Read & explore together
Restrictions for Priests after Nadab and Abihu
This passage explains instructions for Aaron and his sons about serving in the Tent of Meeting, distinguishing important categories, teaching Israel, and handling different offering portions in the right places before Yahweh.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the setting
In Leviticus 10:8–20, Yahweh speaks to Aaron about priestly conduct, especially while entering the Tent of Meeting. He states that priests must distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and teach Israel. Moses then addresses how priestly portions from offerings were to be eaten and asks about a sin offering that was burned.
Leviticus 10:8–20Main takeaway
This passage shows that priestly service required sobriety, careful distinctions, faithful teaching, and thoughtful attention to what would be pleasing in Yahweh’s sight.
Explore the instructions
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Priests must not drink before enteringYahweh speaks directly to Aaron and commands that he and his sons must not drink wine or strong drink whenever they go into the Tent of Meeting.
Explanation
Yahweh speaks directly to Aaron and commands that he and his sons must not drink wine or strong drink whenever they go into the Tent of Meeting. The warning is strong: otherwise they will die. The passage says this rule is to remain a statute throughout their generations.
02Priests must distinguish and teachThe priests were to make two specific distinctions: between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.
Explanation
The priests were to make two specific distinctions: between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean. They also had a teaching role. Yahweh says they were to teach the children of Israel all the statutes he had spoken to them by Moses.
03Different offerings had different eating placesMoses tells Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar to eat the remaining meal offering without yeast beside the altar because it is most holy.
Explanation
Moses tells Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar to eat the remaining meal offering without yeast beside the altar because it is most holy. He then distinguishes other portions, the waved breast and heaved thigh, which the priestly family may eat in a clean place as their assigned portion from peace offerings.
04Moses asks about the burned sin offeringMoses carefully asks about the goat of the sin offering because it was burned. He says it should have been eaten in the sanctuary, since its blood was not brought into the inner part and it was given in connection with making atonement.
Explanation
Moses carefully asks about the goat of the sin offering because it was burned. He says it should have been eaten in the sanctuary, since its blood was not brought into the inner part and it was given in connection with making atonement. Aaron replies with a question about whether eating it that day would have been pleasing in Yahweh’s sight. When Moses heard that, it was pleasing in his sight.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What exact pairs of things were the priests told to distinguish?
Use the wording of the command itself and keep the two pairs separate, just as the passage states them.
02How does the passage show that some holy portions were eaten in different places?
Compare the meal offering eaten beside the altar with the waved breast and heaved thigh eaten in a clean place.
03What concern does Aaron raise about the sin offering, and what was Moses’ response?
Look closely at Aaron’s words about what would be pleasing in Yahweh’s sight and then note the final sentence.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Leviticus 10:8–20
8Then Yahweh said to Aaron,
9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.
10You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.
11You are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses.”
12Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take the meal offering that remains of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the altar; for it is most holy;
13and you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion, and your sons’ portion, of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire; for so I am commanded.
14The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are given as your portion, and your sons’ portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.
15They shall bring the heaved thigh and the waved breast with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It shall be yours, and your sons’ with you, as a portion forever, as Yahweh has commanded.”
16Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burned. He was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,
17“Why haven’t you eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is most holy, and he has given it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Yahweh?
18Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly should have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.”
19Aaron spoke to Moses, “Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yahweh; and such things as these have happened to me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in Yahweh’s sight?”
20When Moses heard that, it was pleasing in his sight.