Difference between revisions of "Abihu"

<p> [[Abihu]] (''A-Bî'Hew'' ), ''Whose Father Is He, I.E., God.'' One of the sons of Aaron, who, together with his brothers, Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar, were set apart by God to the office of the priesthood. Soon after they entered upon their sacred duties, Nadab and Abihu were guilty of a violation of God's commands, respecting the manner of offering incense, and they were suddenly destroyed by fire from heaven. They used strange, or common, fire, instead of the [[Sacred]] fire which they were required to use from the altar of burnt offering. &nbsp;Leviticus 10:1-2. As the prohibition of wine and strong drink, especially when entering into the sanctuary, immediately follows, we may infer that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated when they fell into this presumptuous sin. </p>

<p> (Heb. Abihu', אֲבַיהוּץ '','' lit. [[Father]] [i.e. ''Worshipper] Of Him,'' sc. ''God;'' Sept. ‘Αβιούδ, [[Josephus]] ‘Αβιοῦς, Vulg. ''Abiu),'' the second of the sons of Aaron by Elisheba (&nbsp;Exodus 6:23; &nbsp;Numbers 3:2; &nbsp;Numbers 26:60; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 6:3; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 24:1), who, with his brothers Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar, was set apart and consecrated for the priesthood (&nbsp;Exodus 28:1). With his father and elder brother, he accompanied the seventy elders partly up the mount which Moses ascended to receive the divine communication (&nbsp;Exodus 24:1; &nbsp;Exodus 24:9). When, at the first establishment of the ceremonial worship, the victims offered on the great brazen altar were consumed by fire from heaven, it was directed that this fire should always be kept up, and that the daily incense should be burnt in censers filled with it from the great altar (see &nbsp;Leviticus 6:9 sq.). But one day Nadab and Abihu presumed to neglect this regulation, and offered incense in censers filled with "strange" or common fire, B.C. 1657. For this they were instantly struck dead by lightning, and were taken away and buried in their clothes without the camp (&nbsp;Leviticus 10:1-11; comp. &nbsp;Numbers 3:4; &nbsp;Numbers 26:61; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 24:2). (See Aaron). There can be no doubt that this severe example had the intended effect of enforcing becoming attention to the most minute observances of the ritual service. As immediately after the record of this transaction, and in apparent reference to it, comes a prohibition of wine or strong drink to the priests whose turn it might be to enter the tabernacle, it is not unfairly surmised that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated when they committed this serious error in their ministrations. (See Nadab). </p>

<p> '''''a''''' -'''''bı̄´hū''''' ( אביהוּא , <i> ''''''ăbhı̄hū''''' </i> ), "father he is," or "my father he is"): Second son of Aaron, the high priest (&nbsp;Exodus 6:23 ). With his older brother Nadab he "died before Yahweh," when the two "offered strange fire" (&nbsp;Leviticus 10:1 , &nbsp;Leviticus 10:2 ). It may be inferred from the emphatic prohibition of wine or strong drink, laid upon the priests immediately after this tragedy, that the two brothers were going to their priestly functions in an intoxicated condition (&nbsp;Leviticus 10:8-11 ). Their death is mentioned three times in subsequent records (&nbsp;Numbers 3:4; &nbsp;Numbers 26:61; &nbsp;1 Chronicles 24:2 ). </p>