Leviticus 10

King James Version

Full text for Leviticus Chapter 10

1¶ 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.

2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3¶ 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.

4And 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.

5So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

6And 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.

7And 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.

8¶ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

9Do 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:

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

11And 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:

13And 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.

14And 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.

15The 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.

16And 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,

17Wherefore 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?

18Behold, 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.

19And 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?

20And when Moses heard [that], he was content.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offered unauthorized fire before the LORD and were consumed by divine fire. Moses then instructed Aaron and his remaining sons on proper priestly conduct, including prohibitions against mourning rituals and strong drink while ministering. The chapter concludes with Moses clarifying rules for eating priestly portions of offerings, and Aaron explaining why a sin offering was not eaten, which satisfied Moses.

Medium Summary

Leviticus 10 begins with a severe judgment as Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, offer "strange fire" before the LORD, resulting in their immediate death by divine fire. Moses explains to Aaron that God must be sanctified by those who approach Him, and Aaron remains silent in grief. Moses then commands Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, not to engage in traditional mourning rituals or leave the tabernacle, emphasizing their consecrated status and the danger of divine wrath. The LORD subsequently issues a perpetual statute through Aaron, prohibiting priests from consuming wine or strong drink when ministering, so they can discern between holy and unholy, and teach God's statutes. Moses further instructs the priests on the proper consumption of various holy offerings. The chapter concludes with Moses's initial displeasure over the burning of a sin offering, which should have been eaten, but Aaron's explanation regarding the day's tragic events and his unworthiness to eat it is accepted by Moses.

Long Summary

Leviticus 10 opens with a stark account of divine judgment upon Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons, who offered "strange fire" before the LORD, an act not commanded by Him. Consequently, fire from the LORD consumed them, and they died in the sanctuary. Moses immediately interprets this event to Aaron, stating that the LORD will be sanctified by those who draw near to Him and glorified before all the people, to which Aaron responds with silence. Moses then instructs Mishael and Elzaphan, Aaron's cousins, to remove the bodies of Nadab and Abihu from the sanctuary and carry them outside the camp. Following this, Moses gives specific commands to Aaron and his surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, forbidding them from traditional mourning practices like uncovering their heads or rending their clothes, lest they die and bring wrath upon the entire congregation, emphasizing their consecrated state due to the anointing oil. They are also commanded not to leave the tabernacle's door. The LORD then directly speaks to Aaron, establishing a perpetual statute that priests are not to drink wine or strong drink when entering the tabernacle, ensuring they can distinguish between holy and unholy, and clean and unclean, and effectively teach God's statutes to the Israelites. Moses then reiterates instructions regarding the consumption of priestly portions of offerings. He commands them to eat the meat offering, which is most holy, beside the altar in a holy place. The wave breast and heave shoulder, from peace offerings, are to be eaten in a clean place by the priests and their families. However, Moses discovers that the goat of the sin offering was burnt rather than eaten, expressing anger at Eleazar and Ithamar for not consuming it in the holy place as commanded, explaining its purpose to bear the iniquity of the congregation and make atonement. Aaron responds by explaining the day's tragic events and questioning whether eating the sin offering in such a state of personal defilement and sorrow would have been acceptable to the LORD. Upon hearing Aaron's reasoning, Moses is satisfied.

Core Concepts

  • Strange FireNadab and Abihu offered "strange fire" before the LORD, an act not commanded by Him, resulting in their immediate death by divine judgment. This highlights the strict requirement for obedience and proper worship.
  • Divine SanctificationMoses declares that the LORD will be sanctified by those who come near Him, meaning God's holiness must be honored and respected by His priests, even through severe judgment. This principle underscores God's absolute authority and purity.
  • Priestly ConsecrationAaron and his remaining sons are forbidden from mourning rituals or leaving the tabernacle, emphasizing their unique consecrated status through the anointing oil. Their role as priests requires a distinct separation and adherence to divine commands, even in personal tragedy.
  • Prohibition of IntoxicantsThe LORD establishes a perpetual statute prohibiting priests from drinking wine or strong drink when ministering in the tabernacle. This command ensures mental clarity and spiritual discernment, enabling them to distinguish between holy and unholy, and to teach God's statutes.
  • Priestly PortionsSpecific instructions are given regarding the consumption of various offerings, such as the meat offering, wave breast, and heave shoulder. These portions are designated as the priests' due, to be eaten in holy or clean places, reinforcing their sustenance from the sacrifices.
  • Atonement and Sin OfferingMoses emphasizes that the sin offering is "most holy" and given to the priests to "bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them." This highlights the vicarious nature of the sin offering and the priest's role in the atonement process.
  • Aaron's JustificationAaron provides a poignant explanation for not eating the sin offering, citing the day's tragic events and questioning if it would have been acceptable to the LORD in such circumstances. This demonstrates a nuanced understanding of ritual purity and acceptable worship in the face of profound personal sorrow.