Leviticus 10:1 "And 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 commended them not."

Nadab and Abihu were the two oldest sons of Aaron, and these two sons took this censer, a pan to carry fire in, and they put the incense in it, live coals of fire from their home or else where, and brought those hot coals to the tabernacle altar to start the fire on the altar. We know from the prior chapter that it was God that lit the fire that came down from heaven, and this fire was to be burnt continually, fed bother in the mourning and the evening.

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, as we will read in Leviticus 16:12, 13: only those, therefore, whose sin is atoned for can worship. Strange fire then is fire other than that which God provided, commanded, required and given from heaven. This strange fire was fire of their own kindling: so is all that is offered to God in worship today. If so, according to John 4:23, 24, it is "strange fire,, and deserves the same judgment. Today, all fire that is not kindled by the Holy Spirit is "strange fire", and is of the flesh.

John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him."

John 4:24 "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

So the introduction of anything in the worship of God, that is not ordered by God in worship through His Word, is "strange fire", and is an abomination in His sight to Him. So the same thing that happened here to Nadab and Abihu, is the same judgment that will be handed down spiritually to those that take pleasure in fooling around with strange fire, or things that go against His Word and commandments. Thus here in verse one, individually the very first use of the incense began in disobedience and the last ended in unbelief. As we read in Luke 1:10, 18, 20, Zacharias and Elizabeth were very old and beyond child bearing years. While Zacharias was tending to the course of Abia at the altar, the people were praying outside at this time of incense. Then the angel of God came and told Zacharias of a son that would soon be born to him and Elizabeth, and that son would be John the Baptist. Zacharias laughed when the angel told him the good news. Of course that news was accepted in complete unbelief, for at their age Zacharias could not see how under any condition they could have a child.

Because of this unbelief we read the angels response to Zacharias in Luke 1:20 "And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season."  

As we read on we see that this prophecy came to pass exactly as the angel of God prophesied.

Leviticus 10:2 "And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

This fire did not come from the burning offering altar, but from God Himself, just as that spirit struck Zacharias and made him unable to speak. Only this fire from God lit on Nadab and Abihu, and killed and consumed them. Note the three fires stated here: (1) the fire of true worship of Leviticus 9:24; (2) the strange fire of false worship of verse one, stated above. ((3) the devouring fire of judgment that will consume those that participate in strange fire that goes against the commands of His Word.

The glory of the Lord had just appeared before the entire congregation, and all that were present fell on their faces, and some scholars believe with all this shouting and confusion going on, the two sons of Aaron got sidetracked, and took it upon themselves to offer a self-willed service to God. The problem was, is that it was not the proper time for the burning of incense.

Another belief was that this fire on the altar of God was to be kept burning continually and they allowed it to be burnt out, so they took the fire from elsewhere, carrying the hot coals in the pan to the altar of God. Remember that when the priest took the parts of a sin offering out of the camp, they were instructed not to start a fire out there but take the hot coals off the altar that was burning the fat. Men like to reason why these two priest's lives were taken, but one thing for sure, and that is Nadab and Abihu did not take the sanctification period seriously, and pay attention to the commands that God gave for the worship of Him.

Leviticus 10:3 "Then 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."

Moses is speaking to Aaron here, just after his two sons were killed and consumed by the Lord. There can be no misunderstanding why this event took place. God demanded that those men sanctified to come before Him and that would stand before the people, will be sanctified to follow the exact commands and procedure that He has given in the worship of Him. "This is it.." This and nothing else. Its the positive opposed by the negative. God will accept nothing but what is required by Him, and Disobedience is vital; and thus judgment will begin at the house of God. this is vital whether at the altar at Moses time, or in our house of God in these end times.

I Peter 4:17 "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?"

Do you get what God is trying to tell His people? He will not put up with horseplay in His house. As we have seen for the past nine chapters, each of the sacrifice offerings and procedures leading to the sacrifice are to be done in orderly manner, exactly as He has prescribed. And When our Lord Jesus Christ went to the cross and paid the price for the sins of those that by faith would come to him in belief and repentance, the Way was established, and that way then became the only way to follow. No shortcuts, no excuses, just the simple way coming to the Father through Jesus, the Son of God. These two super-preachers, the sons of Aaron tried to make their shortcut, and present a new way, and God struck them dead. Aaron watched as God took his sons, and Aaron said nothing, he held his peace in solemn submission to God's judgment on his two sons.

All worship that does not have Jesus Christ the center and object of its worship, and the glory of Jehovah for its end, and the Holy Spirit for its power, will be rejected and judged by God. You can count on that. God sanctified Himself by the actions of His judgments. Aaron and his sons were the ones that were suppose to be the leaders in the religious community, and they were the ones that broke the law first.

Leviticus 10:4 "And 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."

Uzziel had two older sons in his seed line, but Moses passed over the two older sons, to have the two younger sons carry Nadab and Abihu out of the camp sanctuary. The older sons were quite shaken by the events that just took place, before the people of Israel. They now witnessed the fact that when you sacrifice and come before God, there will be no foolishness going on. The name Mishael means, "who is what God is". This happened at the front entrance to the sanctuary, and these two bodies had to be carried through the residential area of the camp, to a place outside the camp area.

Leviticus 10:5 "So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp: as Moses had said."

Just eight days prior, Nadab and Abihu were assigned these two priestly coats to wear during their duties as priests, no they became the coffins to carry their dead bodies out of the camp. When the sacrifices were consumed at the altar of God, there was nothing but ashes left. God consumed these two men as they messed around with this strange fire, and God "devoured them". There wasn't much left of them to carry out of the camp. Mishael and Elzaphan were the cousins of Aaron and Moses, for Uzziel was their uncle.

Leviticus 10:6 "And 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."

Eleazar and Ithamar were the two sons that were left with Aaron to do the duties of the priesthood before the people. The order went out from Moses to Aaron, to tell his two sons that were left, not to cover their heads in mourning. Don't rend your cloths, or show any sign of loss to the family; or they would be killed also. Eleazar means "God's helper", and he would eventually become the chief priest. Don't show any form of mourning for your two brothers, lest the wrath of God come down on the whole house of Israel, let the people mourn the lost of your brothers.

Leviticus 10:7 "And 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."

The family of Aaron was not to attend the funeral of Nadab and Abihu, and that was because they had gone through the anointing sanctification process of that seven days, and the anointing oil was upon each of them. Because of this, they would surely die if they were in the presence of those unclean bodies of Nabad and Abihu. The Anointing oil in New Testament times is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit has nothing to do with death or sin. The Holy spirit gives eternal life, and life giving, and that is the reason the family of Aaron was to say away and not defile themselves.

Leviticus 10:8 "And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying,"

This is the only time that the Lord will speak directly to Aaron, for all the other times God spoke to Moses and Moses related the message from God to Aaron.

Leviticus 10:9 " " Do 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:"

This commandment or instruction was direct from God to the priesthood, but why not wine nor strong drink? Remember in some of the sacrifices there would be fermented drinks attached to the offering, and in doing so and becoming drunk they would do as Nadab and Abihu did, and violate the commandments that God gave them. In any case this became a perpetual statute, something to follow as long as the priesthood existed. Nadab and Abihu thought nothing of what they did before hand, and never gave God a second thought, and God did not want that to happen again.

In the Appendix 44, xii. there are two types of sin mentioned here. The "Shagag" is an un-willful sin, erring from imprudence, rashness, being deceived, not willfully; While the "Shagah" is committing errors willfully and through passion or wine, hence, they go astray. As it is to be distinguished from presumptuous or high-handed sin.

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

It becomes very important that every priest know the difference between holy and unholy, clean and unclean; things acceptable to God and things that are unacceptable.

Leviticus 10:11 "And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses."

The teaching of the instruction by God, all his commandments and requirement was the prime responsibility of the priesthood. If thy didn't understand the difference between holy and unholy, how would the people come to know what was holy and righteous, from the unclean things forbidden by God.

Leviticus 10:12 "And 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:"

As these priest would take the meat offering that remaineth, it is done as a reminder from Moses of those things that were holy, and most holy. With the course of events of the day, Moses is dong this to make sure that nothing else would go wrong here.

Leviticus 10:13 "And 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."

Moses is demanding that Aaron and his sons would eat this sacrifice in the holy place of the tabernacle, because it was required by statute. This statute was issued in Leviticus 6:16.

Leviticus 10:14 "And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and they 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."

This was a perpetual statute that was to continue as long as there was a priesthood. Most of the sacrifices could be ate by Aarons sons and daughters alike, but those offered in sin offerings were to be eaten by the males alone. It was forbidden by the daughters of Aaron.

Leviticus 10:15 "The 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."

In Leviticus 9:15, it talked about the handling of the remains of the sin offering, that was taken outside the camp to be burned in a clean place, but the sin offering was not for the priest themselves in a holy place. Any blood offering where the blood was not taken into the Sanctuary itself, that offering made it a sacrifice where the meat was to be eaten by the priest. The fat of course was to be burnt on the altar.

Leviticus 10:16 "And 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,"

When Moses went to get the meat of the goat of the sin offering, he found that it was burnt: and Moses became very angry with Eleazar and Ithamar the priests.

Leviticus 10:17 "Wherefore 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?"

"Why did you not eat the sin offering in the Holy Place?" Moses asked them. Again, the blood was not taken inside the sanctuary, so they were suppose to have eaten it. Another foul up in the practice of the priest, in this early stage of the priesthood.

Leviticus 10:18 "Behold, 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."

In verse fifteen the handling of the sin offering was for Aaron himself, however here it is for the sins of the congregation.

Leviticus 10:19 "And 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?"

When Aaron saw this other mess up by his sons, he became very shaken over the matter. His two older sons lost their lives messing around with strange fire, and Moses told him to not even show remorse for the loss of those two sons. Inside his heart and mind this must have been a great struggle dealing with the religious matters of the time. This was the first day of the priesthood after the seven day consecration period, and here again in the late afternoon, come to find out the other two sons messed up again by not eating the sacrifice meat as required by God. You can see why this old man Aaron would be shook. Now Aaron is thinking that, even if I had eaten that sacrifice this day, would that sacrifice even have been accepted by the Lord?

Leviticus 10:20 "And when Moses heard that, he was content."

When Moses heard that Aaron was concerned with pleasing the Lord, it set his mind at ease over whether the priesthood was taken seriously by Aaron and his family. Aaron was so upset that he was not able to enjoy the sacrificial meal, and this was the cause for the oversight, and not carelessness. There were two different offerings rendered, one for the Aaron, and the other for the people. These were going on at the same time. And there was an understand of the priest that these offerings were sin offering, and thus they were not to be eaten. The first day on the job and there was a mix-up, for only the first was for sin, sure that was to be burnt, but in the confusion, both offerings were burnt and carried out of the camp.

Moses then could see that the mistakes were not because of negligence, but because of misunderstanding of what each animal was for, and if they were both for sin, then what was done was right. Moses could accept that, as God did also.