← All chapters Leviticus 10

Strange Fire

The first narrative in Leviticus, and it is a catastrophe. Two of Aaron’s sons take censers, put fire and incense in them, and offer strange fire — and fire comes out from before the LORD and kills them. The text gives one reason, four words long: which he commanded them not. Everything else people say about this passage — wrong coals, wrong incense, wrong room, wrong initiative, drunkenness — is inference, and the drunkenness reading rests entirely on a wine prohibition that turns up six verses later. Moses tells Aaron that God will be sanctified in those who come near him, and the verse ends: and Aaron held his peace. He and his surviving sons are then forbidden to mourn. The chapter closes with Aaron winning an argument with Moses about procedure.

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1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.^↗

2And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.

3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.^↗

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

5So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.

6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled.

7And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

8And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,

9Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;

11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:

13And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons’ due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire: for so I am commanded.

14And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons’ due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.

15The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the Lord; and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, by a statute for ever; as the Lord hath commanded.

16And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,

17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord?

18Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.

19And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?

20And when Moses heard that, he was content.

1Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them.^↗

2Fire came out from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

3Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh spoke of, saying, 'I will show myself holy to those who come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" Aaron held his peace.^↗

4Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brothers from before the sanctuary out of the camp."

5So they came near, and carried them in their tunics out of the camp, as Moses had said.

6Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Don't let the hair of your heads go loose, and don't tear your clothes, so that you don't die, and so that he will not be angry with all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Yahweh has kindled.

7You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." They did according to the word of Moses.

8Then Yahweh said to Aaron,

9"You and your sons are not to drink wine or strong drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die. This shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.

10You are to make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean.

11You are to teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Yahweh has spoken to them by Moses."

12Moses spoke to Aaron, and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons who were left, "Take the meal offering that remains of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the altar; for it is most holy;

13and you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your portion, and your sons' portion, of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire; for so I am commanded.

14The waved breast and the heaved thigh you shall eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you: for they are given as your portion, and your sons' portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the children of Israel.

15They shall bring the heaved thigh and the waved breast with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh. It shall be yours, and your sons' with you, as a portion forever, as Yahweh has commanded."

16Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burned. He was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,

17"Why haven't you eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is most holy, and he has given it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Yahweh?

18Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly should have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded."

19Aaron spoke to Moses, "Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before Yahweh; and such things as these have happened to me. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in Yahweh's sight?"

20When Moses heard that, it was pleasing in his sight.

1And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before Jehovah, which he had not commanded them.^↗

2And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.

3Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that Jehovah spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.^↗

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

5So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.

6And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Let not the hair of your heads go loose, neither rend your clothes; that ye die not, and that he be not wroth with all the congregation: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which Jehovah hath kindled.

7And ye shall not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of Jehovah is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

8And Jehovah spake unto Aaron, saying,

9Drink no wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tent of meeting, that ye die not: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:

10and that ye may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;

11and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which Jehovah hath spoken unto them by Moses.

12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meal-offering that remaineth of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar; for it is most holy;

13and ye shall eat it in a holy place, because it is thy portion, and thy sons’ portion, of the offerings of Jehovah made by fire: for so I am commanded.

14And the wave-breast and the heave-thigh shall ye eat in a clean place, thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they are given as thy portion, and thy sons’ portion, out of the sacrifices of the peace-offerings of the children of Israel.

15The heave-thigh and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave-offering before Jehovah: and it shall be thine, and thy sons’ with thee, as a portion for ever; as Jehovah hath commanded.

16And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, saying,

17Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the place of the sanctuary, seeing it is most holy, and he hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before Jehovah?

18Behold, the blood of it was not brought into the sanctuary within: ye should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.

19And Aaron spake unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before Jehovah; and there have befallen me such things as these: and if I had eaten the sin-offering to-day, would it have been well-pleasing in the sight of Jehovah?

20And when Moses heard that, it was well-pleasing in his sight.

1And the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, take each his censer, and put in them fire, and put on it perfume, and bring near before Jehovah strange fire, which He hath not commanded them;^↗

2and fire goeth out from before Jehovah, and consumeth them, and they die before Jehovah.

3And Moses saith unto Aaron, `It is that which Jehovah hath spoken, saying, By those drawing near to Me I am sanctified, and in the face of all the people I am honoured;' and Aaron is silent.^↗

4And Moses calleth unto Mishael and unto Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel, uncle of Aaron, and saith unto them, `Come near, bear your brethren from the front of the sanctuary unto the outside of the camp;'

5and they come near, and bear them in their coats unto the outside of the camp, as Moses hath spoken.

6And Moses saith unto Aaron, and to Eleazar, and to Ithamar his sons, `Your heads ye do not uncover, and your garments ye do not rend, that ye die not, and on all the company He be wroth; as to your brethren, the whole house of Israel, they bewail the burning which Jehovah hath kindled;

7and from the opening of the tent of meeting ye do not go out, lest ye die, for the anointing oil of Jehovah is upon you;' and they do according to the word of Moses.

8And Jehovah speaketh unto Aaron, saying,

9`Wine and strong drink thou dost not drink, thou, and thy sons with thee, in your going in unto the tent of meeting, and ye die not--a statute age-during to your generations;

10so as to make a separation between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the pure;

11and to teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which Jehovah hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.'

12And Moses speaketh unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar, and unto Ithamar his sons, who are left, `Take ye the present that is left from the fire-offerings of Jehovah, and eat it unleavened near the altar, for it is most holy,

13and ye have eaten it in the holy place, for it is thy portion, and the portion of thy sons, from the fire-offerings of Jehovah; for so I have been commanded.

14`And the breast of the wave-offering, and the leg of the heave-offering, ye do eat in a clean place, thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee; for thy portion and the portion of thy sons they have been given, out of the sacrifices of peace-offerings of the sons of Israel;

15the leg of the heave-offering, and breast of the wave-offering, besides fire-offerings of the fat, they do bring in to wave a wave-offering before Jehovah, and it hath been to thee, and to thy sons with thee, by a statute age-during, as Jehovah hath commanded.'

16And the goat of the sin-offering hath Moses diligently sought, and lo, it is burnt, and he is wroth against Eleazar, and against Ithamar, sons of Aaron, who are left, saying,

17`Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the holy place, for it is most holy--and it He hath given to you to take away the iniquity of the company, to make atonement for them before Jehovah?

18lo, its blood hath not been brought in unto the holy place within; eating ye do eat it in the holy place, as I have commanded.'

19And Aaron speaketh unto Moses, `Lo, to-day they have brought near their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before Jehovah; and things like these meet me, yet I have eaten a sin-offering to-day; is it good in the eyes of Jehovah?'

20And Moses hearkeneth, and it is good in his eyes.

Scripture text public domain: KJV (1611) · WEB (2020) · ASV (1901) · YLT (1862).

Dead Sea Scrolls

11Q1 preserves part of this chapter. Among the smaller fragments of 11QpaleoLev^a, the large paleo-Hebrew Leviticus scroll from Cave 11, is a piece carrying 10:4-7 — the cousins called to carry the bodies out of the camp in their tunics, and the prohibition on Aaron and his surviving sons uncovering their heads or tearing their clothes.

A caution about coverage. Leviticus survives at Qumran in more than a dozen Hebrew manuscripts, several in paleo-Hebrew, plus copies from Masada, and many are small and fragmentary. Statements that no manuscript preserves a given chapter are easy to make and easy to get wrong, so TELL names what the well-published scrolls cover and does not assert absence beyond that.

Priestly conduct and purity were the sect’s central preoccupation. 4QMMT lists roughly twenty points of legal disagreement with the Jerusalem authorities, almost all of them sacrificial and purity procedure, and the Temple Scroll (11Q19) legislates in detail on corpse impurity and on who may enter which zone. A chapter in which priests die for an unauthorized approach, and in which the bereaved are barred from mourning because of contact with the dead, sat at the centre of what the community argued about.

In the Quran

The Quran has a near-exact counterpart to the wine rule in verses 8-9. al-Nisa 4:43: do not approach prayer while intoxicated, until you know what you are saying. Leviticus forbids priests wine and strong drink when they go into the tent, on pain of death, and gives the reason in verses 10-11 — so that they can distinguish holy from common and teach. Both rules are about being fit to judge and to speak, and both tie the prohibition to the moment of approach rather than to life in general.

The Quranic prohibition later becomes general. al-Baqara 2:219 weighs great sin against some benefit; al-Ma’ida 5:90-91 forbids intoxicants outright and gives the reason as the enmity and hatred they cause and their turning people from remembrance of God and from prayer.

On acting without warrant, the Quran is direct. al-Shura 42:21 asks whether they have partners who have ordained for them in religion what God has not sanctioned; Yunus 10:59 asks whether God permitted what they declare lawful, or whether they invent lies about Him. That is the category Leviticus 10:1 puts Nadab and Abihu in — not error but unauthorized initiative.

And on Aaron’s silence. al-Baqara 2:155-157 promises good tidings to those who, when calamity strikes, say inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un — we belong to God, and to Him we return. It is the phrase Muslims say on hearing of a death, and it is what a tradition offers a person in Aaron’s position: a sentence to say when there is nothing to say.

No place is named. The pin marks Jebel Musa, the traditional Sinai. What this chapter maps is movement across boundaries: the two sons come too near and die; their cousins carry the bodies out of the camp (v.4-5); Aaron and his surviving sons may not leave the tent door (v.7). Everyone else may weep, and the priests may not. The geography is entirely about who may cross which line, and in which direction. Pin color follows evidence tier.

Ancient Near Eastern Parallels (ANE) How surrounding cultures handled the same themes and events