Nadab and Abihu

Nadab and Abihu were Aaron’s sons. Each of them took his censer, put fire in it, added incense, and offered it before the LORD. But this was a different fire, something the LORD had not commanded them to bring.

Then fire came out from before the LORD and destroyed them, and they died there before him. Moses spoke to Aaron and said this showed that the LORD is holy among those who come near him, and that he must be honoured before all the people. Aaron said nothing.

Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel. He told them to come near and carry their brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp. They obeyed and carried them out in their tunics.

Then Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s other sons. They were not to let their hair hang loose or tear their clothes in mourning, or they too would die and the LORD would be angry with all the congregation. The whole house of Israel could mourn the burning the LORD had kindled.

Moses also told them not to leave the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, because the LORD’s anointing oil was on them. They did what Moses said. It was a hard lesson for Israel that serving near the LORD was holy work, to be done as he commanded.