The Death of Nadab and Abihu
1Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before Yahweh — fire he had not commanded them to offer. 2Fire came out from before Yahweh and consumed them, and they died before Yahweh. 3Moses said to Aaron, “This is what Yahweh spoke of when he said, ‘Among those who come near me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron was silent. 4Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come, carry your relatives away from the front of the sanctuary, outside the camp.” 5So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, just as Moses had said. 6Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not leave your hair uncovered or tear your clothes, or you will die, and Yahweh’s wrath will fall on the whole community. But your relatives, the rest of the house of Israel, may mourn the burning that Yahweh has kindled. 7And do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting, or you will die, for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you.” So they did as Moses said.
Wine, Holiness, and Teaching
8Yahweh spoke to Aaron. He said, 9“You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a permanent statute for your generations, 10so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, 11and so that you can teach the Israelites all the statutes Yahweh has given them through Moses.”
Eating the Priests’ Portions
12Moses said to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the fire offerings of Yahweh, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy. 13You are to eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion and your sons’ portion from the fire offerings of Yahweh; that is what I have been commanded. 14But the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution you may eat in a clean place, you, your sons, and your daughters with you, for they have been given as your portion and your sons’ portion from the peace offerings of the Israelites. 15The thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering are to be brought together with the fire offerings of fat, to be waved as a wave offering before Yahweh; they will belong to you and your sons with you as a permanent portion, just as Yahweh has commanded.”
Moses and Aaron Over the Burned Goat
16Then Moses inquired carefully about the goat of the sin offering, and it turned out to have been burned! He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and said, 17“Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? It is most holy; Yahweh gave it to you to take away the guilt of the community, to make atonement for them before Yahweh. 18Since its blood was not brought into the sanctuary, you should certainly have eaten it there, as I commanded.” 19Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yahweh, and things like these have happened to me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would that have been good in Yahweh’s sight?” 20When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
