Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
Leviticus 10:1-2
The setting here, is the consecration of priests, specifically the son’s of Aaron; Nadab and Abihu. During the process, they “offered strange fire before the Lord…” The Hebrew word used in the text for “strange” is Zuwr (Zoor), meaning to turn aside or go astray. As it were, the boys had taken it upon themselves to offer a fire different from what the Lord had commanded. Hence, their offense against God was one of arrogance, and ego, as they presumed their offering would be accepted, even though it was contrary to God’s command.
The significance of this example amplifies the importance of our own obedience, and even more so the needed atonement for our own presumptions.
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