¹Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took an incense burner and put burning coals and incense in it. Then in the Lord’s presence they offered this unauthorized fire. ²A fire flashed from the Lord and burned them, and they died in the presence of the Lord.

³Moses said to Aaron, “This is exactly what the Lord said:

‘I will show my holiness among those who come to me.

I will show my glory to all the people.’ ”

Aaron was speechless.

⁴Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Aaron’s uncle, Uzziel. He told them, “Come and take your relatives away from in front of the holy place. Take them outside the camp.” ⁵So they came and took them away to a place outside the camp, as Moses told them. The dead men were still in their linen robes.

⁶Moses told Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar: “Do not mourn by leaving your hair uncombed or tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die and the Lord will become angry with the whole congregation. All the other Israelites may cry over the fire the Lord sent, but you may not. ⁷You must not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or else you, too, will die, because the Lord has anointed you with his oil.” They obeyed Moses.

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