The exodusPriestAaron's sonWitness at SinaiUnknown birth year; died during the wilderness wanderings (likely in the 1400s BC)
Aaron and Eliseba's second son, Abihu, was born into what would become Israel's priestly dynasty. His life was short, but rich in dramatic events that had lasting significance for Israelite worship. Together with Moses, Aaron, his older brother Nadab, and seventy of Israel's elders, he was given the rare privilege to ascend Mount Sinai, where they beheld God's glory and ate and drank in his presence—a theophany experience hardly matched anywhere else in the Old Testament. Afterwards, he was consecrated along with his father and brothers for priestly service at the tabernacle through a solemn ceremony led by Moses. Yet his ministry ended suddenly and terrifyingly. When he and Nadab offered "strange fire" before the Lord—an offering God had not commanded—fire came out from the Lord and consumed them both. Moses' subsequent words to Aaron, that God must be treated as holy among those who approach him, became a cornerstone in understanding God's holiness throughout the biblical tradition. The event immediately led to new regulations for the priests and shaped the practice of the Levitical priesthood for generations to come. Since Abihu died childless, his lineage ended, and the priestly service continued through his brothers Eleazar and Ithamar.
Abihu was one of those chosen to go up Mount Sinai with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and seventy of Israel's elders. There they saw the God of Israel, and they ate and drank in his presence without him reaching out his hand against them.
God commanded Moses to set apart Aaron and his sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—for priestly service, and prescribed their holy garments and consecration rituals.
1Now bring near to yourself your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the Israelites, to serve me as priests: Aaron, and Aaron's sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
4These are the garments they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They shall make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons, so that they may serve me as priests.
9Gird Aaron and his sons with sashes and bind the headbands on them. The priesthood shall be theirs by a perpetual statute. So you shall ordain Aaron and his sons.
Moses performed the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons, including Abihu, by anointing them and offering the prescribed sacrifices at the tabernacle, just as the Lord had commanded.
2"Take Aaron and his sons with him, along with the garments, the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread,
13Then Moses brought Aaron's sons forward, clothed them with tunics, tied sashes around them, and bound headdresses on them, as the LORD had commanded Moses.
Abihu and his brother Nadab offered strange fire before the Lord, which God had not commanded them. As a result, fire came out from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
1Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.
Moses' Exhortation and God's Instructions After the Death
After the death of Abihu and Nadab, Moses spoke to Aaron about God's holiness and instructed him and his remaining sons not to mourn publicly. Then God gave instructions that priests must not drink wine or strong drink before entering the tabernacle, so they could distinguish between the holy and the common.
3Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD meant when he said: 'Among those who draw near to me I will show myself holy, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" And Aaron was silent.
6Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair hang loose, and do not tear your garments, or you will die and wrath will come upon the whole congregation. But your brothers, the whole house of Israel, may mourn the burning that the LORD has kindled.
9"You and your sons with you are not to drink wine or strong drink when you enter the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting statute through all your generations,
During the census of the Levites, it was confirmed that Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire, and that they had no sons. The priesthood continued through Eleazar and Ithamar.
4But Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no sons. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.