Old Testament Commentary - Leviticus 10

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
           CHAPTER 10            

Nabab and Abihu perform unauthorized sacrifices and ae slain by a fire from the Lord—Aaron and his other sons forbidden to mourn for them—Aaron and his sons to abstain from wine and strong drink—They are to teach all that the Lord revealed to Moses.

  1 AND Nadab and Abihu, the asons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered bstrange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
  2 And there went out afire from the LORD, and bdevoured them, and they cdied 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 aheld his peace.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of aUzziel 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.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  6 And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your aheads, neither brend 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 aanointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
 1a Lev. 10:1 (1-2)
 2a Heb. 9:12 (7, 12, 24-25);
     Heb. 10:19 (19-22)
  b TG Veil
  c Ex. 25:22; Ex. 29:42 (42-43);
     Ex. 40:34 (34-35);
     D&C 97:16 (15-17);
     D&C 109:5 (5, 12-13);
     Abr. 2:19 (19-20)

  8 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
  9 Do not drink awine nor bstrong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye diea: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
  10 And athat ye may put difference between bholy and unholy, and between cunclean and dclean;
  11 And that ye may ateach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
 9a 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 would seem that one is left to presume that the sons of Aaron, along with offering their 'strange fire' of their incense burners not of accord according to the instructions of the Lord, were heavily drunken of alchohol. With the glory of the Lord, it would seem that it created a most conbustible condition. And the glory of the fire of the Lord ignited, burning the clothing and the saturated achoholic condition of the two sons of Aaron. They had not taken due care to follow the order and manner of the sacrifices according to the instructions of God. Throughout history, the corruption of the statutes, ordiances and performances of the Lord had led men into various paths of corrupted religion unto pagan and false god worship with 'strange' performances. Whether what the sons of Aaron had done was like unto the Egyptian's manner of worship, or just due to a lack of following the instructions of the Lord is not ascertainable. But on both accounts, the Lord would not allow such corruption to enter into the pure worship of the Lord and the Lord's ordinances. And perhaps the preciseness of the process of teh performance is as much as 'safety' matter before the glory of the Lord as it is a trespass against him. Else what is the matter of such a strong caution against the consumption of conbustible alcohol when going into the the tabernacle?
  12 ¶ And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat aoffering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and beat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:
  13 And ye shall aeat 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 awave breast and heave shoulder shall ye beat 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 aThe 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, bby a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.
  16 ¶ And Moses adiligently sought the bgoat 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 abear 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 abefallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been baccepted in the sight of the LORD?
  20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.