Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today? (Leviticus 10:19)
Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered fire before the Lord in a manner contrary to what had been prescribed. The consequence for this unauthorized fire was a death sentence by fire from God’s presence.
After the tragic deaths of his children, Aaron and his two younger sons were not only forbidden to take the day off from their work in the tabernacle; they were barred from showing any sign of mourning at all. Later in the day, Moses found that a goat sacrificed as a sin offering had been completely consumed by the altar fire, along with a burnt offering, even though a portion of the sin offering was specifically to be eaten by the priests. Aaron defended himself and his sons by reminding Moses they had been faithful to carry out their duties that day in spite of the loss they had endured.
It is probable the three men did not eat because of their grief over the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. They did not display their mourning by taking off work, or by tearing their clothes, but they may have been too burdened or heart-sick to eat.
Having heard Aaron's explanation, Moses was satisfied that the digression was birthed out of sincere hearts, and not an offense against God.
Have you ever hurt so bad you didn't know how you could go on, but your responsibilities wouldn’t allow you to stop?
Lots of rules and regulations in these chapters. I am struck by the difference in chapter 12between bearing a son and bearing a daughter. After bearing a son the mom was unclean for 7 days, then there was 33 days of purification. After a daughter she was unclean for two weeks then 66 days of purification. Is there a significance to the number of days? Why the difference?
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