“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 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. And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said. And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend your clothes; that ye die not, and that he be not wroth with all the congregation; but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses. And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations; and that ye may put difference between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.”
Golden Text.—“Let us watch and be sober.” I Thess. 5:6.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) Of what presumptive act were Nadab and Abihu guilty? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What was the immediate result of this rash deed? Verse 2. Note 2. (3) Of what did Moses remind Aaron? What shows that Aaron was cognizant of the warning? Verse 3. Note 3. (4) Upon whom did Moses then call? What command did he give them? Verse 4. (5) What is said of their action? Verse 5. Note 4. (6) What command did Moses give to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar? How were the people to act in the matter? Verse 6. Note 5. (7) What further prohibition was laid upon Aaron and his sons? Why? Verse 7. Note 6. (8) Who next spoke to Aaron? Verse 8. (9) What did the Lord command? On what penalty? How long was this statute to be in force? Verse 9. (10) What special reason did the Lord give for the prohibition? Verse 10. Note 7. What was one special duty of the priesthood that demanded clearness of perception? Verse 11. Note 8.
NOTES.
1. There was no excuse for using strange or common fire, as the Lord had provided the prescribed holy fire, and it was easy of access. The delusion that using something which the Lord has not commanded will do just as well as that which He has commanded, received a summary rebuke on that occasion, but it is still at work; for example, Sunday observance for Sabbath-keeping, sprinkling for baptism, and human teaching instead of the Word of God. Strange fire is in widespread use by men who are intoxicated by the deceptions of the last days.
2. The “fire from the Lord,” that should have been used in His service by these priests, was the means of their destruction. So the Word of God, which many professed ministers of the Gospel are ignoring in their ministrations to-day, may be the means of their destruction in the day of His wrath. This summary example of judgment is a warning to men in all ages that slackness or presumption in God’s service will meet a sure retribution.
3. Aaron is reminded that his sons were not cut down without warning. The Lord had given ample direction concerning the sanctification of the priests. Before the descent upon Sinai, He had charged Moses to “let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them.” Ex. 19:20.
4. The dead priests were buried in their priestly robes, as even these were polluted beyond further use.
5. Aaron and his other sons were forbidden to make any outward show of mourning. They must not display before the people any indication that they did not fully acquiesce in the judgment of the Lord. They were forbidden to defile themselves in any of the customs concerning the disposal of the dead, excepting it be one of the immediate family (Lev. 21:1-6); but this instance was a special exception to that exception, because of the heinousness of the offense. So relatives not of the priesthood were called to dispose of the dead.
6. “Ye shall not go out,” etc.; that is, they were not to follow out after those who carried out the dead bodies. They were not to attend the funeral. The holy oil, the “oil of gladness” (Ps. 45:7) was upon them, and could not be associated with mourning, especially for those who had so grossly desecrated the holy anointing.
7. There are reasons and reasons for the prohibition of strong drink. It weakens the constitution, confuses the mind, and debases the character. The stronger the drink, the weaker is the one who imbibes it. But the greatest of all reasons to us is, God has forbidden it to the priesthood, and all His children are priests—a “royal priesthood.” 1 Peter 2:9. But the divine prohibition virtually goes farther than the priesthood: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” Prov. 20:1.
8. The priesthood in Israel were the official teachers of the people; so the Lord’s “royal priesthood” are set to be the teachers of God’s Word to the people of the world. They have on them the “holy oil” of God’s enlightening Spirit (John 14:15-17; 16:13, 14), and the great Teacher’s command is, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matt. 5:16.
For further excellent comment, see “Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter XXXIII, pages 374-377, and article on page 6, entitled, “Identified with Sin.”
