Why this story matters
(commentary on Leviticus 9-10)
(Page 3 of 5)
Disrespect for Yahweh
Some commentators say Nadab and Abihu were killed for dishonoring God, and there's a verse that could be said to back this up. Immediately after the young priests are killed, Moses appears to be telling Aaron why it happened: "This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:" 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’”(Lev.10:3). Thus, it is inferred that the boys must have dishonored God. But is this much different from the sin of unauthorized fire? If they made the wrong kind of offering, couldn't that be said to dishonor Yahweh as well? It's pretty much the same thing.
Drunkenness
A good case can be made for the charge of drunkenness for two reasons. First, Nadab and Abihu would have known better than to offer the wrong kind of fire. They were the eldest sons of the highest priest, and they were being groomed to eventually replace him. Second, shortly after Yahweh kills the boys, he gives Aaron the following rule: “Then the Lord said to Aaron, "You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the Tent of Meeting, or you will die” (Lev. 10:9). However, other apologists don't like this approach because killing otherwise faithful followers for a moment of drunken indiscretion seems a bit nasty. They argue against the charge of drunkenness. First, they note that Nadab and Abihu didn’t need to be drunk to bring the wrong fire. And if it was done deliberately, it would be a more blatant kind of sin, and worthy of greater punishment. Second, the verse above that warns against being drunk in the Tent of Meeting is part of a long list of do's and don’ts. Again, it's just not clear that this was the specific sin the boys were killed for.
Unauthorized Entry
Later on, in Leviticus, verse 16:1, the Bible says, “The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD”. Then, in verse two Yahweh elaborates, “Tell your brother Aaron not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.” So, not even Aaron, the chief priest, can come into the “Most holy place” whenever he chooses. Therefore, his sons would certainly not be allowed this freedom. Apparently, Yahweh thinks this kind of laxity warrants the death penalty. However, this still doesn't specifically state that the boys were killed for approaching Yahweh without an invitation.
Nudity can get you killed
There is one more possibility to consider, but it’s a little strange. According to a verse in Exodus, Aaron's sons are to wear special shorts when they approach the Tent of Meeting. The shorts are designed to make sure their penises can't come hurtling out by accident. If they forget to wear the shorts and in doing so risk Yahweh catching a glimpse of their penises, they ought to be put to death:
Make linen shorts for them that reach from the waist down to the thigh, so they won't expose themselves. Whenever they enter the sacred tent or serve at the altar or enter the holy place, they must wear these shorts, or else they will be guilty and die.” (Exodus 28:42-43 CEV)
Unfortunately, the passage doesn’t explain why Yahweh, who supposedly created penises in the first place, would be so offended by the site of one that he would think it necessary to kill the owner. This does tend to remind one of the magic underwear of Mormons and Masons. And while it may be amusing to think of one of the boys forgetting to wear his special underwear, having his penises pop out, and Yahweh killing him for it, it's hardly a flattering or endearing image for the Hebrew god.
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