_A.M. 2514. B.C. 1490._
The death of Nadab and Abihu, and quieting of Aaron, Leviticus 10:1.
Orders given to bury them, and not to mourn, Leviticus 10:4. A command
not to drink wine or strong drink, and to distinguish between holy and
unholy, Leviticus 10:8. Directions concerning the parts of the
b... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 incense.
This is supposed to have happened on the last day of their
consecration, when fire came dow... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there went out a fire from the Lord_ From heaven, or rather, from
the sanctuary; _and devoured them_ Not reduced them to ashes, as the
word signifies at the end of the former chapter, but struck them dead
in a moment, their bodies and garments remaining entire. Thus the
sword is said to devour,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses said unto Aaron_ This awful stroke having wounded Aaron with
deep anguish, Moses endeavours to allay his sorrows, by representing
to him how very faulty his two sons had been, and how agreeable their
punishment was to the wisdom of the divine government, and what good
ends it might answer. _T... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses called Mishael_ For Aaron and his sons were employed in their
holy ministrations, from which they were not to be called for funeral
solemnities. _Brethren_ That is, kinsmen, as that word is often used.
_Out of the camp_ Where the burying-places of the Jews were, that the
living might neither... [ Continue Reading ]
_In their coats_ In the holy garments wherein they ministered; which
might be done, either, 1st, As a testimony of respect due to them,
notwithstanding their present failure; and that God in judgment
remembered mercy, and when he took away their lives, spared their
souls. Or, 2d, Because, being poll... [ Continue Reading ]
_Uncover not your heads_ That is, give no signification of your
sorrow; mourn not for them; partly lest you should seem to justify
your brethren, and tacitly reflect upon God as too severe; and partly
lest thereby you should be diverted from, or disturbed, in your
present service, which God expects... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall not go from the tabernacle_ Where at this time they were,
because this happened within seven days of their consecration: _for
the oil of the Lord is upon you_ You are devoted and consecrated to
the service of God and of his people, which, therefore, it is proper
you should prefer before al... [ Continue Reading ]
_Do not drink wine nor strong drink_ It is certainly not improbable
that the sin of Nadab and Abihu was owing to this. But if not, yet
drunkenness is so odious a sin in itself, especially in a minister,
and most of all at the time of his administration of sacred things,
that God saw fit to prevent a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Between holy and unholy_ Persons and things, which Nadab and Abihu
did not, mistaking unholy or common fire for that which was sacred and
appointed of God for their use. _Ye may teach_ Which drunken persons
are very unfit to do.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses spake unto Aaron_ Moses, being apprehensive that Aaron, in the
confusion of his grief for the loss of his two sons, might forget or
omit some part of his duty, here puts him in mind of it, repeating to
him the order about eating the remains of the _meat_ or
_meal-offering_, (Leviticus 6:16,)... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, it was burnt_ This justified Moses's suspicion that some
mistake might be committed in the holy things; for upon inquiry he
found that the priests had burned upon the altar those parts of the
people's sin-offering which they ought to have eaten, Leviticus 6:26;
Leviticus 6:29. _He was angry... [ Continue Reading ]
_God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation _ It
was given them as an encouragement to, and a reward of the careful
performance of that part of their duty, whereby they expiated, bore,
and took away the sins of the people by offering those sacrifices, by
which, as being typical o... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold the blood was not brought within the holy place_ And
consequently it was not one of those sacrifices ordered to be burned,
(Leviticus 6:30,) but should have been eaten in the court of the
tabernacle, Leviticus 6:26.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Aaron said unto Moses_ Though Moses expostulates only with Eleazar
and Ithamar, yet Aaron, taking the reproof to himself, makes an
apology in his own and their behalf, the amount of which is, that he
and his sons had performed the substance of their duty, offering the
people's sin- offering and bur... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses was content_ He rested satisfied with Aaron's answer, who, it
appeared, had sincerely aimed at pleasing God; and those who do so,
will find he is not _extreme to mark what is amiss._... [ Continue Reading ]