1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered unholy fire before YHVH, such as he had not commanded them.
Nadab, in Hebrew, means impulsion; willing; spontaneous; voluntary; liberal; munificent; free gift; abundant gift; princely giving. He symbolizes presumptuous, ruling thoughts in the spiritual consciousness of the individual Will. Abihu, in Hebrew, means Father is God and symbolizes the direction toward acquiring Divine Power. Their offering "unholy fire" to YHVH represents the Selfish use of Divine Power. Misusing Divine Power can cause personal destruction.
In our system we teach that Divine Power can be used for "selfish reasons", as long as it is done intelligently. Doing so without care can, indeed, cause personal destruction, like in the example given above. To assume personal control of spiritual power is to take personal responsibility for every aspect of one's own life. Few are truly ready to do that, but it is what we teach in our Order.
2 And fire came forth from the presence of YHVH and devoured them, and they died before YHVH.
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what YHVH has said, 'I will show myself holy among those who are near me, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" And Aaron held his peace.
4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Draw near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp."
5 So they drew near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.
6 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not rend your clothes, lest you die, and lest wrath come upon all the congregation; but your brethren, the whole house of Israel, may bewail the burning which YHVH has kindled.
Eleazar means, in Hebrew, God has surrounded; God succors; God is helper; Whom God has helped; Help of God. He symbolizes Spiritual Strength through individual recognition of YHVH (God) as his or her supporting, sustaining power.
Ithamar means, in Hebrew, island of palms; palm coast; palm island; land of palms; as the palm tree. He symbolizes a positive attitude of Victory and Triumph.
This warning is often times repeated in a veiled manner in the Bible. It is a warning against the inappropriate use of the spiritual fires. The indication is that we must follow the proper procedures and not divert these energies into unknown directions.
7 And do not go out from the door of the tent of meeting, lest you die; for the anointing oil of YHVH is upon you." And they did according to the word of Moses.
8 And YHVH spoke to Aaron, saying,
9 "Drink no wine nor strong drink, you nor your sons with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, lest you die; it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations.
10 You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean;
11 and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes which YHVH has spoken to them by Moses."
12 And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, "Take the cereal offering that remains of the offerings by fire to YHVH, and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy;
13 you shall eat it in a holy place, because it is your due and your sons' due, from the offerings by fire to YHVH; for so I am commanded.
14 But the breast that is waved and the thigh that is offered you shall eat in any clean place, you and your sons and your daughters with you; for they are given as your due and your sons' due, from the sacrifices of the peace offerings of the people of Israel.
15 The thigh that is offered and the breast that is waved they shall bring with the offerings by fire of the fat, to wave for a wave offering before YHVH, and it shall be yours, and your sons' with you, as a due for ever; as YHVH has commanded."
16 Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron who were left, saying,
17 "Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before YHVH?
18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded."
19 And Aaron said to Moses, "Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before YHVH; and yet such things as these have befallen me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been acceptable in the sight of YHVH?"
20 And when Moses heard that, he was content.