But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
- KJV But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
- NKJV And Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar ministered as priests.
- NASB But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
- NLT But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Nadab and Abihu died before their father without children, so Eleazar and Ithamar carried on the priestly office. The priesthood continued through the two surviving sons.
Overview
Recalling the judgment on Nadab and Abihu for offering unauthorized fire, this verse explains why the priestly line continued only through Eleazar and Ithamar. Their solemn fate stands as a warning about the seriousness of approaching a holy God on His terms. Yet God preserved the priesthood through the remaining sons, ensuring His worship would continue.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Lev 10:2So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died in the presence of the LORD.
- Num 3:4Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.
- Num 26:61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
- Exod 29:9Wrap the sashes around Aaron and his sons and tie headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a permanent statute. In this way you are to ordain Aaron and his sons.
- Num 18:7But only you and your sons shall attend to your priesthood for everything concerning the altar and what is inside the veil, and you are to perform that service. I am giving you the work of the priesthood as a gift, but any outsider who comes near the sanctuary must be put to death.”
- Exod 24:1Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance.
- Exod 24:9Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,
- Lev 10:12And Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering that remains from the offerings made by fire to the LORD and eat it without leaven beside the altar, because it is most holy.
- Num 16:39–40So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,
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Original language
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