Open English Translation LEV Chapter 10

10 Then two of Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu each took their incense-burning pans and put fire in them, and put incense on the fire, thus offering unauthorised fire to Yahweh that he hadn’t instructed them to do. 2 So flames shot out from Yahweh’s front and consumed then so they died there in front of Yahweh. 3 Then Mosheh told Aharon, “That’s what Yahweh meant when he said, ‘I will reveal my holiness to those who approach me, then I’ll be honoured in the sight of all the people.’ ”

4 Then Mosheh summoned Mishael and Elitsafan, the sons of Aharon’s Uncle Uzziyel, and told them, “Come and help by carrying your cousins’ bodies from the sacred place here to a place outside the camp.” 5 So they came and carried the two corpses by their clothes to a place outside the camp just as Mosheh had told them to do.

6 Then Mosheh told Aharon and his sons Eleazar and Itamar, “Don’t leave your hair loose, and don’t tear your clothes, so that you won’t die and so that Yahweh won’t be angry at the entire community. But meanwhile, all the Israelis must mourn because Yahweh was angry enough to burn those two. 7 Also, don’t leave the entrance to the sacred tent, as you might die because you all still have Yahweh’s anointing oil on you.” So they did everything that Mosheh said.

8 Then Yahweh told Aharon, 9 “Neither you or your sons should drink wine or strong drink when you’re going to go into the sacred tent so that you won’t die. This regulation is permanent and for future generations. 10 You must carefully distinguish between what’s sacred and what’s common, and what’s ‘unclean’ and ‘clean’. 11 and you must teach the Israelis all the instructions that Yahweh has given them via Mosheh.”

12 Then Mosheh told Aharon and his remaining sons Eleazar and Itamar, “Take the remainder of the grain offering after the memorial portion has been given to Yahweh, and eat that flat bread there beside the altar, because it’s very sacred.[ref] 13 You all must eat it in a sacred place, because it’s the portion for you and your sons from the gifts to Yahweh, because that’s what I’ve been instructed. 14 Also, you all must eat the breast meat from the wave offering and the thigh from the contribution offering in a ‘clean’ place. Your sons and daughters can join you all for that, because that food has been given as the portion for you and your children from the peace offering sacrifices from the Israelis.[ref] 15 Yes, those thighs from the contribution offering and the breast meat from the wave offering, in addition to the gifts of the fat portions, must be brought before Yahweh as a raised offering, and then they’ll always become the portion for you and your families, just as Yahweh instructed.”

16 Then Mosheh looked for the goat meat from the sin offering, but was shocked to discover that it had been burnt up on the altar, so he was angry with Aharon’s remaining sons Eleazar and Itamar, telling them, 17 “Why didn’t you eat that sin offering in the sacred place, because it’s very sacred and he gave it to you to bear the community’s guilt then to make them right with Yahweh.[ref] 18 Listen here! Its blood wasn’t taken into the inner sacred place, so you must eat it in the sacred place just like I told you to do!”

19 Then Aharon explained to Mosheh, “Listen, they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering to Yahweh today, and yet I lost two of my sons. But if I’d eaten the sin offering today, would it have pleased Yahweh?” 20 When Mosheh heard that, he was satisfied.