But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office.
- BSB But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.
- 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 10:2And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
- Num 3:4And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the sight of Aaron their father.
- Num 26:61And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
- Exod 29:9And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.
- Num 18:7Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest’s office for everything of the altar, and within the vail; and ye shall serve: I have given your priest’s office unto you as a service of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
- Exod 24:1And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
- Exod 24:9Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
- Lev 10:12And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:
- Num 16:39–40And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:
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Original language
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