Editing Nadab and Abihu (section)

==Background==
Nadab and Abihu were the first two sons of  [[Aaron]] by his marriage to [[Elisheba]], daughter of [[Amminadab]] from the tribe of Judah. They had four sons in total; the younger two sons were [[Eleazar]] and [[Ithamar]].<ref>{{Bible|Exodus|6:23}}</ref> During the Exodus journey, after the Israelites affirmed their [[covenant (biblical)|covenant]] with Yahweh in [[Mishpatim#Seventh reading—Exodus 23:26–24:18|Exodus 24:3-8]] Avihu and Nadav accompanied Moses, Aaron, and seventy elders up [[Biblical Mount Sinai]]. There they saw Yahweh with great clarity, walking on a pavement of [[sapphire]] stone, and shared a meal in God's presence, without being harmed.<ref>Recalling {{Bible|Exodus|19:21}} - And the Lord said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to gaze at the Lord, and many of them perish".</ref><ref>{{Bible|Exodus|24:9-11}}</ref>

Aaron and his four sons were the first [[Levite]]s appointed as God established the priestly system.<ref>{{Bible|Exodus|28:1}}, {{Bible|Exodus|29:9}}</ref><ref>Commentary on {{Bible|Leviticus|10:1-14}}, The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation. The Jewish Publication Society, 2004. Page 227</ref> The Levites as a tribe were later ordained for the priestly service after answering a call to take Yahweh's side after the idolatry centered on the [[golden calf]].<ref>Exodus 32:29, Levites. Unger, Merrill F. Unger's Bible Handbook: An Essential Guide to Understanding the Bible. Moody Press, Chicago. 1967. Page 87.</ref>  After the death of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar took their places as priests, because neither Nadab nor Abihu had any sons.<ref>{{bible|Numbers|3:4}}</ref><ref name="bible|1 Kings|18:38">{{bible|1 Kings|18:38}}</ref><ref name="bible|Leviticus|9:24">{{bible|Leviticus|9:24}}</ref><ref name="Abihu. Unger 1967. Page 114">Nadab and Abihu. Unger, Merrill F. Unger's Bible Handbook: An Essential Guide to Understanding the Bible. Moody Press, Chicago. 1967. Page 114.</ref>