Bible Commentaries

offered = brought near. Hebrew. karab. App-43.

strange fire: i.e. fire other than that Jehovah had commanded, required, and given from heaven (Leviticus 1:7; Leviticus 6:12; Leviticus 9:24; Leviticus 16:12. Compare Exodus 30:9). It was of their own kindling: so is all that is offered to God in worship today. If so, according to John 4:23, John 4:24, it is "strange fire", and deserves the same judgment! All worship that is not kindled by the Holy Spirit is "strange", and is of the flesh. Compare John 3:6 with John 6:63. It "profiteth nothing", and "God has no respect to it" (Genesis 4:4, Genesis 4:5. Hebrews 11:4). The incense of prayer and worship on the golden altar in the holy place was kindled by fire taken from the brazen altar in the outer court, on which atonement was made (see Leviticus 16:12, Leviticus 16:13 and Revelation 8:5): only those, therefore, whose sin is atoned for can worship. Compare the "strange incense", Exodus 30:9.

commanded them not. Negative. The introduction of anything "strange", where all is ordered by God, is abomination in His sight; and calls for, and calls down, His judgment. Thus the first recorded individual use of incense began in disobedience (Leviticus 10:1), and the last ended in unbelief (Luke 1:10, Luke 1:18, Luke 1:20).

from = from before.

devoured them = slew them; for they were not consumed, as is shown in Leviticus 10:4 and Leviticus 10:6. Note the three fires here: (1) the fire of true worship (Leviticus 9:24); (2) the strange fire of false worship (Leviticus 10:1); (3) the devouring fire of judgment (Leviticus 10:2).

died before the LORD: i.e. in the court of the sanctuary, where their sin had been committed.

This is it, &c., in contrast with Leviticus 10:1. The positive opposed to the negative. Note the emphasis on "This" = this and nothing else: this very thing. Disobedience here is vital; this is why "judgment must begin at the house of God": 1 Peter 4:17, yea "the time is come".

I will. Note this double "I will": and compare it with the "must" of John 4:24. Compare John 3:7, John 3:14. All worship which has not Christ for its object, the glory of Jehovah for its end, and the Holy Spirit for its power, will be rejected and judged.

held his peace: in solemn submission to God's judgment on his two sons, just struck dead so soon after their anointing, installation, and investiture. Compare Leviticus 8:13.

sons of Uzziel. Izhar and Hebron. The older uncles were passed over because of their probable sympathy with their nephews Nadab and Abihu (Numbers 16:5, Numbers 16:7, Numbers 16:8).

out = to without. Burials took place in the open fields. Compare Genesis 23:9, Genesis 23:17. Matthew 27:52, Matthew 27:53. Luke 7:12.

as = according as.

unto (Hebrew. "el)

Aaron unto (= to Hebrew. l)

Eleazar, &c. rend. Hebrew. param, only here, Leviticus 14:45, and Leviticus 21:10.

lest ye die, and lest wrath come = and so ye will not (Hebrew. "al) die, and. wrath will not (Hebrew. l"o) come.

people = assembly.

but let, &c. = but your brethren . . . will bewail.

whole house of Israel. See note on Exodus 16:31.

burning. Hebrew. saraph. See App-43.

door = entrance. tabernacle of the congregation = "tent (Hebrew. "ohel) of meeting". App-40.

spake. The only time to Aaron alone. See note on Leviticus 5:14.

wine. Hebrew. yayin. See App-27.

strong drink. Hebrew. shekar. App-27. Does this law follow here, because it was intoxication which led to the sin of Nadab and Abihu?

when ye go. Compare Ezekiel 44:21. The exception implies the rule. Nothing may be done to excite or stimulate the flesh in the sanctuary: neither drink within, nor music without, nor sensuous surroundings. The old nature must not be stimulated by moving scenes or mere human eloquence. All "must" be of the Spirit. John 4:24.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

teach. This was a special part of the priests" work. See note on Deuteronomy 33:10.

children. Hebrew sons.

offerings. Hebrew, plural of korban. App-43.

made by fire. Hebrew. ishsheh. App-43.

without leaven. See App-38.

beside the altar: in the outer court, Compare Leviticus 10:2 with Leviticus 6:20.

thy due = thy statute. Notwithstanding the failure in verses: Leviticus 10:1-7.

sacrifices. Hebrew, plural of zabah. App-43.

wave . . . heave. See note on Exodus 29:27.

thy daughters. Note this: as well as sons. We must distinguish the privileges confined to males; others are common to all alike. The daughters could not eat of the "sin offering" (Leviticus 10:17), but could eat of the "meal offering" (Leviticus 10:14).

burnt. Hebrew. saraph. App-43.

Wherefore . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6) to call attention to Ch. Leviticus 6:26.

sin. Hebrew. chat"a. App-43and App-44.

to bear = to bear away, or remove. Compare Genesis 50:17, Exodus 32:32. Psalms 32:1, Psalms 32:5. Matthew 8:17. So here, the Chaldee, Syriac, and Septuagint render it "take away" or "remove". The Authorized Version follows the Vulgate here.

iniquity. Hebrew. a"vah. App-44.

make atonement. See note on Exodus 29:33.

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos (App-6), to emphasize the distinction laid down in Ch. Leviticus 6:26, Leviticus 6:30; Leviticus 10:17. Compare Leviticus 4:5, Leviticus 4:16; Leviticus 6:23, Leviticus 6:30.