Abihu

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Abihu and Nadab, sons of Aaron, with seventy of the elders of Israel, were invited to ascend with Moses, where they saw God and did eat and drink,  Exodus 24:1,9-11 . They were consecrated to minister to the Lord as priests, yet on the first occasion of their exercising the priesthood for Israel they offered strange fire, which the Lord had not commanded, and were smitten by fire from God.  Leviticus 10:1,2 . Immediately before this we read that "there came a fire out from before the Lord and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat." Thatfire was never to go out, and doubtless the fire Abihu should have used was the fire that was upon the brazen altar, as is ordained in  Leviticus 16:12 . We read elsewhere that everything was to be done 'as the Lord commanded Moses;' but of this which Nadab and Abihu did, it expressly says it was not commanded; therefore it was sin, and God was dishonoured. Their death followed, and Aaron and his other sons were not to leave the tabernacle nor mourn for the dead.   Numbers 26:60,61;  1 Chronicles 24:1,2 . The case of Nadab and Abihu should teach us that not every kind of worship is acceptable to God: "they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth,"   John 4:24 : mere outward worship will not do and it must be according to what God has revealed. If separated from the sacrifice of Christ it is but the energy of nature, and is offensive to God.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

the son of Aaron, the high priest, was consumed, together with his brother Nadab, by fire sent front God, because he had offered incense with strange fire, instead of taking it from the altar,  Leviticus 10:1-2 . This calamity happened A.M. 2514; within eight days after the consecration of Aaron and his sons. Some commentators believe that this fire proceeded from the altar of burnt-offerings; others, that it came from the altar of incense. Several interpreters, as the Rabbins, Lyra, Cajetan, and others, are of opinion, that Nadab and Abihu were overtaken with wine, and so forgot to take the sacred fire in their censers. This conjecture is founded on the command of God delivered immediately afterward to the priests, forbidding them the use of wine during the time they should be employed in the service of the temple. Another class allege, that there was nothing so heinous in their transgression, but it was awfully punished, to teach ministers fidelity and exactness in discharging their office. It had a vastly more important meaning,—this instance of vengeance is a standing example of that divine wrath which shall consume all who pretend to serve God, except with incense kindled from the one altar and offering by which he for ever perfects them that are sanctified.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

Son of Aaron, whose awful death, by the immediate judgment of the Lord, With his brother Nadab, is recorded  Leviticus 10:2. I refer the reader to that history, for the particulars of this visitation. Some have thought, that they were drunken, when they thus ministered in their priestly office; and so forgot to take the sacred fire in their censers. And they have formed this opinion, on the precept in the ninth verse: where it is said to Aaron, "Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation; lest ye die." But it should rather seem, that it was the act of taking strange fire which was their offence, and for which the Lord smote them. Strange fire; not the fire which was appointed, and which was always durning upon the altar: and which typified Christ's fiery sufferings. And if so, what an awful view it affords, to shew the danger of all offerings, void of an eye by faith in Christ! ( Isaiah 1:11.) The name of Abihu means, he is my father.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

The second son of Aaron, consecrated to the priesthood with his three brethren,  Exodus 28:21; but consumed shortly after by fire from the Lord, with Nadab his brother, for burning incense with common fire instead of that kept perpetually on the altar of burnt-offering,  Leviticus 10:1-2   16:12   Numbers 16:46 . As this is immediately followed by the prohibition of wine to the priests when ministering in the tabernacle, it is not improbable that Nadab and Abihu were intoxicated when thus transgressing. Their death is a solemn warning not to presume to worship God except with incense kindled at the one altar which Christ hath sanctified,  Hebrews 10:10-14 . It is a dangerous thing, in the service of God, to decline from his own institutions. We have to do with a God who is wise to prescribe his own worship, his to require what he has prescribed, and powerful to avenge what he has not prescribed.

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ABIHU (‘he is father’). Second son of Aaron (  Exodus 6:23 ,   Numbers 3:2;   Numbers 26:60 ,   1 Chronicles 6:3;   1 Chronicles 24:1 ); accompanied Moses to the top of Sinai (  Exodus 24:1;   Exodus 24:9 ); admitted to the priest’s office (  Exodus 28:1 ); slain along with his brother Nadab for offering strange fire (  Leviticus 10:1-2 ,   Numbers 3:4;   Numbers 26:61 ,   1 Chronicles 24:2 ).

People's Dictionary of the Bible

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.  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.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 6:23 Numbers 3:2 26:60 1 Chronicles 6:3 Exodus 28:1 Exodus 24:1,9 Leviticus 6:9 Leviticus 10:1-11 Numbers 3:4 26:61 1 Chronicles 24:2

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Second son of Aaron by Elisheba ( Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2). With Aaron, Nadab, and the 70 elders, he accompanied Moses up Sinai to a limited distance ( Exodus 24:1). On his death by fire from heaven, in punishment for offering strange fire, (See Aaron above. A standing example of that divine wrath which shall consume all who offer God devotion kindled at any other save the one Altar and Offering of Calvary, whereby "He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Abi'hu. (He (God) Is My Father). The second son,  Numbers 3:2 of Aaron by Elisheba.  Exodus 6:23. Being, together with his elder brother Nadab, guilty of offering strange fire to the lord, he was consumed by fire from heaven.  Leviticus 10:1-2.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Exodus 6:23 Exodus 28:1 Exodus 24:1 Leviticus 10:1-22 Leviticus 16:12Priests

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(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 ( Exodus 6:23;  Numbers 3:2;  Numbers 26:60;  1 Chronicles 6:3;  1 Chronicles 24:1), who, with his brothers Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar, was set apart and consecrated for the priesthood ( 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 ( Exodus 24:1;  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  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 ( Leviticus 10:1-11; comp.  Numbers 3:4;  Numbers 26:61;  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).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

a - bı̄´hū ( אביהוּא , 'ăbhı̄hū ), "father he is," or "my father he is"): Second son of Aaron, the high priest ( Exodus 6:23 ). With his older brother Nadab he "died before Yahweh," when the two "offered strange fire" ( Leviticus 10:1 ,  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 ( Leviticus 10:8-11 ). Their death is mentioned three times in subsequent records ( Numbers 3:4;  Numbers 26:61;  1 Chronicles 24:2 ).

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Abi´hu (Father of him), the second of the sons of Aaron, who, with his brothers Nadab, Eleazer, and Ithamar, was set apart and consecrated for the priesthood ( Exodus 28:1). He and his brother Nadab having presumed to offer incense in censers filled with 'strange' or common fire, they were instantly struck dead by lightning, and were taken away and buried in their clothes without the camp. As immediately after the record of this transaction comes a prohibition of wine or strong drink to the priests on duty at the tabernacle, it is not unfairly surmised that they were intoxicated when they committed this serious error in their ministrations ( Leviticus 10:1-11).