Abihu
“My father is He, or He is my father”
Summary
The second son of Aaron who, along with his brother Nadab, was struck dead by divine fire for offering unauthorized incense before the Lord.
☩Priestly Consecration
Abihu was one of Aaron's four sons, born to him by Elisheba. Along with his brothers Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar, he was set apart and consecrated for the priesthood. With his father and elder brother, he was among the seventy elders who accompanied Moses partway up Mount Sinai, where they saw God and ate and drank in His presence.
☩Sin and Judgment
When the ceremonial worship was first established, fire from heaven consumed the offerings on the altar—a sacred fire that was to be perpetually maintained. However, Nadab and Abihu offered incense with "strange fire," using common fire rather than the holy fire from the altar. For this presumptuous act, they were instantly struck dead by fire from the Lord. The prohibition of wine to officiating priests, which immediately follows this account, suggests they may have been intoxicated when committing this serious error.
☩Theological Significance
Their deaths, though severe, had the intended effect of enforcing careful attention to the ritual service. The incident teaches that not every kind of worship is acceptable to God—worship must be offered according to His revealed will and in the manner He has prescribed. Mere outward religious observance separated from faith and obedience is offensive to God.
Related Verses13 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Abihu," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. I (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Abihu," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Abihu," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).