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Exodus 24:1,9
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off…

died

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

Numbers 3:4
And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

Numbers 26:61
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

Eleazar

Exodus 29:9
And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

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 itis most holy:

Numbers 16:39,40
And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broadplates for a covering of the altar: …

and they had no sons
The fact that Nadab and Abihu had no sons is significant because it meant that their priestly line ended with them. In the context of Israelite society, having descendants was crucial for the continuation of one's family line and inheritance. This detail emphasizes the finality of their judgment and the impact of their actions on their legacy. It also sets the stage for the continuation of the priestly duties through their brothers.

so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests
With Nadab and Abihu's line cut off, the priestly duties fell to their younger brothers, Eleazar and Ithamar. This transition is important in the biblical narrative, as Eleazar and Ithamar became the progenitors of the two main priestly lines in Israel. Eleazar's line would eventually lead to the high priesthood of Zadok, while Ithamar's line included Eli, the priest during the time of Samuel. This division of priestly responsibilities ensured the continuation of the priestly service and the fulfillment of God's covenant with Aaron. The service of Eleazar and Ithamar also points to the faithfulness of God in maintaining the priesthood despite human failure.

Leviticus 10:1-2 recounts the shocking day Aaron’s eldest sons “offered unauthorized fire before the LORD… So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them”. Their death, reiterated inNumbers 3:4, highlights three enduring truths:

• God’s holiness is non-negotiable; priestly privilege never cancels obedience (Hebrews 12:28-29).

• Judgment can be swift, even upon those raised in a godly household (1 Peter 4:17).

• Aaron, still alive, bore the sorrow of seeing his family judged, yet continued in ministry (Leviticus 10:6-7). The chronicler preserves this detail to explain later priestly assignments.

Because Nadab and Abihu left no heirs, their branch of Aaron’s line ended. Genealogies in1 Chronicles 6:3-4 andNumbers 26:60-61 underline this fact. In a priesthood that passed from father to son (Exodus 28:1), the absence of descendants had practical effects:

• No succession meant no future claim on temple service from their line.

• God’s providence redirected responsibility to the surviving brothers, preserving order among the Levites (Psalm 33:11).

• The record warns that sin can cut off even a promising legacy (Proverbs 10:27).

With the two older brothers gone, only Eleazar and Ithamar remained to serve alongside Aaron. Scripture traces their faithful ministry:

• Eleazar succeeded Aaron as high priest on Mount Hor (Numbers 20:25-28) and later oversaw the Kohathites’ duties (Numbers 4:16).

• Ithamar supervised the Gershonites and Merarites (Numbers 4:28, 33) and his line later produced Eli (1 Samuel 2:27).

•1 Chronicles 24 details how David, with Zadok (of Eleazar’s line) and Ahimelech (of Ithamar’s line), organized the priesthood into 24 courses. God thus balanced continuity (maintaining Aaron’s household) with flexibility (adapting to new leadership).

This transition illustrates:

– God always preserves a remnant for His service (Romans 11:4-5).

– Faithful obedience positions us for greater responsibility when others fall away (Matthew 25:21).

– The priesthood’s stability foreshadows Christ, our forever-faithful High Priest (Hebrews 7:24-25).

1 Chronicles 24:2 reminds us that holiness matters, sin has consequences, and God safeguards His purposes. Nadab and Abihu’s sudden death underscores divine justice; their lack of heirs ends their line; yet through Eleazar and Ithamar God keeps the priesthood alive, demonstrating both righteousness and mercy.

And had no children.--Literally,And sons hadnot become (been born)to them.

Therefore Eleazar and Ithamar.--And Eleazarand Ithamar acted as priests; Numbers adds, "before the face of Aaron their father." It is implied that the office of the priesthood remained with the two lines, or houses, of Eleazar and Ithamar.