Leviticus 10:2

Leviticus 10:2

 

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

 

a. NLT: So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

 

b. NIV: So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

 

c. YLT: And fire goeth out from before Jehovah, and consumeth them, and they die before Jehovah. [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

 

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

 

e. Septuagint: And fire came forth from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

 

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: A fire came forth from before HASHEM and consumed them, and they died before HASHEM. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

 

1. “And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them…”

 

a. [And there] went out [Strong: 3318 yatsa' yaw-tsaw' a primitive root; to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.:--X after, appear, X assuredly, bear out, X begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), + be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail, fall (out), fetch forth (out), get away (forth, hence, out), (able to, cause to, let) go abroad (forth, on, out), going out, grow, have forth (out), issue out, lay (lie) out, lead out, pluck out, proceed, pull out, put away, be risen, X scarce, send with commandment, shoot forth, spread, spring out, stand out, X still, X surely, take forth (out), at any time, X to (and fro), utter.]

 

b. fire [Strong: 784 'esh aysh a primitive word; fire (literally or figuratively):-- burning, fiery, fire, flaming, hot.]

 

c. from [Strong: 6440 paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

d. [the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

 

d. [and] devoured [Strong: 398 'akal aw-kal' a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively):--X at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, X freely, X in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, X quite.]

 

1). The definition of the word implies that there wasn’t much left of them.

 

e. them [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).]

 

1). What begs to be asked is what was going on during this incident? Too many times when we read the Scriptures, the chapter number headings are a hindrance to understanding. They were not part of the process of inspiration, but were put in by the translators and in all cases they provide a frame of reference. What needs to be understood is the events that led up to chapter 10 and this tragic event that seemingly happens out of nowhere. The events that led up to this moment, the consecration of the Aaronic Priesthood, and the dedication and inaugural service of the Tabernacle, that actually began in chapter 8 verse 33. The consecration of the Aaronic priesthood lasted for seven days. From Leviticus 8:33-36 seven days goes by.

 

a). Leviticus 8:33-36 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you.

8:34 As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you.

8:35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded.

8:36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

 

2). The seven days go by and on the eighth day Moses gives them explicit instructions for eight different offerings that would culminate the consecration process and God would manifest his glory before them.

 

a). Leviticus 9:1-4 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel;

9:2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and offer them before the LORD.

9:3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt offering;

9:4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the LORD; and a meat offering mingled with oil: for to day the LORD will appear unto you.

 

3). After the people had brought all the offerings and sacrifices to be given by Aaron, the people drew near and watched the step by step process that would bring the manifestation of the glory of God.

 

a). Leviticus 9:5-24 And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD.

9:6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you.

9:7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin offering, and thy burnt offering, and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people: and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them; as the LORD commanded.

9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.

9:9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar:

9:10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the LORD commanded Moses.

9:11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp.

9:12 And he slew the burnt offering; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.

9:13 And they presented the burnt offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar.

9:14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt offering on the altar.

9:15 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.

9:16 And he brought the burnt offering, and offered it according to the manner.

9:17 And he brought the meat offering, and took an handful thereof, and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt sacrifice of the morning.

9:18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace offerings, which was for the people: and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about,

9:19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver:

9:20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar:

9:21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave offering before the LORD; as Moses commanded.

9:22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and   peace offerings.

9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

 

4). It was at this precise moment that the two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu made the worst mistake of their lives. When the rest of the millions of Israelites on their face at the awesome demonstration of the glory of God, Nadab and Abihu get strange fire, which was fire not from the altar and put incense on it and offer it before the Lord, which they had not received a commandment to do so.

 

2. “…and they died before the LORD.”

 

a. [and they] died [Strong: 4191 muwth mooth a primitive root: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill:--X at all, X crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), X must needs, slay, X surely, X very suddenly, X in (no) wise.]

 

b. before [Strong: 6440 paniym paw-neem' plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun (paneh {paw-neh'}; from 6437); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.):--+ accept, a-(be- )fore(-time), against, anger, X as (long as), at, + battle, + because (of), + beseech, countenance, edge, + employ, endure, + enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, X him(-self), + honourable, + impudent, + in, it, look(-eth) (- s), X me, + meet, X more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), X on, open, + out of, over against, the partial, person, + please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, + regard, right forth, + serve, X shewbread, sight, state, straight, + street, X thee, X them(-selves), through (+ - out), till, time(-s) past, (un-)to(-ward), + upon, upside (+ down), with(- in, + -stand), X ye, X you.]

 

c. the LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

 

1). Why did this happen? Many Bible scholars teach and I agree with them that Nadab and Abihu were under the influence of alcohol, enough so that their judgment was clouded and their inhibitions lowered that they made the worst mistake of their life, and one that ended their life. Notice that the command forbidding priests from drinking wine or strong drink before entering the Tabernacle.

 

a). Leviticus 10:8-11 And the Lord said to Aaron,

10:9 Do not drink wine or strong drink, you or your sons, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; it shall be a statute forever in all your generations.

10:10 You shall make a distinction and recognize a difference between the holy and the common or unholy, and between the unclean and the clean;

10:11 And you are to teach the Israelites all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.

 

(1) Stone Edition of the Chumash; Note under Leviticus 10:9: Since this commandment was issued immediately after the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, R’ Yishmael infers that their punishment must have been associated with the subject of the commandment. Thus, their sin was that they entered the Sanctuary after having had wine.

 

(2) Gordon Lindsay, Through The Bible Series, Volume 12, p.18: The question may be asked as to how they came to commit so foolish and act. The explanation seemingly is found in the context. In the ninth verse which immediately follows the record of the incident, is a statute forbidding priests to drink wine (Leviticus 10:9). From this it would appear that the sons of Aaron had been drinking, probably not enough to be intoxicated, but sufficient to cause their judgment to be affected! When they heard the shout of the people as the Lord’s fire fell, they became excited and went in and offered their own fire.

 

(3) When you study the context of this event it is understandable why such a severe punishment occurred. In Leviticus 8, 9, you have the consecration of the priesthood and consecration service for the dedication of the tabernacle. The last two verses of Leviticus 9 give us a perfect picture of what really was going on. The glory of God appears to all the congregation and the fire of God falls and consumes the sacrifice and everybody shouts and hits the floor face down. Instead of Nadab and Abihu doing that also they fill their censers and enter the Holy of Holies to offer incense and consequently lose their lives. What must be stated here is that these two were not sloppy drunk. They were buzzed, still perfectly able to carry out their duties as priest of the LORD, but buzzed enough to have their judgments compromised, their spiritual restraints, guardrails, boundaries and fear of the LORD removed for them to make the worst mistake of their lives.