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| A priest burning incense in a censor, in front of an altar. Image source. |
"Bye, sweetheart," Nadab said as he leaned down and kissed his wife, Daniela. She was 8 months pregnant and hadn't slept well at all. Felt too huge to get comfortable. She tried to roll on her back, but it was worse, so she rolled back to her side.
Her husband was going to the tabernacle very early that day. He worked as a priest along with his brother Abihu; they were sons of Aaron, the brother of Moses. Always very busy, but he always talked about how blessed he was to be able to participate in the worship of God. After a few minutes, Daniela went back to sleep.
-
"Daniela?" a voice said.
Who on earth could it be this early in the morning? And who would be coming into her tent? "Daniela?" It was Eleazer, Nadab's brother. He looked extremely concerned as he poked his head in through the doorway of her tent.
"I..." He looked between her face and her huge belly. "Do, uh, do you need some water to drink...?" he asked, then awkwardly started to look around, probably searching for a cup.
"What is it?" she asked. "Are you okay?"
Eleazer looked at the ground. He ran his hand through his dark hair. "There was a fire... at the tabernacle. Nadab and Abihu..."
Now Daniela was awake. "Is he okay?"
Eleazer bit his lip. "He... no... I'm sorry... they didn't make it."
"What?" she asked, and he shook his head. She sat up and started to breathe faster and faster, and realized she was crying.
"Here, sit down," Eleazer said, which made no sense because she was still sitting on her bed. "Or... let's go see Bekah...? Can you walk?"
Of course she could walk, she didn't need everyone treating her like a delicate flower just because she was pregnant. He offered his arm, and she waddled out with him to find Abihu's wife Bekah.
-
They sat in Abihu's tent. The two widows- Daniela and Bekah- and the two remaining sons of Aaron- Eleazer and Ithamar.
"They were serving the Lord," said Bekah, her face wet with tears. "How could this happen? They always worked so hard, always getting up early, doing everything Aaron and Moses said."
Daniela nodded, leaning against Bekah's shoulder. "Nadab ... he always said it was such an honor to be presenting offerings to the Lord." Her baby kicked her, and she thought about how her child would grow up without a father. It was too much, too overwhelming.
"Martyrs," said Eleazer, and Daniela realized it was true. Her baby kicked again, and she started to cry again. Bekah put her arm over Daniela's shoulders.
"How will I take care of this child without him?" said Daniela. "How... how can I without him?"
Eleazer's eyes were soft and compassionate. "We're all here for you," he said. "I know it's not the same, it can never be the same... we're here for you and your baby. You'll always be part of our family and eat at the priests' table."
"He's the child of a martyr," added Ithamar. "The people will always respect that." Ithamar was very young, 15 years old, only a boy, really. He was timid, always following his older brothers' lead.
A young man appeared at the entrance of the tent. "Hello? I'm looking for Eleazer and Ithamar?" The two brothers stood up and went to see what he wanted, leaving Bekah and Daniela still sitting there together.
Bekah sighed. "I can't believe it. I just, how could the Lord let this happen to his priests?" Daniela rested her head against Bekah's shoulder and didn't answer.
After a minute, they heard Eleazer's voice, from the entrance of the tent. "No, no, I think there's been a mistake. ... No, there's no way they're being taken outside the camp. They died in service to the Lord."
"What is it? What? Outside the camp?" Daniela said as she struggled to her feet and went over to where Eleazer was talking to the messenger.
"Oh, it's fine, I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding," Eleazer reassured her.
"Okay..." said the messenger, appearing unsure, "I'll tell them you're not going to carry the bodies outside the camp."
"OUTSIDE THE CAMP?!" cried Daniela. "WHAT? Outside- like, like, like they were some kind of traitors? What on earth?! Oh my, oh my-"
"Sit down, sit down, sit down, calm down, it's okay," said Eleazer, helping her onto a stool. "It's just a mistake. He's going to go back and tell them that Nadab and Abihu were martyrs. Of course no one is taking them outside the camp."
The messenger still looked uncertain, glancing between Eleazer, Daniela, and Ithamar. Finally he sighed, said "okay," and left.
-
Bekah and Daniela went out at midday to get water. As they stood waiting, they heard a group of women near them talking.
"Well, just goes to show that's why you have to follow exactly what the Lord said. So arrogant, going in there, thinking they could burn incense their own way. They had it coming, I say," said one of the women.
Another added, "Yeah, and they always acted like they were better than everyone else. I guess the Lord finally had to put a stop to it."
Another person said, "I heard they were drunk," and the whole group started giggling.
Bekah and Daniela froze, looking at each other. "Are they talking about..." Bekah started to say.
"I can't believe this," said Daniela, shaking her head.
As they walked back to Bekah's tent (Bekah carrying water, Daniela not carrying anything because she was 8 months pregnant) they heard a group of three men talking. One of them said, "You know, I heard they weren't even supposed to go to the tabernacle today. They just did that themselves. They thought they could do it their own way."
Bekah turned to Daniela. "That's not true!" she whispered. "Aaron told Abihu to be there this morning! What is happening?"
They heard another man say, "Nadab was kind of a jerk anyway. One time he yelled at my brother. Probably deserved it."
Daniela gasped. "Hey!" she called out, and the three men turned to look at her, a bit surprised and awkward. She marched right up to them and yelled, "How dare you say that! How dare you!"
Bekah was at pulling at her shoulder. "Come on!" she whispered. "Let's not make a scene, let's figure out what's going on." Daniela continued to glare at the men, but she let Bekah pull her back a few steps to where Bekah had left her water jug.
"I can't believe this, I can't believe this," Daniela was saying, and she realized she was shaking, so angry.
"Let's just get back and tell Eleazer. He will know what to do," Bekah answered.
-
"The official story," Eleazer said somberly, "is that they were not authorized to be at the tabernacle this morning, and that they directly disobeyed the Lord's command by burning incense improperly. The Lord is the one who sent the fire. And also, our family is not allowed to mourn publicly."
Daniela was speechless. She couldn't believe it. Only hours after their death, and already people were making all these baseless accusations. Not supposed to be there? Burning incense improperly? She knew her husband would never do that. He was so dedicated to serving the Lord as a priest. Doing everything exactly the way the Lord commanded.
Daniela and Bekah were sitting down, hugging each other and crying. Ithamar was also there with them, in Bekah's tent, sitting on a stool by himself.
"We have to do something!" said Daniela. "We have to tell everyone the truth, before this fake story spreads too far."
"Yes, absolutely," said Eleazer firmly. "My brothers deserve that."
-
Daniela and Bekah went to talk to the women, and Eleazer and Ithamar went to talk to the men. Daniela wished she could rest, wished she could just have some time by herself to grieve, but it wasn't possible. She was so angry. How could people be saying these things about her husband- a martyr who had lived his whole life in devotion to the Lord? How could people say that the Lord had been the one to kill Nadab and Abihu?
How could they say that Nadab and Abihu had offered incense the wrong way? There hadn't been any witnesses. How could anyone even know? But Daniela knew her husband, how he had worked so hard to memorize all the precise details of every kind of offering. That was his duty, because of God's holiness, Nadab had always said. The Lord deserves that kind of honor, deserves to have priests who devote hours and hours of their time to learning exactly how to prepare the offerings and incense. And Nadab had always been awed by it. God's holiness, and his own position as just an ordinary man who had been chosen for the incredible job of coming into the presence of a holy God. Nadab has been obsessed.
He had even found a perfect white goat, and was raising it to offer in worship to the Lord after their baby would be born. He wanted everything to be the best, because the Lord was holy and deserved it, he always said.
And now, in less than a day, it seemed all that was gone. That Nadab and Abihu's reputations had completely changed, and now everyone was saying they were sinners, they were blasphemers, they were arrogant and disrespectful, and they deserved what happened to them.
She was so angry.
All afternoon, Daniela and Bekah went from one tent to the next, announcing the truth to any group of women they met. It was excruciating. Over and over, people answered with "I heard they were drunk" and "but they disobeyed the Lord" and "sit down, you need to calm down for your baby."
Yes, her ribs hurt. Yes, the muscles all around her pregnant belly hurt, as the baby weighed her down. She felt sick and exhausted, and then remembered that when she got home, Nadab wasn't going to be there. All she could do for him now was continue to try to convince people that he had been innocent.
And then, at one of the tents, while Daniela was making her case, someone interrupted to say, "You're not supposed to be saying this." When Daniela just stared at her, confused, she continued, "The Lord told Moses they died for their sin. You can't go against the Lord."
Well, what on earth? thought Daniela. How dare anyone say that! But Bekah pulled her to the side and said, "We've done enough for now. We should go."
They made their way back home, through the rows of tents and the campfires. It was starting to get dark. Bekah held Daniela's arm to support her; she was so exhausted.
"Well, well, well, look who it is," said a voice behind them. "It's the traitors' wives! Hey, shouldn't you be at home mourning? Oh, I forgot, we can't mourn because they deserved it! Hahaha!"
Daniela and Bekah turned and saw Mishael and Elzaphan (Nadab and Abihu's cousins). Mishael strode over to them and continued, "I heard you two are on some valiant mission to tell everyone they weren't sinners. Try to convince everyone that the Lord made a mistake! Ha! Good luck with that!"
"Shut up!" Daniela yelled at him, taking a step toward him. "You don't know anything."
Mishael laughed at her, and then Elzaphan said, "Oh I'd be careful, little girl. You go around saying these things, the Lord might think you're a blasphemer too, just like your husband."
"Haha, we wouldn't want that!" answered Mishael. "Better watch out for any fire the next few days! Don't want the Lord to burn you too!"
Bekah had shrunk away from them, but Daniela stood up straight and angrily pointed her finger in their faces. "Shut up," she said through clenched teeth. "You're just jealous you'll never be as faithful as them."
Mishael put two hands on her shoulders and shoved her backward. She stumbled, and would have fallen down, but Bekah caught her.
"Oh look at that, not so brave now, are we," said Elzaphan. "Now why don't you go back to your own tent and mourn like good little widows." He smirked at his brother Mishael.
"You - you -" Daniela started to say, while Bekah pulled at her arm, urging her to just go home.
"Hey!" Suddenly they heard Eleazer's voice. "Leave them alone!" Eleazer came and stood between his cousins and the women. "What do you two think you are doing, shoving around a pregnant woman like that? You-"
"Ah ah ah," interrupted Mishael. He put his hand up, but didn't touch Eleazer. "You know, you should be careful too. Sons of Aaron-"
"GET OUT!" roared Eleazer. "GET OUT! I mean it!"
"Have it your way, then," said Mishael. "But don't act too surprised when Moses tells you this isn't the kind of behavior a priest should have." Then the two of them turned and left.
Eleazer stood there, tense and seething. He took a few deep breaths. "Those jerks. I'm sorry you... I'm sorry they're like that," he said to Daniela and Bekah. "It's late, let's continue this tomorrow."
The three of them walked back to Daniela's tent.
-
After Eleazer left, Bekah hesitated.
The low lights of the nearby campfires flickered over her face, and she put a hand on Daniela's arm. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I don't understand how the Lord could let this happen. It doesn't make sense. It just doesn't make sense."
Daniela just shook her head. There's nothing to say that can make it better.
"The Lord..." Bekah continued, "he is supposed to protect his servants." Her voice broke into a sob. "What happened?"
"Yes, I know," said Daniela. She was exhausted from walking all day. Also thirsty.
"How... where was God?" cried Bekah, burying her face against Daniela's neck.
"I don't know, Bekah, I don't know," said Daniela.
-
That night, Daniela lay awake for hours. She couldn't get comfortable. Nadab used to give her massages because she was pregnant, but now she was alone.
She thought of the song he used to sing to their unborn baby. Of course it was a song about the Lord; what other song would a priest sing to a baby? "Among those who approach the Lord, he will be proved holy." He used to sing it at night to help her and the baby sleep. He used to talk about how much he looked forward to teaching their child all about the Lord and his greatness and holiness. How he could train the child to be a priest, if it was a boy.
Now Daniela just lay on her side, and felt the baby kick. She had been so distracted most of the day, she hadn't paid attention to the kicking. Now she felt the life inside her, and realized it was all she had left of Nadab. She turned her head and cried into her pillow.
At least she still had Nadab's white goat. She would take that goat to be offered to the Lord after the baby was born. She would do that for Nadab.
She thought of Bekah, poor Bekah, so young, with such innocent faith. Bekah was having a really hard time with this, because she actually believed that bad things don't happen to good people because the Lord protects them. Daniela knew better. Daniela had seen enough suffering and pain. She knew the Lord protected their nation, brought them out of Egypt, made them his chosen people... but that didn't mean he protected every single person 100% of the time.
Nadab had known that too, and had always said we need to continue to honor the Lord, in good times and bad. The Lord's holiness is unchanging, he always said. Poor Bekah. Daniela wondered if Bekah's faith could handle that.
Everything was too hard, but Daniela told herself she just had to focus on what she needed to do. Keep speaking up in support of Nadab and Abihu, and take care of her baby.
-
Bekah came to see her in the morning. "Daniela," she said, with a very serious and troubled look on her face, "Eleazer and Ithamar have decided to go with the official story. That our husbands died for the sin of making unauthorized fire."
"WHAT?!" said Daniela, fully awake now. She couldn't believe it. "What? Their own brothers? They're - ugh!" She started to stand up, determined to go find Eleazer and tell him how wrong he was.
"But, wait a moment," said Bekah timidly. "Doesn't it..." She looked scared. "Doesn't it... kind of make sense?"
"WHAT?!" Daniela shrieked, turning to face Bekah. Bekah took a step back, clearly scared of making Daniela angry.
"I just... it's the only thing that makes sense!" Bekah said. "How could the Lord really let them die, if they were doing their job correctly? Maybe they were burning the incense in disobedience."
"Ugh!" exclaimed Daniela. Why was everything so hard? "How could you turn on your husband like that? You - you - you said yourself that Abihu told you his father asked them to be there!"
"Well, maybe he didn't! Maybe I was wrong! Maybe he lied!" Bekah shouted back.
"Ugh, you just, you just sell out like this! Just because you're too naive and you think God really protects everyone all the time!"
Bekah recoiled. She looked down, shaking her head. Finally she said, quietly, "It's the only thing that makes sense."
"Fine," said Daniela. "Forget you. I'm going to do this myself. I'm going to find Eleazer and talk some sense into him. I'm-" she clutched at her side; it was suddenly painful.
"Do you need to sit down..." asked Bekah.
"NO! No! I'm going to find him." Daniela hobbled out of the tent.
-
She came to the tent of meeting. Eleazer and Ithamar were there, wearing their priestly robes instead of mourning clothes. She was so mad; it's like they were just pretending nothing had happened.
She marched right up to Eleazer and yelled at him. "You! You're really going along with this? What kind of brother are you?"
"Daniela..." Eleazer began, "please take it easy, sit down, think of your baby."
"No! No! I am the only one who can see what's really going on here! I can't believe you are selling them out like this! They're good people, and now... people are saying this about them."
He took a deep breath, looking troubled. "Daniela, I would lose my position as a priest, if I go against the official story. People will say I am going against the Lord. I could even be labelled a blasphemer and be stoned. And if you do this, they won't let you eat at the priests' table. I... it's not an easy thing, don't talk to me like it's so easy. You should think of your baby and how you'll provide for him if you are cut off from the priests' share."
"But it's wrong!" she said. "Doesn't anyone care about the truth? What, all you care about is saving yourself now, saving your job."
He hesitated, then said, "There's something else I should tell you... we are using the white goat as an offering." He winced, bracing himself for her reaction.
"WHAT? WHAT? That is Nadab's goat! Oh my goodness! You- ughhh!" She paced back and forth, so angry. She glared at Ithamar as she walked past. "That was- he was going to offer it to the Lord in worship after our baby is born! EVERYTHING IS BEING TAKEN FROM ME!"
"Moses needed it," said Eleazer. "He says it's the best one we have, and we have to do something big to reassure the people. They're scared. This is really a terrifying thing that has happened, and people need something to restore their trust in the Lord and in the priesthood."
"I can't believe this," said Daniela, sitting down because of the pain around her ribs. "I can't believe this. Do you know how Nadab checked that goat to make sure it had no blemishes? Do you know how many goats he looked at, to find that one perfect one? He was so careful, doing everything the way the Lord commanded. He was going to use it to worship the Lord after our baby is born."
"I know that," said Eleazer. Then he knelt down beside her and took her hand. He lowered his voice. "I know it was Nadab's goat. And... actually, I refused. When Moses told me to go get it for an offering, I refused. I agree with you."
He continued, "But..." He glanced at Ithamar. "But, if we don't do this, then our cousins are going to be the priests. Mishael and Elzaphan. Daniela, it would be a disaster. I can't let that happen."
Eleazer continued, "Being a priest, it's not just about knowing all the precise details for making the offerings. It's about mediating for the people. Coming into the presence of God. God's holiness. Playing a role in the people's worship. When they come and bring their offerings, they're nervous. A lot of them want something. They're praying for something, and a good priest should be compassionate about that, you know, reassure them that God sees them and God cares. Nadab knew that.
"He was a better priest than I'll ever be. He really understood the significance of it. The job is not about following the directions exactly- though of course Nadab did that; of course he paid great attention to all those details that the Lord gave us. And it's not about the perks, getting the best meat for ourselves. It's so much more than that; it's about connecting the people to God. And Nadab knew that better than anyone, and, and" he clenched his hands into fists, "and I won't be able to say any of this at his funeral." He turned away. "I can't even go to his funeral! I'm not allowed to mourn."
Eleazer stood there for a moment, with his back to Daniela and Ithamar. Then he sighed and turned toward them again. "I need to do this-" he paused and gestured to Ithamar, "we need to do this, because we can't let Mishael and Elzaphan fill that role. They're greedy. When people come to us to make offerings, they're nervous, they're vulnerable, and Mishael and Elzaphan would exploit that. You saw how Mishael talked to you yesterday. Threatening a widow. It's like he has no compassion at all. He just sees an opportunity for himself."
He turned to address Ithamar directly. "None of this leaves this room, okay? But you already know all this." Then back to Daniela. "The people need priests like Nadab and Abihu. And I can't be them, but I promise I will try. I can't let my cousins have the job, though."
Daniela sat with her head in her hands. She felt defeated. Without Eleazer's support, what could she do? Just fight this battle herself? And he had his reasons for the decision he had made, but that didn't mean she had to make the same decision. She wasn't a priest, maybe she could keep fighting for Nadab. Alone. As a widow. With a baby. Maybe not.
"But how can I do it without you?" she said.
"I'm still here for you," he said. He knelt down beside her again and held her hand. "You need anything, just tell me or Ithamar. But I just, I won't be allowed to say anything to support Nadab. It's awful, it's so awful, I'm sorry."
She looked down at her hands, and at her pregnant belly. Maybe this was the best option she had.
Just then, Aaron came in, from another room in the back of the tent. He wore his best priestly robes, not mourning clothes, and he looked exhausted. "Sons," he said, "I need you to come help with the goat for the sin offering."
Eleazer and Ithamar both answered, "Yes, father," and Aaron went back inside.
Slowly Daniela began to realize what Aaron had said. "Sin offering...?" Then suddenly she tore her hand away from Eleazer's, disgusted. "Sin offering?! You, you, you are taking his goat, as a sin offering?! Ugh!" she said, standing up quickly.
She paced back and forth inside the tent, so angry. "It's like you're telling everyone that yes, he did die for his sin. Like he deserved it, like he really was that bad of a priest. A blasphemer. You're taking his goat, that he was saving to offer to the Lord, and you're using it to tell lies about him!"
"Daniela, your baby..." Eleazer tried to say.
"No! I will not sit down! Stop telling me to sit down! I'm fighting this, I don't even care! I don't need you! Ah!" She stopped and clutched at her ribs because of the pain. Eleazer and Ithamar nervously exchanged a look, but didn't dare to say anything.
"I'm going to Moses!" she announced. "I am going to march right in there and tell him the truth."
"No no no no no no," said Eleazer, and he looked truly scared.
"I'm going!" she said.
"No, listen," Eleazer said, frantic, reaching out to her, "Moses is -" he stopped and lowered his voice "- Moses is the one behind all this!"
"Well then, I'm going to tell him it's wrong! My husband was a good man!" And she walked out of the tent.
Eleazer continued to yell after her, "No, Daniela, no!" She kept walking, maybe too fast, because now her back was hurting. She heard Eleazer's desperate voice again. "You know I'm not allowed to leave this tent!" She kept walking.
Moses would help. He was a man of God. If anyone could help, it would be him.
-
Daniela pulled the tent flap open and marched right in. Moses was sitting on a stool, with some parchment in his hand. He didn't seem upset about her bursting in; he seemed very calm. "Please, sit," he said, gesturing to another stool with brown fabric draped over it. Daniela sat down. Her back was really hurting now.
"Sir," she began. "My husband Nadab was performing his duties as a priest, when... when this happened." She took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "People are saying he was burning incense improperly. They are saying he was arrogant and disrespectful to the Lord. They are saying he was drunk."
Moses looked at her for a moment. "The Lord proves his holiness," he said. "It is a grave sin to approach him in and unworthy way. The Lord intends for this to serve as a lesson for the people. They need to respect and honor him."
"But Nadab did that!" she said. "He did respect and honor the Lord! He took his job very seriously!"
"Child," Moses said. He gazed at her calmly. "I know you don't mean to suggest that the Lord erred in his judgment. That would be quite a thing to claim."
She sputtered, too shocked to answer. That was not how she expected this to go.
Moses continued, with that same calm look on his face, "Some might even call it blasphemous. People have been stoned for less."
"But- you-" Daniela tried to say.
"Why, imagine what would happen if the people believed one could be struck down even when acting in obedience to the Lord. Imagine the mass panic that would cause. Child, I don't expect you to understand the difficulties of leading this whole nation of people. They need certainty. They need something to keep them anchored. They need to know that these things don't happen to people who are following all of God's commands precisely."
The pieces were all falling into place, in a horrifying way. "You mean all of your commands," she said, glaring at Moses.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that," he answered smoothly. "Pregnant women often get carried away by their emotions and say things they don't really mean." He smiled.
More and more rage was building up inside her. She was determined to fight. This was shocking; this was unbelievable, and it was not okay. She would tell people. She would expose and fight this.
"Now," Moses said, "think of what your husband would have wanted. Would he want his child to become destitute, cut off from the priests' share? Would you do that to your child, just because you keep fighting back against the truth about your husband?"
And just like that, all her vows to fight came to a stop. Because Moses was right about what Nadab would have wanted.
Daniela felt trapped. It wasn't fair. She felt the baby kick inside her, and she loved that baby so much. Everyone kept telling her to give up on Nadab's memory, to play nice so that her baby would have food. She was a priests' widow; she and her child would always have a share of the offerings that were brought to the tabernacle. Plenty of food to live on. But only if she went along with the official story, which said her husband was a blasphemer who despised the Lord and deserved to die. A disgusting lie. Nadab deserved better.
Her baby kicked again.
"Think about it, child," said Moses. "What will you do, you and your baby, with no one to support you? Would Nadab want that?"
She knew what Nadab would tell her, if he were here. She knew he would do anything for their child, including sacrificing his own reputation. Daniela saw her future stretched out ahead of her, begging for scraps from strangers, begging for anyone to listen when she said her husband was a good man. What kind of life would that be for her baby?
Moses continued to sit calmly and look at her. "I trust you'll make the right decision," he said, and then turned slightly and looked down at the parchments in his hand.
She struggled to her feet, with the weight of her baby, and the weight of her shame pulling at her. Slowly she walked out of the tent. Moses called after her, "You may mourn, but don't say anything against what the Lord did."
She would give up anything to save her child, even the truth about her husband. She had to. She stared at the ground as she walked out, and she wondered if anyone would ever think she was brave.
-
Moses wrote:
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me
I will be proved holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.’”
Aaron remained silent.
Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.
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. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, and so you can teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.”
Moses said to Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, “Take the grain offering left over from the food offerings prepared without yeast and presented to the Lord and eat it beside the altar, for it is most holy. Eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is your share and your sons’ share of the food offerings presented to the Lord; for so I have been commanded. But you and your sons and your daughters may eat the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. Eat them in a ceremonially clean place; they have been given to you and your children as your share of the Israelites’ fellowship offerings. The thigh that was presented and the breast that was waved must be brought with the fat portions of the food offerings, to be waved before the Lord as a wave offering. This will be the perpetual share for you and your children, as the Lord has commanded.”
When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s remaining sons, and asked, “Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the sanctuary area? It is most holy; it was given to you to take away the guilt of the community by making atonement for them before the Lord. Since its blood was not taken into the Holy Place, you should have eaten the goat in the sanctuary area, as I commanded.”
Aaron replied to Moses, “Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?” When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
--------------
Other fanfics:
Noah's Evangelism
Achan's Sin
In Your Anger Do Not Sin (a Hulk fanfic)
Follow-up post: Everyone Else's Nadab and Abihu Fanfics
