[What in the world is ‘fire’ that is —-
- “outside” fire [EF]
- or “alien”[AST]
- “strange” [NASB]
This is one time that the Christian translator’s choice of “unauthorized” [NIV] fire makes more sense. Possibly, it refers to some deviation from the exact instructions on how to prepare or handle or put the right portion of incense in the censer, though more likely, it might have been the careless, reckless or flippant attitude of Nadab and Abiyhuw that were judged, and judged quite harshly.
P&H clarifies:
“Unconsecrated fire, not from the Divinely kindled flames on the Altar. On the very day of the consecration of the Sanctuary they ventured to change an essential of the Service in obedience to a momentary whim. In the circumstances, and in view of their office, it constituted an unpardonable offence.”
And so they play with fire and immediately they’re consumed in fire straight from YHWH Himself! They were not even given time to realize what they did wrong, repent of it, ask for a second chance. Why is this so? Was this a graver sin than their father Aharown’s making the Golden Calf? And later, Eleazar and Ithamar, with Aharown again, fail to observe the exact instructions regarding the eating of the sin offering (or disobedience offering). Could this be Aharown’s punishment for his participation in the Golden Calf, that he would witness his priest-sons die in swift judgment and worse, he is forbidden to even mourn for them!
What does this suggest about the justice of God?
As far as we have read, God always gives instructions and warnings for disobedience. Who are we to question divine justice? Like Aharown, we simply accept but endeavor to understand the point being made, for surely YHWH does not make mistakes and is not unjust.
Translation: EF/Everett Fox, The Five Books of Moses. Commentary from AST/ArtScroll Tanach and P&H/Pentateuch and Haftorahs, ed. Dr. J.H. Hertz. Highlights and reformatting ours.]
Leviticus/Wayyiqrah 10
1 Now Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, took each-man his pan,and, placing fire in them, put smoking-incense on it,
and brought-near, before the presence of YHVH, outside fire,
such as he had not commanded them.
AST: each took his fire pan they put fire in them and placed incense upon it; and they brought before HaShem an alien fire that He had not commanded them.
2 And fire went out from the presence of YHVHand consumed them, so that they died, before the presence of YHVH.
3 Moshe said to Aharon:
It is what YHVH spoke (about), saying:
Through those permitted-near to me, I will be-proven-holy,
before all the people, I will be-accorded-honor!
Aharon was silent.
AST: I will be sanctified through those who are nearest Me, thus I will be honored before the entire people”
4 Now Moshe called Mishael and Eltzafan, the sons of Uzziel uncle of Aharon,and said to them:
Come-near, carry your brothers from in front of the Holy-shrine to beyond the camp.
5 They came-near and carried them, by their tunics, beyond the camp,
as Moshe had spoken.
6 Now Moshe said to Aharon and to Elazar and Itamar his sons:
Your heads, do not bare,
your garments, you are not to tear,
so that you do not die
and he be furious with the entire community!
Your brothers, the entire House of Israel, are to weep over the burning that YHVH caused-to-burn.
7 And from the entrance to the Tent of Appointment, do not go out, lest you die,
for the oil of anointing of YHVH (is) upon you!
They did according to the word of Moshe.
8 Now YHVH spoke to Aharon, saying:
9 Wine and intoxicant, do not drink, you and your sons with you,
when you enter the Tent of Appointment,
so that you do not die-
a law for the ages, throughout your generations:
10 and so that there be-separation between the holy and the profane, between the tamei and the pure,
11 and so that (you) might instruct the Children of Israel in all the laws that YHVH spoke to them through the hand of Moshe.
12 Now Moshe spoke to Aharon and to Elazar and to Itamar, his sons that were left:
Take the grain-gift that is left of the fire-offerings of YHVH
and eat it unleavened next to the slaughter-site,
for it is a holiest holy-portion.
13 You are to eat it in a holy place,
for it is for your allotment and your sons’ allotment, from the fire-offerings of YHVH,
for thus have I been commanded.
14 But the breast of the elevation-offering and the thigh of the contribution, you may eat in (any) pure place, you and your sons and your daughters with you,
for as your allotment and your children’s allotment they have been given (you), from the slaughter-offerings of shalom of the Children of Israel.
15 The thigh of the contribution and the breast of the elevation-offering, along with the gifts of the fat-parts, they are to bring to elevate as an elevation-offering before the presence of YHVH;
it is to be for you and for your sons with you as an allotment for the ages,
as YHVH has commanded.
16 Now about the hairy-goat of hattat Moshe inquired, yes, inquired, and here: it had (already) been burned!
And he became furious at Elazar and Itamar, the sons of Aharon that were left, saying:
17 Why did you not eat the hattat-offering in the place of the Holy-shrine?
For it is a holiest holy-portion,
and he has given it to you to bear the iniquity of the community, to effect-purgation for them, before the presence of YHVH.
18 Here, its blood was not brought into the Holy-shrine, inside;
you should have eaten, eaten it in the Holy-shrine, as I commanded!
19 But Aharon said to Moshe:
Here, today they brought-near their hattat-offering and their offering-up, before the presence of YHVH,
and such (things) as these have happened to me!
Had I eaten the hattat-offering today, would it have been good in the eyes of YHVH?
20 Moshe hearkened, and it was good in his eyes.
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