The Sin of Nadab and Abihu

10 Now (A)Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective (B)firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on [a]the fire and offered [b]strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. (C)And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said to Aaron, “It is what the Lord spoke, saying,

‘By those who (D)come near Me I [c](E)will be treated as holy,
And before all the people I will (F)be honored.’”

So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.

Moses called also to (G)Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come forward, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary to an area outside of the camp.” So they came forward and carried them, still in their (H)tunics, to an area outside the camp, just as Moses had said. Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “(I)Do not [d]uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, so that you do not die and He does not (J)become wrathful against all the congregation. But your [e]kinsmen, the entire house of Israel, shall weep for the burning which the Lord has [f]brought about. You shall not even go out from the doorway of the tent of meeting, or you will die; for (K)the Lords anointing oil is upon you.” So they did according to the word of Moses.

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Footnotes

  1. Leviticus 10:1 Lit it
  2. Leviticus 10:1 I.e., unauthorized
  3. Leviticus 10:3 Or will show Myself holy
  4. Leviticus 10:6 Lit unbind
  5. Leviticus 10:6 Lit brothers
  6. Leviticus 10:6 Lit burned

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. Then fire came from the Lord(F) and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.(G) Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has spoken:

I will demonstrate my holiness[a](H)
to those who are near me,(I)
and I will reveal my glory[b](J)
before all the people.”

And Aaron remained silent.

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) So they came forward and carried them in their tunics outside the camp, as Moses had said.

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. 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.

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Footnotes

  1. 10:3 Or will be treated as holy
  2. 10:3 Or will be glorified