Leviticus 10
Overview
Leviticus 10 narrates a dramatic and sobering event, along with important instructions for priestly conduct. Key points of the chapter include:
Nadab and Abihu’s Transgression: Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer unauthorized ("strange") fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded. This act of disobedience results in their sudden death by fire from the Lord, underscoring the seriousness of adhering to God's specific instructions in worship.
Mourning and Conduct of Priests: Moses instructs Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, not to mourn outwardly for Nadab and Abihu, as a sign of their special role and the need to maintain ritual purity. The community of Israel is to mourn on their behalf.
Prohibition Against Drinking Alcohol: God then commands Aaron and his sons not to drink wine or strong drink when they go into the tent of meeting. This rule is to ensure clear judgment and discernment in their priestly duties.
Eating of the Holy Offerings: The chapter also addresses the eating of the holy offerings by the priests, emphasizing the need to follow the divine statutes carefully.
Aaron’s Response to Moses: The chapter concludes with an exchange between Moses and Aaron regarding the eating of the sin offering. Aaron's response, given the day's tragic events, is accepted by Moses.
Leviticus 10 highlights the gravity and sanctity of the priestly service. The incident with Nadab and Abihu serves as a stark reminder of the need for reverence and strict obedience to God’s commands. The chapter sets a precedent for the conduct expected of priests, underscoring the themes of holiness, purity, and responsibility in their role as mediators between God and the people.
Nadab and Abihu’s Transgression: Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer unauthorized ("strange") fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded. This act of disobedience results in their sudden death by fire from the Lord, underscoring the seriousness of adhering to God's specific instructions in worship.
Mourning and Conduct of Priests: Moses instructs Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, not to mourn outwardly for Nadab and Abihu, as a sign of their special role and the need to maintain ritual purity. The community of Israel is to mourn on their behalf.
Prohibition Against Drinking Alcohol: God then commands Aaron and his sons not to drink wine or strong drink when they go into the tent of meeting. This rule is to ensure clear judgment and discernment in their priestly duties.
Eating of the Holy Offerings: The chapter also addresses the eating of the holy offerings by the priests, emphasizing the need to follow the divine statutes carefully.
Aaron’s Response to Moses: The chapter concludes with an exchange between Moses and Aaron regarding the eating of the sin offering. Aaron's response, given the day's tragic events, is accepted by Moses.
Leviticus 10 highlights the gravity and sanctity of the priestly service. The incident with Nadab and Abihu serves as a stark reminder of the need for reverence and strict obedience to God’s commands. The chapter sets a precedent for the conduct expected of priests, underscoring the themes of holiness, purity, and responsibility in their role as mediators between God and the people.
Leviticus 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.
2 And 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.
4 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.
5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6 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.
7 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.
8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 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.
End of Leviticus 10
1 Year Plan: Feb 16 - Lev 9, Lev 10, Ps 19, Ps 20
2 And 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.
4 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.
5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6 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.
7 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.
8 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 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.
End of Leviticus 10
1 Year Plan: Feb 16 - Lev 9, Lev 10, Ps 19, Ps 20
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