Leviticus 10:1-20
Q.1. Why did God slay the firstborn sons of Aaron? What did God want the leaders to learn? – (Lev.10:1-3, 8-11)
God made an example of the firstborn sons of Aaron, to impress on the people the importance of doing everything exactly as He had commanded. There has been much conjecture about what the ‘strange fire’ might have been (Lev.10:1-2). However, the reason for the execution of Nadab and Abihu is clear – Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, SO THAT YOU WILL NOT DIE (as had occurred with Nadab and Abihu) –it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations – and so as to make a distinction between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, and so as to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them through Moses – (Lev.10:9-11). Just as it is illegal to drive a car under the influence of alcohol, so it grieves the Lord, for a person representing Him, to be drunk (c.f. Eph.5:18). It is likely that Nadab and Abihu offered inappropriate fire and incense, as they stumbled drunkenly into the holy presence of God. (c.f. Lev.16:12-13).
Q.2. Why was the disposal of the bodies, and the grieving for the sons of Aaron to be done differently? – (Lev.10:4-7)
Nadab and Abihu had insulted God by failing to give the honour due to His name – By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honoured (Lev.10:3). Their deaths were not normal bereavements, so had to be dealt with differently. Therefore, Moses commanded the sons of Aaron’s uncle to remove the incinerated bodies from the holy place (Lev.10:4-5). Aaron and his other sons were warned not to grieve in the cultural way. This would signify that they understood God’s displeasure of what these men had done and would prevent any further judgment. God also explained, that since the anointing oil was still on Aaron and his remaining sons, for them to leave the tent at that time, would bring further retribution against them (Lev.10:6-7 c.f. Lev.8:33-35).
Q.3. Why was Moses so careful to ensure that the sacrifices were made as God commanded? – (Lev.10:16-20)
Moses had been in the presence of God and knew Him face to face. He had a very clear understanding of the glory and holiness of God. God had made generous provision for the priesthood. However, in return, they all needed to be intricately aware of their duties and responsibilities (Lev.10:12-15). When Moses discovered that the scapegoat had been burned up by mistake, he was horrified – Why did you not eat the sin offering in the holy place? For it is most holy, and He gave it to you to bear away the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord (Lev.10:17). Aaron then explained the complexity of the law, in relation to the offerings (Lev.10:19-20). Later on, God gave further instruction to Aaron and his sons, in order to avoid further disaster and – the Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the Lord and died (Lev.16:1).