The Sin of Nadab and Abihu
(Numbers 3:1–4)

1Bvt Nadab and Abihu, the sonnes of Aaron, tooke either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put incense thereupon, and offred strange fire before the Lorde, which hee had not commaunded them. 2Therefore a fire went out from the Lord, & deuoured them: so they dyed before the Lord.

3Then Moses sayde vnto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will bee sanctified in the that come neere me, & before all the people I will be glorified: but Aaron held his peace.

4And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan the sonnes of Vzziel, the vncle of Aaron, & saide vnto them, Come neere, cary your brethre from before the Sanctuarie out of the hoste. 5Then they went, and caried them in their coates out of the host, as Moses had comaunded. 6After, Moses saide vnto Aaron and vnto Eleazar & Ithamar his sonnes, Vncouer not your heads, neither rent your clothes, least ye dye, and least wrath come vpon all ye people: but let your brethren, all the house of Israel bewayle the burning which the Lorde hath kindled. 7And go not yee out from the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation, least ye dye: for the anointing oyle of the Lorde is vpon you: and they did according to Moses commaundement.

Restrictions for Priests

8And the Lorde spake vnto Aaron, saying, 9Thou shalt not drinke wine nor strong drinke, thou, nor thy sonnes with thee, when yee come into the Tabernacle of the Congregation, lest ye die: this is an ordinance for euer throughout your generations, 10That ye may put difference betweene the holy and the vnholy, and betweene the cleane and the vncleane, 11And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lorde hath commaunded them by the hand of Moses.

12Then Moses saide vnto Aaron and vnto Eleazar and to Ithamar his sonnes that were left, Take the meate offring that remaineth of the offrings of the Lorde, made by fire, and eate it without leauen beside ye altar: for it is most holy: 13And ye shall eate it in the holy place, because it is thy duetie and thy sonnes duety of the offringes of the Lorde made by fire: for so I am commannded. 14Also the shaken breast and the heaue shoulder shall yee eate in a cleane place: thou, and thy sonnes, and thy daughters with thee: for they are giuen as thy duetie & thy sonnes duety, of the peace offringes of the children of Israel. 15The heaue shoulder, and the shaken breast shall they bring with the offringes made by fire of the fat, to shake it to and fro before the Lord, and it shalbe thine and thy sonnes with thee by a lawe for euer, as the Lord hath commaunded.

16And Moses sought the goate that was offred for sinne, and lo, it was burnt: therefore he was angrie with Eleazar and Ithamar the sonnes of Aaron, which were left aliue, saying, 17Wherfore haue ye not eaten the sinne offring in the holy place, seeing it is most Holie? & God hath giuen it you, to beare the iniquitie of the Congregation, to make an atonement for them before the Lorde. 18Beholde, the blood of it was not brought within the holy place: ye should haue eaten it in the holy place, as I commaunded. 19And Aaron said vnto Moses, Behold, this day haue they offred their sinne offring, and their burnt offring before the Lorde, and such things as thou knowest are come vnto mee: If I had eaten the sinne offring to day, should it haue bene accepted in the sight of the Lord? 20So when Moses heard it, he was content.