Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab^(A) and Abihu^(B) each took his own firepan,^(C) put fire in it, placed incense on it,^(D) and presented unauthorized^(E) fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. ² Then fire came from the Lord^(F) and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.^{(G) 3} Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has spoken:

And Aaron remained silent.

⁴ Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,^(K) sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel,^(L) and said to them, “Come here and carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.”^{(M) 5} So they came forward and carried them in their tunics outside the camp, as Moses had said.

⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,^(N) “Do not let your hair hang loose^(O) and do not tear your clothes,^(P) or else you will die, and the Lord will become angry^(Q) with the whole community. However, your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may weep^(R) over the fire that the Lord caused. ⁷ You must not go outside the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, for the Lord’s anointing oil^(S) is on you.” So they did as Moses said.