UTN uW Translation Notes:

Leviticus 10 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

This chapter includes the last narrative of the section that began in Leviticus 8. It tells the story of how Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered “strange fire that he did not command them” (10:1). As a result of this action, Yahweh kills the two men with fire sent out from his presence (10:2). Moses then interprets the events as a demonstration of Yahweh’s utter holiness (10:3), before instructing that the men’s bodies be removed carefully (10:4–5) and guiding Aaron’s remaining sons how they should mourn as priests (10:5–7). Yahweh then gives instruction to Aaron concerning the consumption of alcoholic drink in connection to the priesthood (10:8–9), clarifying that the role of the priesthood in Israel is to help the people distinguish between what is pure and what is impure so that they may follow Yahweh’s laws and be his holy people (10:10–11). Following this, Moses instructs Aaron’s remaining two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, that they are to eat the remaining food portions of the sacrifice and to do so in a clean and holy place (10:12–15). However, when Moses later searches for the meat of the sin offering, he discovers that it had been burnt rather than eaten (10:16])(../10/16.md)). When Moses questions why this happened, as the sin offering was exactly the type whose meat should have been eaten by the priests ([10:17–18), Aaron responds that he believes that the presence of his son’s bodies in the sanctuary has made the sin offering unacceptable to eat (10:19). The narrative ends as Moses is satisfied with this answer (10:20). The structure of the chapter is as follows: 1) The death of Nadab and Abihu (10:1–2) 2) Moses’ interpretation and instructions (10:3–7) A. the removal of the bodies (10:3–5) B. mourning as priests (10:6–7) 3) Yahweh instructs Aaron (10:8–11) 4) Moses instructs Eleazar and Ithamar (10:12–15) 5) The debate between Moses and Aaron concerning the sin offering (10:16–20)Note that Leviticus 10:3 is a line of poetry. Some translations set each line of poetry farther to the right than the rest of the text to make it easier to read. The ULT does this with the poetry in 10:3.

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Mourning practices

In Leviticus 10:6–7, Moses instructs Aaron’s remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar that,when they are performing their duties as priests, they are not to mourn as they normally would mourn. Instead, they are to let the people of Israel mourn for them. (See 10:6). The symbolic actions associated with mourning practices that they are to avoid are: 1) letting their hair be disheveled and loose. The expression in Lev 10:6 (“Do not let your heads be loose”) is a figure of speech. Here, the word “heads” refers by association to the hair of one’s head, so the expression “Do not let your heads be loose” refers to letting one’s hair hang down disheveled and unkempt. It is implied that Aaron’s sons’ hair was long enough to hang down over their heads. This was a common practice associated with mourning for a dead relative. If it would be helpful in your language, consider stating the meaning plainly. 2) tearing their clothes in grief. The practice of tearing one’s clothes was a common sign of public mourning in ancient Israel. This was a common practice associated with mourning for a dead relative. If your culture has an expression that describes a similar symbolic action, consider using that expression here. If not, consider using a generic expression and explaining the meaning of this action in a footnote or in the body of your translation.These are symbolic actions associated with mourning for dead relatives. If your language does not have similar actions associated with a period of mourning, consider explaining the meaning of these actions in a footnote or in the text of your translation.

Important Figures of Speech in This Chapter

Fire and “strange fire”

In this chapter, the word translated as “fire” appears both as literal fire and as referring to live, burning coals that produce fire. The notes below (as well as the UST) will serve to distinguish which meaning is present in each context. Where the word “fire” represents the coals that produce fire, you could use an equivalent expression from your language or state the meaning plainly, if it would be helpful in your language.In Leviticus 10:2, the expression “strange fire” appears. Here, “fire” refers to coals that produce fire rather than to the fire itself. In context, the expression means that either: (1) Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu had used burning coals that came from a common, everyday source rather than from a holy source, as Yahweh had commanded or (2) the incense that Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu placed on top of the burning coals was not the kind of incense that Yahweh had commanded should be offered in the tent of meeting. The notes and the UST favor the first option, but the second is possible as well.

Other Possible Translation Difficulties in This Chapter

The use of plural “you”

Throughout this chapter, the words “you” and “*your” are plural. They often refer to Aaron and his sons. Consider using the plural form of the second-person pronouns of your language in your translation if your language marks that distinct