Editing Nadab and Abihu (section)

==Violation of God's law and punishment==
In [[Book of Exodus|Exodus]] 30 and Leviticus, God outlines a proper sacrifice to him.<ref>{{bible|Leviticus|9:6-10}}</ref><ref name="bible|Leviticus|9:24" /><ref>{{bible|Exodus|30:7-8}}</ref><ref name="Abihu. Unger 1967. Page 114" /> Aaron, the chief priest, was to present all offerings representing himself and the people. {{quotation|Then Moses said to Aaron: “Come forward to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering, making expiation for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the people’s offering and make expiation for them, as יהוה has commanded.” 
|Leviticus 9:7, [[New Jewish Publication Society of America Tanakh
|Contemporary Torah]]}} God would send his fire to consume the sacrifice as a sign of his presence.<ref name="bible|1 Kings|18:38" /><ref name="bible|Leviticus|9:24" /><ref name="Abihu. Unger 1967. Page 114" />

When the fire from God came and consumed the sacrifice, it was perceived as a token of God’s glory and favor. And this sacred fire, which Yahweh had kindled, was to be used to burn the incense. But Nadab and Abihu, when they took their censers to burn fragrant incense, they used a different fire, a strange fire, not the fire which Yahweh kindled and commanded to be used for this purpose; a fire came from heaven and devoured them in front of the congregation.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/84.1614 | title=Patriarchs and Prophets }}</ref>

The Jewish Study Bible notes that when Nadav and Avihu lit the offering in the [[censer]]s, their fire was [[Profane (religion)|profane]].<ref name="auto">Commentary on {{bible|Leviticus|10:1-14}}, The Jewish Study Bible: Tanakh Translation. The Jewish Publication Society, 2004. Page 227.</ref> They prepared an incense offering on kindling, not incense on the [[Altar (Bible)|altar]]. This was seen as foreign or unholy fire ({{Langx|he|אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה|ēš zārā}}).<ref name="auto" />

The [[exegesis]] of [[Adam Clarke]] (d. 1836) notes that anyone who altered the sacrificial system assumed a prerogative belonging to God alone.<ref>{{bible|Leviticus|10}}. [[Adam Clarke|Clarke, Adam]]. ''Commentary on the Holy Bible''. Beacon Hill Press, 1967. Page 160.</ref>