The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
Nadab and Abihu offer fire the LORD has not commanded, and fire from His presence consumes them. Moses explains their death as the outworking of the LORD's holiness before those near Him.
N1ow Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command. 2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD. 3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when He said:
Moses has the bodies carried outside the camp and forbids Aaron and his remaining sons to display mourning or leave the Tent of Meeting. Their priestly anointing binds them to remain before the LORD while the wider community grieves.
4Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” 5So they came forward and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses had directed. 6Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become disheveled and do not tear your garments, or else you will die, and the LORD will be angry with the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn on account of the fire that the LORD has ignited. 7You shall not go outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, or you will die, for the LORD’s anointing oil is on you.”