Movatterモバイル変換

Numbers 1:49
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

Numbers 3:39
All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward,were twenty and two thousand.

Numbers 4:27,48
At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens…

they were not

Numbers 1:49
Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

because

Numbers 18:20-24
And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: Iam thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel…

Numbers 35:2-8
Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites of the inheritance of their possession cities to dwell in; and ye shall givealso unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them…

Deuteronomy 10:9
Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the LORDis his inheritance, according as the LORD thy God promised him.

when they offered unauthorized fire
The "unauthorized fire" refers to an offering that was not commanded by God. In the context of the Levitical priesthood, specific instructions were given for offerings and sacrifices. Nadab and Abihu's actions were a direct violation of these instructions, demonstrating a lack of respect for God's holiness and authority. This act of presumption is often seen as a symbol of human attempts to approach God on their own terms, rather than His. The incident emphasizes the need for adherence to divine instructions in worship practices.

before the LORD
The phrase "before the LORD" indicates the presence of God, particularly in the tabernacle, where His glory dwelt among the Israelites. This setting underscores the gravity of Nadab and Abihu's actions, as they were performed in the direct presence of God. The tabernacle was a sacred space, and any act of disobedience there was especially egregious. This phrase also serves as a reminder of God's omnipresence and the need for holiness in His presence, a theme that runs throughout the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament teachings on the holiness of God and the reverence due to Him.

Israel is on the Plains of Moab, about to enter Canaan. Moses conducts a new census to show that God preserved the nation despite the wilderness judgments (Numbers 26:1-4). Verse 61 appears as a parenthetical reminder while listing Aaron’s sons: “But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD” (Numbers 26:61). It explains why only Eleazar and Ithamar carry the priestly line forward (compareNumbers 3:2-4).

• Firstborn and second-born sons of Aaron, consecrated as priests alongside their father (Exodus 28:1;Leviticus 8:1-2).

• Present on Mount Sinai’s summit with Moses, Aaron, and the elders, witnessing God’s glory (Exodus 24:9-11).

• Their privileged position heightens the tragedy of their fall (Luke 12:48).

•Leviticus 10:1-2 recounts the event: “Nadab and Abihu... presented unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them... so fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them.”

• “Unauthorized” (strange, foreign) indicates they disregarded God’s specific instructions for incense and ritual (Exodus 30:7-9; 40:34-38).

• Possible elements of disobedience:

– Use of coals from an unapproved source rather than the altar (Leviticus 16:12).

– Entry into the Holy Place at the wrong time or in an unprescribed manner (Leviticus 16:1-2).

– Performing duties while impaired, suggested by the immediate prohibition of priestly drinking (Leviticus 10:8-10).

• God’s holiness demands exact obedience; worship is on His terms, not ours (1 Samuel 15:22;Isaiah 6:1-5).

• The consuming fire that judged them mirrors earlier and later demonstrations of divine holiness (Exodus 19:18;Hebrews 12:29).

• Their death serves as a warning to priests and people alike that proximity to God carries accountability (Numbers 3:4; 16:35).

• Obedience matters. Sincerity without submission can be deadly (Matthew 7:21-23).

• Spiritual privilege does not grant immunity from discipline (1 Corinthians 10:1-12).

• Acceptable worship centers on God’s revealed pattern, fulfilled in Christ, our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22).

• God’s justice and mercy meet at the cross; His holiness remains unchanged, but His grace provides the way to draw near (Romans 3:23-26).

Numbers 26:61 reminds Israel—and us—why two of Aaron’s sons are absent from the census: they died for substituting their own way of worship for God’s. The verse underscores the unchanging holiness of the LORD, the necessity of precise obedience, and the grave consequences of disregarding divine instruction. Nadab and Abihu’s story stands as a perpetual caution, urging every generation to honor God’s holiness and approach Him only through the means He provides.

Parallel Commentaries ...