And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
Nadab and Abihu, who were Aaron's sons, each took their incense burner and put fire in it, then added incense on top. They offered this unauthorized fire to the LORD, something He had never told them to do.
This verse describes how Aaron's two sons offered worship to God in a way that He had not commanded or approved.
📚 Historical Context
In the context of the Israelite exodus from Egypt, God had established the priesthood through Aaron and his sons to oversee worship in the Tabernacle, emphasizing the need for precise obedience to His instructions. Nadab and Abihu, as newly ordained priests, offered incense using fire that was not taken from the authorized altar, which directly violated God's specific commands. This event occurred early in Israel's wilderness journey, serving as a stark reminder of God's holiness and the dangers of irreverence in sacred duties.
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