Leviticus 10:7, commentary and pictures

Aaron and his remaining sons were ordered to stay at the entrance of the tabernacle because the anointing oil of the Lord was upon them as a mark of consecration to sacred service, and they obeyed the word of Moses. To leave would have brought death upon themselves and wrath upon the people. They were to restrain all outward grief and accept God's just punishment in silence without complaint. Any show of sorrow would have implied sympathy with sin and led others to murmur against God, while sympathizing with the guilty to soften rightful reproof makes the sympathizers share their guilt and hinders erring souls from being saved. The command stands in the account where wine had benumbed Nadab and Abihu so they could not distinguish the sacred from the common, and those who minister in holy things must therefore be temperate and clear-minded to judge rightly and teach God's statutes, a warning that bears especially upon physicians and medical workers.

Remaining Under Anointing

Aaron and his surviving sons were commanded not to go out from the door or entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation because the anointing oil of the Lord was upon them, marking them as consecrated to sacred priestly service. They were required to remain at the tabernacle and at the sanctuary in that consecrated service even after the death of Nadab and Abihu in their own family. They did according to the word of Moses and obeyed his command to stay. Leaving would bring death upon themselves, and would bring the Lord's wrath upon the people and upon the whole congregation. Their sacred office carried serious responsibilities, and the failure of Nadab and Abihu to control themselves, followed by their punishment by death for dishonoring that office, shows the gravity of serving God in a consecrated role.

Honoring God's Just Judgment

Aaron and his surviving sons were required to hold back their grief and accept God's just punishment without any outward sign of sorrow or complaint, and Aaron submitted in silence because he knew God was just. They were to remain at their post rather than display mourning over those who had been slain. Any public show of grief would have implied sympathy with sin and could have led the people to murmur against God by spreading a spirit of unreconciliation.

To mourn for the punished rather than for the dishonor done to God places the mourner on the side of the transgressor, so that sympathizers become guilty with the one at fault. Sympathizing with the one at fault and seeking to lighten the weight of rightful reproof sets the sympathizer in opposition to God and to His servants. The command therefore teaches reconciliation to God's corrections and open acknowledgment of their justice, so that others may fear. False sympathy that excuses those whom God has justly reproved and punished keeps erring souls from being saved, a danger especially present in the last days when reproof comes through God's servants.

Temperance in Sacred Service

Leviticus 10:7 belongs to the account of Nadab and Abihu, whose use of wine benumbed and clouded their minds and confused their senses so that they could not distinguish sacred things from common ones, even sacred fire from common fire. Uncontrolled appetite caused their downfall when in that condition they disobeyed God's command by offering strange fire, and they were slain for it. The lesson of their fate stands as a warning connected with the consequences of uncontrolled appetite.

The command concerning wine and strong drink was given to those ministering in holy things, that they might distinguish between holy and unholy and teach God's statutes. Those entrusted with such responsibility needed temperance in order to judge clearly and act with sound judgment. Sacred work therefore requires clear discernment, unimpaired by that which confuses the senses.

That warning applies with special force to physicians and to others engaged in medical work, who must keep appetite and habits under strict control while serving others. Wine dulls the senses, and those whose work is done under God's watch must remember that watch and guard themselves accordingly.