Who is Abihu?
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Asked March 08 2015
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Daniel Douthitt
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Singapore Moses
★ Both Nadab and Abihu are sons of Aaron (brother of Moses) ★ They accompanied Moses and over seventy others to a banquet with God on Sinai (Ex. 24:1-11). ★ They had only recently been set apart for ministry (Lev. 8:13-36), but through self-exaltation, pride, and drunkenness they sinned and died in the fire that God sent as punishment for violating the sacred office (Lev. 10:1-7). ★ Five Sins of Nadab and Abihu are as follows: 1. They did what was not commanded in ministry. 2. They offered "strange fire" (of their own making, not the fire of the altar) before God (Lev. 10:1; Num. 3:4) 3. They offered incense at the wrong time and place. 4. They failed to sanctify themselves before God and the congregation who were in a state of religious ecstacy (Lev. 10:3; 9:24). 5. They got drunk and tried to carry on holy services in this condition (Lev. 10:3,9).
Lynda Hickman
The brother of Moses, Aaron took Elisheba as his wife Ex 6:23, and they had four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar & Ithamar. In Ex 28 we can read that GOD directed Moses to take his brother Aaron & Aaron's four sons to be priests. Then beginning in Lev 9, we can read what led up to the death of Abihu & Nadab. It all began with Moses & Aaron, his four sons, the elders & GOD's specific directions for offerings in the tabernacle. The animals were to be without "blemish" & were for sin offerings, burnt offerings & peace offerings. Moses directed Aaron to go unto the altar (Lev 9:7) & make the offerings for atonement for himself & the people "as the LORD commanded." In Lev 9:8-22, we can read the details these offerings, & in vs. 23, it says that Moses & Aaron went into the tabernacle & came out, they blessed the people & "the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people." Aaron's son assisted in the offerings (vs 9,12,13,20) but consistently we can read that the verses indicate that it was Aaron who held the position of high priest that he would minister to GOD in the office of priest. After Moses & Aaron came out of the tabernacle, vs 24 tells us, "there came a fire out from before the LORD" that consumed all of the offerings. And when the people saw this they "shouted & fell on their faces." Continuing in Lev 10, the first two verses tell us the fate of Nadab & Abihu. "And Nadab & Abihun, the sons of Aaron, each took his censor & put fire in it, put incense on it, & offered profane (strange) fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So the fire went out from the LORD & devoured them, & they died before the LORD." We aren't told what their motive was but it is likely that they had watched as the people responded to their father's actions, & pride in their positions as priests took them captive. This sad event ends with Moses saying to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying, "By those who come near Me, I must be regarded as Holy; and before all the people I must be glorified." And Aaron held his peace." Lev 10:3 Why? A careful read of Lev 9 tells the why! All of the offerings were flesh & blood. In none of GOD's instructions was there any "incense." Yet, contrary to GOD's commands, Nadab & Abihu thought it a good thing to offer the most Holy GOD a meager offering of incense. By GOD's own testimony we can see that He did not receive it as an offering that was holy (as He is Holy) or an offering that glorified Him. While we as followers of Christ Jesus are not under the Law, we are commanded to worship the Father "in spirit & truth" because GOD is Spirit. John 4:23-24 "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings & sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." 1 Sam 15:22 For us today, there is nothing we can offer the LORD that is better than our obedience to His Word.
Bryan Myers
Abihu was one of the sons of Aaron that was killed for offering an unauthorized fire to the LORD. (Lev 10:1-2) Here in this account, we see that Nadab and Abihu, the two older sons of Aaron offered incense at an unapproved time and had lit the incense in an unapproved manner. God in His holiness and righteousness had to severely punish these two to ensure proper reverence was shown when approaching the tabernacle and in observing what was commanded. As Christians, there is a powerful message to be learned. That is to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth.(Jn 4:23-24) We can best do this be following the commands of Jesus Christ and His written Word. It is not our place to go beyond that which was given in Scripture.(2Jn 9-10) Scripture warns of that these things are to be avoided. (Col 2:16-19; 1Tim 4:1-7; 6:20)
Agnes Stuart
Abihu was the second son of Aaron and consecrated to the priesthood with his three brothers, Exodus 28:21; He was consumed by fire from the Lord, with Nadab his brother, for burning incense with common fire instead of that kept perpetually on the altar of burnt-offering.
JD Abshire
Abihu was Aaron's second son by Elisheba. (Exodus 6:23). He and 3 brothers were chosen by the Lord to the office of priest (Exodus 28:1). Abihu and his brother Nadab were killed by the Lord for offering "strange fire" Leviticus 10:1-2 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD." Numbers 3:4 "And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father."
Shirley H.
All I know about Abihu is: Exodus 6:23 "And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazer, and Ithamar." Exodus 24:1 "And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship me afar off." Leviticus 10:1,2 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censor, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, a nd they died for the Lord." Fire is a symbol of God's holiness. God expresses Himself with it in three ways, judgement, (example Genesis 19:24, Mark, 9:43-48,and Revelation 20:15), manifestation of Himself,and His approval,(example Exodus 3:2, 1Peter1:7, Exodus 13:21), And purification (example 1 Corinthians 3:2-14, Malachi 3:2&3). Leviticus 6:12 "And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay burnt-offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace-offerings." Fire expresses the undying devotion of Christ. God had not yet given instruction on the burning of incense. They did not consult God. Colossians 2:23 "Which things indeed have a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility and neglecting of the body; not in any honor to the satisfying of the flesh." Their fire was of a carnal nature...not Holy...strange. I am quoting from the King James Version of the Bible.
Jack Gutknecht
You have asked an interesting question, Daniel Douthitt! Abihu is "the second son of Aaron, who was destroyed with his brother Nadab for offering strange, or unauthorized fire upon the altar (Exod. 6:23; 24:1, 9; 28:1; Lev. 10:1-2)." —Lockyer Hitchcock's Bible Names also adds that "Abihu" is a name meaning "he is my father." To me, Abihu seems always to be mentioned along with his brother, Nadab. Stephen Baker gives us more details on the two of them: "Nadab and Abihu were the oldest of the four sons of Aaron mentioned in Scripture (Exodus 6:23). They were among the generation of the Israelites whom God delivered from the powerful hand of the Egyptians who held them in captivity for 400 years. After God delivered the Israelites, He led them to the base of Mount Sinai to reveal Himself to the people. Nadab and Abihu were among the people personally selected by God to come before Him and worship at a distance (Exodus 24:1). They had the privilege of being among the first men since the exodus to have fellowship with the Lord. They ate before Him and were allowed to witness His glory (Exodus 24:9-11)."
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