What is the strange fire for which Nadab and Abihu were killed?

What is "unauthorized fire," or, as it is rendered in other translations, "profane fire" or "strange fire"? We use the word profane to refer to that which is less than holy, but the word profane comes from the Latinprofanus, which literally means "outside the temple." So, in a literal sense, the fire that Nadab and Abihu introduced to the altar had not been purified or consecrated. One of the instructions given to Nadab and Abihu as God’s priests was that they must not offer strange fire before the LORD. The fire to use for burning incense must be taken from the altar. This fire came down from heaven and the priests were commanded to keep the fire burning perpetually on the altar (Lev. 6:8-9, 9:24).

The key to understanding the offense of Nadab and Abihu is the phrase “unauthorized fire.” Other translations might have something like “strange fire.” This is what they offered to the Lord that got them in trouble. The Hebrew word used here generally speaks to something that is not normative. But it actually has a range of usages.

It could mean “strange,” as in something abhorrent or loathsome. The word could also mean “foreign,” as in something associated with pagans or Gentiles. It could also mean something like what the ESV has here, “unauthorized”—in other words, something not appropriate or something that’s disqualified or off-limits.

There is a similar phrase and a very similar idea, context in Exodus 30:9 that describes what is and is not to be burned on the altar of incense. That passage reads as follows: “You shall not offer unauthorized incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.” The altar of incense is the referent point for this. You are not supposed to offer burnt grain or drink offerings on it. It’s the altar of incense. It’s for incense—and not just any incense. There is such a thing as unauthorized incense. There are rules for what kind of incense could be offered on the altar of incense. Specifically, you could read that in Exodus 30:34–36.

Milgrom, in his commentary on Leviticus, writes this: “This can only mean that instead of deriving from the outer altar (e.g., [Lev.] 16:12; Num. 17:11), the coals came from a source that was ‘profane.’” It was not normative. Profane there doesn’t mean something like swearing. It means ritually disqualified, ritually impure.

So the difference between profane and sacred is really important here. Apparently, what Milgrom is saying is that the coals that Nadab and Abihu used came from a place not designated as a holy or a sacred spot, a proper location. It came from a common, non -sanctified source.

Aaron was undoubtedly confused and displeased, not understanding what happened, but Moses gave him God's answer. In Leviticus 10:3, the Lord says, "By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified." Nadab and Abihu were among those chosen to come near Him in service. They revealed their disrespect for Him by treating His command regarding the fire as something common. They simply did not follow His instructions. They added or subtracted to what God said and did, attempting to get by with what they carnally assumed was acceptable to Him. By this incident, holiness is defined. Thus, this example teaches us that priesthood holders must be holy.

Application Questions:

1. How important is our external worship to God? Have you ever been guilty of serving God externally, but without your heart focusing internally on the worship of God?

Quote:

“The worship to which we are called in our renewed state is far too important to be left to personal preferences, to whims or to marketing strategies. It is the pleasing of God that is at the heart of worship. Therefore, our worship must be informed at every point by the Word of God as we seek God’s own instructions for worship that is pleasing to Him.” — R.C. Sproul

Prayer:

Lord, I realize that You are a holy God. Help me not to treat your worship lightly, in the way I want it, but to worship you in spirit and in truth - the way you want it. Amen.