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The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

Leviticus 10:1-3

LEVITICUS—NOTE ON Leviticus 10:1 Nadab and Abihu, the eldest of Aaron’s four sons, took censers of their own, put incense in them, and offered unauthorized fire (see esv footnote) to the Lord. That is, they did the offering in their own way instead of in the way authorized by the Lord, and for this they died. Their sin probably also involved entering—or trying to enter—the Most Holy Place (see Leviticus 16:1, Leviticus 16:11; compare Hebrews 9:7) after drinking alcohol (compare Leviticus 10:8). Aaron held his peace. He apparently agreed that God was justified in killing Nadab and Abihu for their sin.

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See also Leviticus 10:1-3 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    CHAPTER X Nadab _and_ Abihu _offer strange fire before the Lord, and are_ _destroyed_, 1-5. _Aaron and his family forbidden to mourn for them_, 6, 7. _He and his family are forbidden the use of wi...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    NADAB AND ABIHU - The two elder sons of Aaron Exodus 6:23; Numbers 3:2, who were among those invited to accompany Moses when he was going up Mount Sinai, but who were “to worship afar off,” and not “c...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. NADAB AND ABIHU: THE FALSE WORSHIP AND ITS RESULTS CHAPTER 10 _ 1. The false worship and the judgment (Leviticus 10:1)_ 2. New instructions (Leviticus 10:8) 3. The neglect of Eleazar and Ithama...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    LEV X contains four appendices on the priests-' duties, of which the first and the fourth are in the form of ideal narratives (a caution and a misunderstanding), like chs. 8f. LEVITICUS 10:1. THE SIN...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    OFFERED. brought near. Hebrew. _karab._ App-43. STRANGE FIRE: i.e. fire other than that Jehovah had commanded, required, and given from heaven (Leviticus 1:7; Leviticus 6:12; Leviticus 9:24;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    (3) _The first priestly transgression and its punishment_(1 7) 1. Nadab and Abihu were specially chosen to -come up unto the Lord" with Moses, Aaron and the 70 elders (Exodus 24:1; Exodus 24:9-11, th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AND NADAB AND ABIHU, THE SONS OF AARON— The offence of Nadab and Abihu, according to almost all the commentators, was their kindling their censers from _strange_ or _common fire;_ not from the fire wh...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. THE SIN AND PUNISHMENT OF NADAB AND ABIHU 10:1-20 a. THEIR SIN Leviticus 10:1 b. THEIR PUNISHMENT Leviticus 10:2 c. THE WARNING Leviticus 10:3 d. DISPOSAL OF THE BODIES...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND 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._ The son...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    SIN AND DEATH OF NADAB AND ABIHU An illustration of the necessity of a punctilious observance of the regulations. We have no means of ascertaining the precise nature of the trespass committed by the t...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    LEVITICUS *WORSHIP THE *LORD IN THE BEAUTY OF *HOLINESS LEVITICUS _GORDON CHURCHYARD_ This commentary HAS BEEN through Advanced Checking. Words in boxes are from the Bible, except for the words i...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    X. (1) AND NADAB AND ABIHU. — Immediately after the Divine manifestation of God’s acceptance of the services connected with the institution of the priesthood, and whilst the congregation are still giv...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי ־אַ֠הֲרֹן נָדָ֨ב וַ אֲבִי

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    NADAB'S AND ABIHU'S "STRANGE FIRE" Leviticus 10:1 The solemn and august ceremonies of the consecration of the priests, and the tabernacle, and the inauguration of the tabernacle service, had a sad an...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    A DEED THAT TURNED JOY INTO GRIEF Leviticus 9:22; Leviticus 10:1 There was a double blessing. First, Aaron blessed the people when he stood against the altar, Leviticus 9:22, and afterward, when he c...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the record there breaks in a story full of solemn significance. Two sons of Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu were guilty of offering strange fire before the Lord. They were swiftly consumed by fire. The ver...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

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

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    The eldest sons, as they are mentioned first, Exodus vi. 23. --- Censers. On the same evening of their consecration. --- Fire. Not taken from the altar of holocausts, chap. vi. 9. Whether they neglect...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    CONTENTS A sad breach is made in the family of Aaron, in the death of Nadab and Abihu, his two eldest sons, who both are struck dead by fire from the LORD, for offering strange fire before the LORD. T...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    What this strange fire was, which the sons of Aaron offered, is not said. But as it was so great a sin, as to produce instant death, we may humbly inquire, while we pray for grace to stand in awe and...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    The book of Leviticus has its own character quite as manifestly as Genesis or Exodus. Its peculiar feature is that from its very starting-point it is the revelation of what God saw in Jesus Christ our...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    1._And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron _A memorable circumstance is here recorded, from whence it appears how greatly God abominates all the sins whereby the purity of religion is corrupted. Appare...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    Lastly, we have what, alas! is always the case with man. The first day the priesthood is established, it comes short of the glory of God. Nadab and Abihu offer strange fire, acting as men in nature in...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND NADAB AND ABIHU, THE SONS OF AARON,.... His two eldest sons, as seems from Exodus 6:23: TOOK EITHER OF THEM HIS CENSER; a vessel in which coals of fire were put, and incense upon them, and burnt...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And 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. Ver. 1. _...

  • Jonathan Edwards' Notes On The Scriptures

    Lev. 10:1, 2. This awful destruction of two of the priests, the sons of Aaron, happened on the eighth or last day of the consecration of Aaron and his sons, by which the Levitical priesthood was first...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron_ He had other sons; but these were the two eldest, Exodus 6:23. _Took either of them his censer_ That is, a certain vessel, in which they put coals of fire for burning...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Nadab and Abihu, for offering of strange fire, are burnt by fire. 6 Aaron and his sonnes are forbidden to mourne for them. 8 The Priests are forbidden wine when they are to goe into the Tabernacle...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE SIN OF NADAB AND ABIHU AND ITS PUNISHMENT...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And 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. Nadab and...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    FAILURE IN THE PRIESTHOOD (VV. 1-7) Priestly ministry had barely begun when those entrusted with it failed seriously. Two of Aaron's four sons put in their censers incense other than that which the Lo...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1,2 Next to Moses and Aaron, none were more likely to be honourable in Israel than Nadab and Abihu. There is reason to think that they were puffed up with pride, and that they were heated with wine....

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    LEVITICUS CHAPTER 10 Nadab and Abihu offering strange fire, are devoured by fire from heaven, LEVITICUS 10:1,2; for God will be sanctified by them that draw near unto him, LEVITICUS 10:3. Their dead b...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    The page of human history has ever been a sadly blotted one. It is a record of failure, from first to last. Amid all the delights of Eden, man hearkened to the tempter's lie. (Genesis 1:24) When prese...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Leviticus 10:1 Nadab H5070 Abihu H30 sons H1121 Aaron H175 each H376 took H3947 (H8799) censer H4289 put...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    DISOBEDIENCE BRINGS DEATH FOR THE DISOBEDIENT AND A TEST FOR THE FAITHFUL (LEVITICUS 10:1). Leviticus 10:1 ‘And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire in it,...

  • Scofield's Bible Commentary

    STRANGE FIRE Fire "from before the Lord" had kindled upon the altar of burnt-offering the fire which the care of the priests was to keep burning (Leviticus 6:12). No commandment had yet been given (L...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Strange fire of Nadab and Abihu. CHARACTERS: God, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer, Moses, Aaron, Ithamar, Michael, Elzaphan. CONCLUSION: It is fatal to act in the things of God without seeking the m...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Leviticus 10:1. _Strange fire._ Having, as some rabbins think, from the 9th verse, drank too freely at the feast, they inconsiderately took fire from the boiler, instead of taking it from off the alta...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Nadab and Abihu. .. offered strange fire._ THE FALL OF NADAB AND ABIHU Nadab and Abihu were no inconsiderable personages. They were the sons of Israel’s priest, the nephews of Israel’s leader, the h...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    Reckless Ministry Sternly Rebuked SUGGESTIVE READINGS Leviticus 10:1.—Nahab and Abihu offered strange fire. Whether they were prompted by impetuous religious feeling, or were confused with wine, the...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE DEATH OF NADAB AND ABIHU, THE SONS OF AARON (Leviticus 10:1). The first day of Aaron's ministry had not yet closed. He had offered the sacrifices, and had entered into the holy place wi...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    And Nadab and Abihu, the two sons of Aaron, took both of them their censers, and they put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not ...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Kings 13:1; 1 Kings 13:2; 2 Chronicles 26:16; Deuteronomy 12:32;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Strange fire — Fire so called, because not taken from the altar, as it ought, but from some common fire. Before the Lord — Upon the altar of incense. Which he commanded not — Not commanding may be her...

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