Nadab

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

NADAB. 1 . The eldest son of Aaron (  Exodus 6:23 ,   Numbers 3:2;   Numbers 26:60 ,   1 Chronicles 6:3;   1 Chronicles 24:1 ); accompanied Moses to Sinai (  Exodus 24:1;   Exodus 24:9 f.); was admitted to the priestly office (  Exodus 28:1 ); and on the very day of his consecration (  Leviticus 10:12 ff. compared with ch. 9) he and Abihu perished (  Leviticus 10:1-2 ,   Numbers 3:4;   Numbers 26:61 ,   1 Chronicles 24:2 ) for offering ‘ strange fire .’ Wherein the transgression of Nadab and Abihu is supposed to have consisted is not clear. It is often suggested that ‘strange’ fire means fire taken from a common source instead of from the altar (cf.   Leviticus 16:12 ,   Numbers 16:46 ). 2 . A Jerahmeelite (  1 Chronicles 2:28;   1 Chronicles 2:30 ). 3 . A Benjamite (  1 Chronicles 8:30 =   1 Chronicles 9:35 ). 4 . See next article.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

("willing".)

1. Aaron's oldest son by Elisheba ( Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2). With Aaron and Abihu and 70 elders he had the privilege of nearer access to Jehovah at Sinai than the mass of the people, but not so near as Moses ( Exodus 24:1). Struck dead for kindling (probably under intoxication) the incense with "strange fire," not taken from the perpetual fire on the altar ( Leviticus 6:13;  Leviticus 10:1-10). (See Aaron ; ABIHU.)

2. Jeroboam's son, who walked in his father's evil way; reigned two years, 954-952 B.C. ( 1 Kings 25:25-31). Slain, in fulfilment of Ahijah the Shilonite's prophecy, by the conspirator Baasha, while besieging Gibbethon of Dan ( Joshua 19:44;  Joshua 21:23). Probably the neighbouring Philistines had seized Gibbethon when the Levites generally left it, to escape from Jeroboam's apostasy to Judah. By a retributive coincidence it was when Israel was besieging Gibbethon, 24 years after, that the same destruction fell on Baasha's family as Baasha had inflicted on Nadab ( 1 Kings 16:9-15).

3.  1 Chronicles 2:28.

4.  1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:36.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Nadab ( Nâ'D Ăb ). Spontaneous, Liberal. 1. The eldest son of Aaron.  Exodus 6:28;  Exodus 24:1;  Exodus 24:9;  Exodus 28:1;  Leviticus 10:1;  Numbers 3:2;  Numbers 3:4;  Numbers 26:60-61;  1 Chronicles 6:3;  1 Chronicles 24:1;  1 Chronicles 2:2. The son and successor of Jeroboam I., king of Israel, whose sinful conduct he imitated. He reigned two years, 954-953 b.c., and while engaged at the siege of Gibbethon he and all his house were slain by Baasha.  1 Kings 14:20;  1 Kings 15:25-31. 3. One of Judah's posterity.  1 Chronicles 2:28;  1 Chronicles 2:30. 4. A Benjamite, one of the family from which Saul descended.  1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:36.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Na'dab. (Liberal).

1. The eldest son of Aaron and Elisheba.  Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2. (B.C. 1490). He, his father and brother, and seventy old men of Israel were led out, from the midst of the assembled people,  Exodus 24:1, and were commended to stay and worship God "afar off," below the lofty summit of Sinai, where Moses alone was to come near to the Lord.

Subsequently,  Leviticus 10:1, Nadab and his brother were struck dead, before the sanctuary, by fire from the Lord. Their offence was kindling the incense in their censers with "strange" fire, that is, not taken from that which burned perpetually,  Leviticus 6:13, on the altar.

2. King Jeroboam's son, who succeeded to the throne of Israel, B.C. 954, and reigned two years.  1 Kings 15:25-31. At the siege of Gibbethon, a conspiracy broke out in the midst of the army, and the king was slain by Baasha, a man of Issachar.

3. A son of Shammai  1 Chronicles 2:28 of the tribe of Judah.

4. A son of Gibeon,  1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:36, of the tribe of Benjamin.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. Eldest son of Aaron. He was taken up into the mount by Moses, but lost his life for offering strange fire before the Lord.  Exodus 6:23;  Exodus 24:1,9;  Exodus 28:1;  Leviticus 10:1;  Numbers 3:2,4;  Numbers 26:60,61;  1 Chronicles 6:3;  1 Chronicles 24:1,2 . See ABIHU.

2. Son of Jeroboam, king of Israel. He reigned two years and was then killed by Baasha.   1 Kings 14:20;  1 Kings 15:25,27,31 .

3. Son of Shammai, of the tribe of Judah.   1 Chronicles 2:28,30 .

4. Son of Jehiel, a Benjamite.   1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:36 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 28:1 Exodus 24:1 Numbers 3:4

2. King of Israel about 903-902 B.C. Nadab succeeded his father Jeroboam I, founder and first king of northern Israel ( 1 Kings 14:20-15:31 ). He was assassinated by Baasha in a bloody coup. 3. A son of Shanamai (1Chronicles 2:28, 1 Chronicles 2:30 ).  4 . son of Jeiel and Maacah ( 1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:35-36 NIV).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

One of the sons of Shammai in the tribe of Judah ( 1 Chronicles 2:28,30 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Nadab'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/n/nadab.html. 1897.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

1. The oldest son of Aaron, slain by the lord for presumptuously offering strange fire on the altar of burnt offering,  Leviticus 10:1-20 . See Abihu .

2. Son of Jeroboam I. King of Israel. He succeeded his father, B. C. 954, and reigned but two years, being assassinated, while besieging Gibbethon, by Baasha, of the tribe of Issachar, who usurped his kingdom. Nadab did evil in the sight of the Lord; and with him perished his children and the race of Jeroboam, as God had foretold,  1 Kings 15:25-30 .

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

The son of Aaron. His awful death is related to us,  Leviticus 10:1-2, with the cause of it. His name signifies princely, from Nadab. We meet with others of this name, Nadab, son of Jerobeam,  1 Kings 15:25. And Nadab, son of Shammai,  1 Chronicles 2:30.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

son of Aaron, and brother to Abihu. He offered incense to the Lord with strange fire, that is, with common fire, and not with that which had been miraculously lighted upon the altar, of burnt-offerings. Therefore, he was slam by the Lord, together with his brother Abihu,  Leviticus 10:1 , &c.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Nadab', נָדָב , Liberal [see Simonis Onome. V.T. page 409]; Sept. Ναδάβ ), the name of four men.

1. (Josephus, Νάβαδος , Ant. 3:8,1 and 7.) The eldest ( Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2) of the four sons of Aaron by Elisheba, who were anointed, with their father, to be priests of Jehovah ( Exodus 28:1). B.C. 1657. He, his father and brother, and seventy old men of Israel, were led out from the midst of the assembled people ( Exodus 24:1), and were commanded to stay and worship God "afar off," below the lofty summit of Sinai, where Moses alone was to come near to the Lord. Subsequently he, with his brother Abihu, offered incense with strange or common fire to the Lord, instead of that which had been miraculously kindled and was perpetually kept burning upon the altar of burnt offerings; and they were immediately consumed by a fire from the presence of God ( Leviticus 10:1-2;  Numbers 3:4;  Numbers 26:61). They left no children ( 1 Chronicles 24:2). From the injunction given ( Leviticus 10:9-10) immediately after their death, it has been inferred (Rosenmuller, ad loc.) that the brothers were in a state of intoxication when thev committed the offence. The spiritual meaning of the injunction is drawn out at great length by Origen, Hom. 7, in Levit. On this occasion, as if to mark more decidedly the divine displeasure with the offenders, Aaron and his surviving son were forbidden to go through the ordinary outward ceremonial of mourning for the dead. See J. D. Frobosen, Gedanken V. D. Sunde Nadabs U. Obihu, in the Brem. U. Verd. Bibl. 1:4. page 159 sq.; J. Medhurst, in the Bibl. Hffgan. 4:70-76; Bp. Hall, Contemplations, ad loc.; Saurin, Discour. Historiques, 2:354; Dissert. page 531; A. Littleton, Sermons, page 303; J. Dickson, Discourses, page 183; C. Simeon, Works, 1:613; R.P. Buddicom, Christian Exodus, 2:1. (See Abihu).

2. (Josephus, Νάδαβος , Ant. 8:11, 4.) Son and successor of Jeroboam on the throne of Israel ( 1 Kings 14:20). B.C. 951. He followed the deep- laid but criminal and dangerous policy of his father (15:26). In the latter part of his reign, "Gibbethon, in the territory of Dan ( Joshua 19:44), a Levitical town (21:23), was occupied by the Philistines, perhaps having been deserted by its lawful possessors in the general self-exile of the Levites from the polluted territory of Jeroboam. Nadab and all Israel went up and laid siege to this frontier town. A conspiracy broke out in the midst of the army, and the king was slain by Baasha, a man of Issachar. Abijah's prophecy ( 1 Kings 14:10) was literally fulfilled by the murderer, who proceeded to destroy the whole house of Jeroboam. So perished the first Israelitish dynasty. We are not told what events led to the siege of Gibbethon, or how it ended, or any other incident in Nadab's short reign. It does not appear what ground Ewald and Newman have for describing the war with the Philistines as unsuccessful. It is remarkable that when a similar destruction fell upon the family of the murderer Baasha twenty-four years afterwards, the Israelitish army was again engaged in a siege of Gibbethon ( 1 Kings 16:15)." (See Cibbethon). In  1 Kings 15:25 Nadab is assigned a reign of two years, but a comparison of the connected events and dates show that it lasted little, if any, over one year; so that the reckoning must have been made out by the usual proleptic method, which computed the years as begilnning at the normal point of the Jewish calendar, i.e., the 1st of Nisan preceding. (See Chronology).

3. The first named of the two sons of Shammai, in the tribe of Judah, and the father of two sons ( 1 Chronicles 2:28;  1 Chronicles 2:30). B.C. post 1618.

4. The fifth named of the eight sons of Jehiel, "the father [founder] of Gibeon;" a Benjamite of Gibeon ( 1 Chronicles 8:30;  1 Chronicles 9:36). B.C. perhaps cir. 1013.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

nā´dab ( דנדב , nādhābh , "noble"; Ναδάβ , Nadab):

(1) Aaron's first-born son ( Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2;  Numbers 26:60;  1 Chronicles 6:3 (5:29 in Heb);   1 Chronicles 24:1 ). He was permitted with Moses, Aaron, the 70 elders, and his brother Abihu to ascend Mt. Sinai and behold the God of Israel  Exodus 24:1 ,  Exodus 24:9 . He was associated with his father and brothers in the priestly office  Exodus 28:1 . Along with Abihu he was guilty of offering "strange fire," and both "died before Yahweh"  Leviticus 10:1-2;  Numbers 3:4;  Numbers 26:61 . The nature of their offence is far from clear. The word rendered "strange" seems in this connection to mean no more than "unauthorized by the Law" (see זוּר , zūr , in Brown, Driver, and Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament , and compare  Exodus 30:9 ). The proximity of the prohibition of wine to officiating priests  Leviticus 10:8-9 has given rise to the erroneous suggestion of the Midrash that the offence of the brothers was drunkenness.

(2) A descendant of Jerahmeel  1 Chronicles 2:28 ,  1 Chronicles 2:30 .

(3) A G ibeonite  1 Chronicles 8:30 .

(4) Son of Jeroboam I and after him for two years king of Israel  1 Kings 14:20;  1 Kings 15:25 . While Nadab was investing Gibbethon, a Philistine stronghold, Baasha, who probably was an officer in the army, as throne-robbers usually were, conspired against him, slew him and seized the throne  1 Kings 15:27-31 . With the assassination of Nadab the dynasty of Jeroboam was extirpated, as foretold by the prophet Ahijah 1 Kin 14. This event is typical of the entire history of the Northern Kingdom, characterized by revolutions and counter-revolutions.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Nadab, 1

Na´dab (liberal), eldest son of Aaron, who, with his brother Abihu, was slain for offering strange fire to the Lord [ABIHU].

Nadab, 2

Nadab, son of Jeroboam, and second king of Israel. He ascended the throne upon the death of his father (B.C. 954), whose deep-laid, but criminal and dangerous policy, he followed.