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, (B)each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered (C)profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. So (D)fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying:

‘By those (E)who come near Me
I must be regarded as holy;
And before all the people
I must be glorified.’ ”

So Aaron held his peace.

Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near, (F)carry your brethren from [a]before the sanctuary out of the camp.” So they went near and carried them by their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.

And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, “Do not [b]uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, and (G)wrath come upon all the people. But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, [c]bewail the burning which the Lord has kindled. (H)You shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die, (I)for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.

Conduct Prescribed for Priests

Then the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying: (J)“Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, 10 that you may (K)distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, 11 (L)and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses.”

12 And Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left: (M)“Take the grain offering that remains of the offerings made by fire to the Lord, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; (N)for it is most holy. 13 You shall eat it in a (O)holy place, because it is your [d]due and your sons’ due, of the sacrifices made by fire to the Lord; for (P)so I have been commanded. 14 (Q)The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the heave offering you shall eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your (R)daughters with you; for they are your due and your sons’ (S)due, which are given from the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel. 15 (T)The thigh of the heave offering and the breast of the wave offering they shall bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to offer as a wave offering before the Lord. And it shall be yours and your sons’ with you, by a statute forever, as the Lord has commanded.”

16 Then Moses made careful inquiry about (U)the goat of the sin offering, and there it was—burned up. And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying, 17 (V)“Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear (W)the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 See! (X)Its blood was not brought inside [e]the holy place; indeed you should have eaten it in a holy place, (Y)as I commanded.”

19 And Aaron said to Moses, “Look, (Z)this day they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, (AA)would it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?” 20 So when Moses heard that, he was content.

Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:4 in front of
  2. Leviticus 10:6 An act of mourning
  3. Leviticus 10:6 weep bitterly
  4. Leviticus 10:13 portion
  5. Leviticus 10:18 The Most Holy Place when capitalized