Nadab and Abihu

An alternate title for Leviticus might be “How To Cleanse and Maintain the Tabernacle.”  There are so many details about who does what, when, and why it’s easy to get lost.  And, since the tabernacle was replaced with the temple, and the temple was destroyed, we may be tempted to skip over Leviticus and get back to our story of those wandering faithless Hebrews. This would be a mistake.  Tucked in all those instructions are two narratives. In this article I will look at the first of these stories.

After 7 chapters of instructions, Moses finally acts.  And what does he do?  He helps Aaron and Aaron’s sons get dressed.  I don’t say this disrespectfully.  I say this in a way to emphasize the possible disappointment one might feel while reading.  We have been reading instruction after instruction after detailed instruction.  When things finally start to happen, we’re excited, only to possibly feel let down again. 

However, these initial events are not what is important.  The important thing is that events are happening.  There is a shift in the telling.  This shift is a red flag, we need to pay attention.  Why? Let’s examine the chiastic structure of this narrative to explore.

 The story of Nadab and Abihu is broken up between chapters 8-10 and 16. If we tease out these chapters we find a narrative laid out before us in rings of wonder.

The story begins with Aaron and his sons at the door of the tabernacle, they are cleansed, and then they put their garments on.  The priests are fully consecrated and ready to enter into YHWH’s presence.  When we reach the end of chapter 16 the priests take their clothes off, they are cleansed, and they are standing at the door of the tabernacle - Israel is fully consecrated. 

But, in the middle of the story, strange fire was offered.  The priests were unable to draw near. In fact, they were taken not just out of the tent, but out of the camp, completely removed from the community. 

We were just called into the tent, now we’re out with no way back in.  Something else was needed.  Something else had to be done.  In response, YHWH instituted and new ritual, a new covering.  This was not a change of plans.  This failure and new ritual was created for our benefit to be used as a teaching tool.   Just like Adam and Eve in the garden and Noah’s family in the ark, the Hebrews in the wilderness needed additional covering, something else had to be done – kaphar, atonement.

Ultimately, what the Hebrews learned and what we now understand, is that we need an eternal, spiritual cleansing.  At chapter 10, Israel is the most clean it can possible be - fully consecrated and set apart. As soon as humans set foot into the Dwelling Place, it is defiled by sin.  We cannot do it. (Rom 8:7-8)

But now we have a problem.  Torah alone is not able to cleanse us perfectly, eternally. The Day of Atonement must be performed continually every year.  In teaching us how to draw near to YHWH, we see that in the flesh, we are not able to do our part. No matter how thorough the instructions are, no matter how easy they seem, we have sinful flesh.  We need the eternal appointed anointed one, Ha’ Mashiac (the Messiah) to reconcile us to YHWH once and for all. (Heb 9:13-14)

See the chiastic structure on the website.