After the deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s two disobedient (presumptuous) sons … priests who died in the Tabernacle offering (unacceptable) “strange fire” unto the Lord … the Book of Leviticus delves into a “ton” of rules and regulations concerning “purity!”
Likely and specifically … because their (Nadab’s and Abihu’s) sin had defiled the whole Sanctuary! An affront to Almighty God!
In fact, after Leviticus chapter 10 (where their flagrant sin occurs) … these men are not mentioned again until Leviticus chapter 16 … the “Day of Atonement” Chapter!
Wow!
The Day the entire Nation of Israel is (via bloodshed) “forgiven” their sins! (Or at least their sins are “covered” from the Eyes of God.) Now commanded to become an annual practice/ritual/command from God, this “Day of Atonement.”
In fact, as I just said but need to repeat … the first time Nadab and Abihu are mentioned after Leviticus chapter 10 (the day of their infraction, rebellion) … is in Leviticus 16 (the “Day of Atonement” Instructions Chapter).
Regulations on how to cleanse both the people … and the Sanctuary (where Nadab and Abihu died, defiling the whole Place).
In between that egregious sin (chapter 10) and the cleansing of the Tabernacle/People (chapter 16) … are positioned five chapters of (guess what) PURITY REGULATIONS!
How to live holy lives before Almighty God!
The sin of chapter 10 (again, Nadab and Abihu) necessitated the following six chapters of Leviticus … culminating in the Day of Atonement, chapter 16 itself.
What beautiful (reasonable) order/logic in Leviticus!
Here’s how Chapter 16 (the theological “center” of both the Book of Leviticus and of the whole Pentateuch) begins … “And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and …” Leviticus 16:1-4a, with lots more detail yet to come!
Purity, holiness … necessary in God’s Eyes!
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
In the New Testament, this same principle still prevails, at least in this sense, to this degree … “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
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