THE OFFICE AND WORK OF THE PRIESTS

Passage: Leviticus 9:22-10:11

Key verse: 9:23,24

NIV

22 Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.(A) And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.

23 Moses and Aaron then went into the tent of meeting.(B) When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the Lord(C) appeared to all the people. 24 Fire(D) came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown.(E)

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu(F) took their censers,(G) put fire in them(H) and added incense;(I) and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord,(J) contrary to his command.(K) 2 So fire came out(L) from the presence of the Lord and consumed them,(M) and they died before the Lord.(N) 3 Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:

“‘Among those who approach me(O)
    I will be proved holy;(P)
in the sight of all the people
    I will be honored.(Q)’”

Aaron remained silent.

4 Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan,(R) sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel,(S) and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp,(T) away from the front of the sanctuary.(U)” 5 So they came and carried them, still in their tunics,(V) outside the camp, as Moses ordered.

6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar,(W) “Do not let your hair become unkempt[a](X) and do not tear your clothes,(Y) or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community.(Z) But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn(AA) for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. 7 Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting(AB) or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil(AC) is on you.” So they did as Moses said.

8 Then the Lord said to Aaron, 9 “You and your sons are not to drink wine(AD) or other fermented drink(AE) whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance(AF) for the generations to come, 10 so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean,(AG) 11 and so you can teach(AH) the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.(AI)”

Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 10:6 Or Do not uncover your heads
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

22 Then Aaron (A)lifted up his hands toward the people and (B)blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and (C)the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. 24 And (D)fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, (E)they shouted and (F)fell on their faces.

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Now (G)Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, (H)each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered (I)unauthorized[a] fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire (J)came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among (K)those who are near me (L)I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” (M)And Aaron held his peace.

4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of (N)Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp.” 5 So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, (O)“Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and (P)wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled. 7 (Q)And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, (R)for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses.

8 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying, 9 (S)“Drink no wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 10 You are to (T)distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11 and (U)you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.”

Footnotes
  1. Leviticus 10:1 Or strange
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. The glory of the Lord appears (8:1-9:24)

Aaron and his sons were chosen to be priests. They were dressed in beautiful clothes to cover the ugliness of their sins, and atonement had to be made for them (8:3

). They could only stand before God to serve him and his people as forgiven sinners. The purpose of all the sacrifices was to cleanse the people so that the Holy God might dwell in their midst. When everything had been done according to God's command to Moses, God's glory filled the tabernacle, and the people shouted for joy. This was a glorious climax.

2. Nadab & Abihu-presumptuous sinners (1

:1-11)

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron's 2 oldest sons. When they offered sacrifices in their own way, fire came out from the Lord and consumed them. Aaron was forbidden to mourn their deaths; he must be a servant of God before he was a father.

Prayer: Lord, help me to serve you with a humble heart, in your way, according to your word. Cleanse us of sin and send your Spirit to dwell with us.

One Word: Fear God and obey him