LeviticusStudy Guide

Chapter 10

Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.

Just read this chapter →

Scripture

KJV

1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.

2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3Then 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 held his peace.

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

5So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend 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.

7And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

8And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,

9Do 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 shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

13And ye shall eat 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.

14And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat 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.

15The 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, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.

16And Moses diligently sought the goat 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,

17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?

18Behold, 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.

19And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?

20And when Moses heard that, he was content.

Key VerseLeviticus 10:3

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 held his peace.

Overview

Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's eldest sons, offer 'strange fire' before the Lord — fire He had not commanded them. Fire comes out from the Lord and devours them, and they die before the Lord. Moses instructs Aaron not to mourn publicly, and Aaron holds his peace. God then commands the priests not to drink wine when entering the tabernacle and reiterates the distinction between holy and unholy, clean and unclean.

Key Themes

1

The Danger of Unauthorized Worship

Nadab and Abihu's death demonstrates that worship must be conducted according to God's explicit instructions — presumptuous innovation in worship is a deadly offense before a holy God.

2

The Holiness of God Demands Reverence

God declares, 'I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me' — those who draw near to God in ministry bear the highest responsibility to honor His holiness.

3

Distinguishing Between Holy and Common

God charges the priests to teach Israel the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean — establishing discernment as a central priestly duty.

Study Questions

1.

What exactly was the 'strange fire' that Nadab and Abihu offered, and why did God respond with such immediate and severe judgment?

2.

What does God's statement 'I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me' (v. 3) teach about the relationship between proximity to God and accountability?

3.

Why does God command Aaron not to mourn publicly for his sons, and what does Aaron's silence reveal about his submission to God's judgment?

4.

What is the connection between the prohibition of wine and the command to distinguish between holy and unholy — how does intoxication impair spiritual discernment?

5.

How does the story of Nadab and Abihu serve as a warning for the church today regarding innovation and casualness in worship?

Connection to Christ

The death of Nadab and Abihu reveals that no one can approach God on their own terms. Christ alone is the authorized way into God's presence (John 14:6), and through His perfect obedience He opened a 'new and living way' (Hebrews 10:20) that Nadab and Abihu's strange fire could never provide.

Personal Reflection

Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through Leviticus 10. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?

Leviticus

10 of 27