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61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire[a] before the Lord. 62 Those of the Levites[b] who were numbered were 23,000, all males from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the Israelites; no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the rift valley plains[c] of Moab along the Jordan River opposite Jericho.

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Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:61 tn The expression אֵשׁ זָרָה (ʾesh zarah, “strange fire”) seems imprecise and has been interpreted numerous ways (see the helpful summary in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC 4], 132-33). The infraction may have involved any of the following or a combination thereof: (1) using coals from some place other than the burnt offering altar (i.e., “unauthorized coals” according to J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:598; cf. Lev 16:12 and cf. “unauthorized person” [אִישׁ זָר, ʾish zar] in Num 16:40 [17:5 HT], NASB “layman”), (2) using the wrong kind of incense (cf. the Exod 30:9 regulation against “strange incense” [קְטֹרֶת זָרָה, qetoret zarah] on the incense altar and the possible connection to Exod 30:34-38), (3) performing an incense offering at an unprescribed time (B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 59), or (4) entering the Holy of Holies at an inappropriate time (Lev 16:1-2).sn This event is narrated in Lev 10:1-7.
  2. Numbers 26:62 tn Heb “them”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. Numbers 26:63 sn This is the area of the rift valley basin to the north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan. See the note at Num 21:1.

61 But Nadab and Abihu(A) died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)(B)

62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.(C) They were not counted(D) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance(E) among them.(F)

63 These are the ones counted(G) by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab(H) by the Jordan across from Jericho.(I)

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