What is the meaning of Leviticus 10:5? So they came forward Mishael and Elzaphan, the cousins of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:4), immediately step toward the sanctuary entrance. • Their prompt response models the kind of swift obedience later praised in Leviticus 8:36 and Exodus 40:16. • Coming “forward” shows respect for both God-given authority (Moses) and the holiness of the tabernacle, contrasting with the reckless approach of Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:1-2). and carried them The bodies are lifted, not dragged. • God’s wrath ended with the men; the task of handling their remains fell to relatives so Aaron and his remaining sons could stay on duty (Leviticus 10:6-7; cf. Leviticus 21:1-2). • Numbers 19:11-13 highlights that contact with a corpse brings uncleanness, underscoring the cost of sin and the need for purification. still in their tunics The priestly garments remain intact even though the men perished by divine fire. • The judgment was precise—God consumed the sinners, not their clothing—echoing the controlled fire on Elijah’s altar in 1 Kings 18:38 and the spared garments of Daniel’s friends in Daniel 3:27. • The sight of priestly tunics on lifeless bodies warned Israel that outward robes cannot cover inner disobedience (Isaiah 1:11-17; Matthew 23:27). outside the camp Removal beyond the camp boundary kept the sanctuary and community undefiled. • Leviticus 13:46; Leviticus 24:14; and Deuteronomy 23:14 all place impurity, disease, or blasphemy outside, foreshadowing Christ bearing sin “outside the gate” (Hebrews 13:11-12). • Sin’s consequence is separation; fellowship is restored only through God-appointed means (Leviticus 1-7; 1 John 1:9). as Moses had directed Every detail follows the word of God spoken through His servant. • Repeated obedience to Moses’ instructions (Exodus 40:16; Leviticus 8:4-5) shows that blessing and safety lie in doing exactly what God says. • Aaron’s silent acceptance (Leviticus 10:3) and the cousins’ compliance model submission to divine order, contrasting with the earlier unauthorized fire. summary Leviticus 10:5 portrays a sober scene: obedient relatives carefully remove Nadab and Abihu’s bodies, still wearing their priestly tunics, and carry them outside the camp exactly as Moses commanded. Each phrase highlights holiness, the seriousness of sin, and the necessity of precise obedience. God’s judgment is swift yet measured; His people must uphold His standards while He provides a path for purity and restored fellowship. |
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