Leviticus
ויּקרא

Lesson 2

Chapter 10 is really the culmination of the foregoing chapters, the story of Nadab and Abihu serving to underscore the consecration of the sons of Aaron and their duty, as those who "come near" YHWH, to treat Him as holy.  Read chapter 10 and answer the following questions.

1. The story related in Leviticus 10 follows immediately on the heels of the description of the consecration of Aaron and his sons. Chapter 9 in particular had described the sacrifices that were made on what occasion? (See 9:1, 8:31-36).
   
    
2. In the description of those sacrifices, how many times do you find it said that they did "just as the Lord had commanded"?  Cite each occurrence of the phrase by verse.
   
    
3. By way of contrast, what phrase do we see in Lev. 10:2 concerning the actions of Nadab and Abihu?
   
    
4. What was the last thing the people had witnessed as described in Leviticus 9?
   
    
5. Perhaps it is not certain that the events of chapter 10 occurred immediately after the events of chapter 9. But remembering the time frame we established in the previous lesson for all of the events of Leviticus, what is the maximum amount of time that could have passed between Lev. 9:24 and Lev. 10:2? (Remember to subtract the seven days that Aaron and his sons were in the doorway of the tent of meeting during their period of ordination.)
   
    
6. What does "come near me" mean in this context? (Compare Lev. 21:17-23, Ex. 19:22.)
    
7. Do we "come near" to the Lord? (Eph. 2:13, Heb. 4:16)
   
    
8. What does the text say about Aaron's reaction to the death of his sons?
    
9. What were Aaron and his other sons told not to do? Why might they have done this had they not be warned against so doing?
    
10. Who removed the bodies of Nadab and Abihu?
    
     
11. Further instructions are given to Aaron and his sons in 10:9-17. Who was permitted to eat the breast and the thigh of the peace offerings, and where?
    
     
12. In Lev. 10:16-20, Moses takes Aaron to task about a matter, but Aaron has an explanation.
     
    1. Lev. 10:16 says Moses couldn't find what?
        
    2. What had happened to it?
        
    3. What did Moses think should have happened to it?
        
    4. Was Moses' expectation in accordance with Lev. 6:24-26?
        
    5. Explain the exception to the instructions of Lev. 6:25-26 that is found in Lev. 6:30.
        
    6. Was Moses' expectation in accordance iwth Lev. 6:30?
        
    7. Under what two circumstances was blood from the sin offering brought into the tent of meeting? (Lev. 4:3-7, 4:13-18)
        
    8. Under what two circumstances was blood from the sin offering not brought into the tent of meeting? (Lev. 4:22-25, 4:27-30)
        
    9.  Of these four circumstances, which one best describes the situation of Lev. 10:1-3?
        
    10. Can you now see why Aaron said what he said in Lev. 10:19-20? HINT: What purpose did the priest's eating of the flesh serve according to Lev. 10:17? And how would the priest be disqualified from serving in that capacity in the circumstances described in Lev. 4:3-7 and 4:13-18? (If it's not yet apparent, take heart - we'll discuss it in class.)