The National tribune., 1895-07-11

In explaining the New Testament-in par
ticular the Epistls to the Hebrews-the Book
of Leviticus is very helpful.
Jerome said Of Levtieus: almost every
syllable in this book breathes a spiritual sacra-
ment"
Twenty of the Of chapters of Lsvtieus begin
with the words: The Lord spake unto Moses
saying"
Leviticus contains no history save the ac-
counts of the conservation OF Aaron and his
sons-the deaths OF Nadab and Abihu-and the
report of the punishment Of the basphemer.
Leviticus treats of sacrifices, the institution
of the ministry, publications aud festivals.
NADAB AND ABIHU.
Time.
We date A. M. 2514. or B. c. 1890. We are
thus carried back in history 1885 years. This
was in tho second year of the Exodus. The
month was Abb Tor Nisan), corresponding with
our March.
In front of Mt. Sinai. Tho camp of Israel was
located there and had been for more than q year.
1t was called the Valley Of Rahab.
Data.
We have only this one account-Lev, 10: /
IL.
NadaJ and Abihu.
Aaron married Elishebs, daughter of AM
minadab. and hence of the tribe of Judah. Nu.,
2:3. Aaron and Elisheba had four sons in
the following order: Nsdab. Abihu. Eleszar
and Ithamar. M, 3:2, Eleazsr became high
priest when his father died. NJ, 20: %. The
high priesthood ultimately passed into the
family of Ithamar in the person of Eli.
Uzziel ". ~ was the uncle Of Aaron. Hence
Mishael and Elzaphan were first cousins of
Aaron and second cousins of Nadab and Abihu
The name of the mother of Nsdab and Abihu
is another form of the name Elizabeth.
The meaning of tho name Abihu is To-
Whom God Is Father. The name Nadab means
Liberal.
Definitions
/. Censor. v. !. vessel, pan, vase, bowl
In which to burn certain spices. gums, etc. 1t
was made of metal and was easily portable.
Tho censor contained Goals Of fire. and the burn
ing on the Goals of the various gums etc, pro-
duced q rising aud spreading cloud of perfume.
The spices used were very fragrant and the
rising incense was very agreeable TO the smell.
The censor was also at times called the in
censory. We read in Eze., 8: IL: "a thick
cloud of incense went up" Spenser wrote:
Her thoughts are like the fume of fran kincense
Which from golden censor forth doth rise
Ex., 80: 1888 gives the recipe for manufac-
turing the incense.
1t was very common among Greeks and Ro-
mans to connect the offering of incense with
the presentation of animal sacrifices. Using
the censor for worshiping the gods, they made
said censers Of gold or silver and often orna-
mented them with precious stones.
The Roman Catholic Church yet uses incense
in worship. few High Church $50 caIled)
Episcopalians also use 1t. Bishop Courtney
thinks it very expressive in symbolism and
wishes it more in use now.
We read i'll Maimon ides's Treatise of the
Daily Service. C. 3, the following, which shows
the manner in which Jews burned incense in
the Temple service:
lone went and gathered the ashes from off
the altar into golden vessel q second brought
a vessel full of incense and third brought
censor with fire, and put Goals on the altar, and
he whose office it to burn the incense
strewed IL on the fire at the command of the
Governor"
We notice the incense accompanied prayer
aud signifisd the scceptableness to God of our
devotions. Ps., 1i1:2; Rev., s: So
Provision was made in jewish worship for
censers. Nu., 4: IA; 1876.
2. Put fire therein. 1. A continual fire was
kept burning on the Temple altar i'm the Holy
Place. All fire required for worship was to |
be kinded by Goals from the altar fire. We |
notice, in the instructions for observing the |
Day of Atonement, directions as to the use of
incense and the source of the fire. Lev, is: !
1914. On other occasions when FIRE was |
16: 46. The fire which originated the kindling |
Of the altar Goals was " fire from the Lord" |
II is thought that Nadab and Abihu, instead of |
iguiting the gums and spices of the censor with |
Goals from the altar. used ordinary fire, here |
called strange fire."
We notice the method was first to place the |
Goals in the censor and then sprinkle over the |
hot Goals the incense materials. Hence there |
should be no incense till the altar was reached.
Nadab and his brother did not observe this di- |
rection. but took common fre-coals from
some. chance fire.
Asa consequence the fire of the Lord, which
would have ignitod the incense and made wor-
ship, grateful, leaped from the altar and de-
voured the sacrilegious brothers. They were
killed as by lightning.
The fire of tho holy God" says Keil,
which had just sanctifed the service of Aaron
as we'll pleasing to God, brought destruction
upon his two eldest sons, because they had not
sanctiied Jehovah in their hearts, but had
taken upon themselves n sell. wiled service
Just as the same gospel is to one n SAVIOR Of life
unto life, and to another SAVIOR of death unto
death. e Cor. 2:16.J"
3. Devoured them. 2. Killed them. Their
bodies were not consumed, burned up. VA
4. Before the Lord. VS.. 1, g In the closest
sense this means in the Holy of Holes. Be-
fore the Lord means in his presence. He
would be ut the brazen altar, in the Temple.
,ver. everywhere. We not only worship before
The Lord-that is to say, in his presence-but
.lso we sin before him. and he sees US whether
We be good evil.
We live before the Lord and we die before
him.
5. Sanctified vs. Honored. obeyed, rev.
,renced. See Ex., 10: %; %: 43; Eze., 20: Al.
6. Them that come nigh me. 3. Special
reference is made to priests and Levites They
we're permitted to go nearest to the Holy of
Holes.
7. Gloriied. 8. Is, 1879; Eze., 2s %; st.
John. 10: 81. 80; II 13: TIL. l.: 10. We
hould SO conduct as to magnify God as our
Creator and Director.
8. Brethren. 4. Nadab and Abihu were
ccond cousins to Mishael and Elzaphon. The
word brethren here means kinsmen, near rel
tives. Gen, 1873.
8. Carry corpses out of camp. 4. st. Luke
;: ~; Acts 5: g. g. 10; SO. Anciently. save
II rare cases, the dead were not buried within
ity walls.
10. In coats. 5. The priests wore garments
{ texture and pattern prescribed by God.
they were tunics, linen garments etc. These
we're not consumed by the fire which killed