Playing with Fire ... Nadab, Abihu, and a Prize
We passed by Nadab and Abihu last week with a nod and promise to come back someday. So before I forget, someday is here. Most people familiar with the Bible have heard of Nadab, Abihu, and a pyromaniac God who burned them to a crisp. Today I want to unpack their story, especially what they did that was so terribly wrong that God zapped them?
Our story begins on the last eight days that it took to make the priests holy (Aaron and his sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazer, and Ithamar). They have stayed at the tabernacle for the whole week, going through rituals that would make them “clean enough” (holy) to work at God’s tent. Presumably, as the book unfolds, they have already received instructions about some of the things they are to do and not to do. Just to take one example, they were obligated to eat a portion of a person’s sin offering (see Lev 6:26; as long as it was not from another priest). So, following Leviticus 10, Nadab and Abihu put fire in their incense censers and “offered unholy fire before the Lord” (NRSV) and fire came out from the Lord and burned them up (10:1-2).
The question is what in the world did they do that was so bad? We could spend weeks working through proposals. Instead, I just want to point out clues in the text:
Clue #1 The fire “came out from the Lord” (most English translations) or “fire flew out from before the Lord” (CEV). This information suggests that the fire came out from the most holy place or the Lord’s throne room.
Clue #2 At the end of this story the Lord told Aaron that no priest should ever drink wine or a stronger drink when they are on duty and “go into the tent” (10:8). My question is why would the Lord mention this now? Could it be because part of what was going on with Nadab and Abihu was that they were drunk (or in state toward drunk)? For my money, I can’t think of another reason this command would come now.
Clue #3 At the beginning of instructions for the Day of Atonement when Aaron is going to go into the Lord’s throne room, the text begins with a reminder of Nadab and Abihu dying when “they approached the Lord” (Lev 16:1 CEB, NIV; see also NASB, NRSV). Then Moses tells his brother that he cannot come into God’s throne room whenever he wants or he will be killed (16:2). What is the connection between Nadab and Abihu and what Aaron is about to do? I think the answer is: go into God’s throne room.
There may be other clues that I have skipped or overlooked (e.g., what makes the fire unholy? 10:1), but these will suffice for now. So reconstructing events, what can we say:
Conclusion #1: Nadab and Abihu were on their way into the Most Holy Place or God’s throne room, but God stops them with the fire that comes out from his presence. I can imagine (but not prove) that the two brothers opened the curtain to go in, but instead of going in – God’s fire came out to stop them.
Conclusion #2: Based on God’s comment to Moses/Aaron afterward (10:8), I think it very likely that they had been drinking too much and were at least a little drunk.
Conclusion #3: Why did God kill them? I ask a question in return: what would happen to God’s throne room if two drunken priests go in (when they please) to do who knows what? Answer: the one place they must keep clean and holy will be polluted beyond belief. Remember, their purpose is to keep the tent clean so that the Lord can live with Israel. The result if they go in? Either God leaves the people or worse.
This short story is not about an unreasonable God striking down two priests for doing something a little wrong. Much more is at stake, and much more is going on with these two guys and their hearts.
Now the challenge: Without reading it (Lev 10:12-19) summarize what happens next in this chapter (2-4 sentences is plenty). I have a copy of “I (Still) Believe” (Zondervan, 2015) an excellent book in which 18 scholars write short chapters on how they encountered “advanced biblical studies” and retained their faith (many do not). Contest Rules:
All answers must be posted as a comment to this post.
If you do not want the book, please do not post an answer (and give it away).
To qualify as a winner you must be registered as a subscriber. I’m getting so mean :(but hope you will want to subscribe so that you get immediate email alerts when new posts come to the blog (I’m trying to post fewer reminders on Facebook).
Previous winners are not qualified to win.
Sorry, but I can’t afford to send the book outside the USA.
Watch for my response to the question on Thursday afternoon.
