Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

| CONTEXT.-It was high day Wnen
| the tabernacle, the gift of the people, was
set UP in the wilderness to be the place OF
| the divine presence, where worship was
appointed to be publicly conducted. When
Moses and Aaron came forth to bless the
| people the assembly shouted for JOY ana
all fell on their faces in token of their
humility. Nothing of this sort had ever
been witnessed in Israel. 1t was the be-
ginning of that new dispensation which
should promote the spiritual welfare Of the
posterity of Abraham down to the coming
OF Messiah, a period of fifteen centuries
| Hopes were kindled in all hearts. The
| unity and perpetu.ty of the nation were
| involved and the high purpose of God was
! to be served in and by the methods Of the
| tabernacle. Withal the forms and cere-
monies were to be introduced, the most of
! them typical of things to come in the new
dispensation when Messiah should appear
| and conduct spiritual worship by simpler
| methods. These were, therefore, good rea-
sons for entering with reverence into that
| which had been appointed The priests
were respons IDLE for proper behavior.
OFFENsE.-One would hardly expect
| that on the day following the joyous service
| in the tabernacle sin would again appear In
Israel. But the perversity Of human nature
and Abihu the first and second born OF
the four sons of Aaron (Numb: III: "a,
| took their censers. put incense therein and
offered strange fire before the Lord. In this
they committed several offenses. 1t is
| not probable that incense might be Of
fered at all times. U-ev. xvi:l-O: Be
by turns. duke i:9). Neither had these
two a right to enter the tabernacle-that
was the privilege Of Moses and Aaron only
and they were only assistants to the lat
ter, to follow his instructions. Moses had
the custody Of the incense, and as their act
was irregular. they took some not conse-
Grated lex. xxx:9), and for burning 1t
they took fire that had not been on the
altar. (Rev. viii5). All this was a rash.
irreverent and contemptuous treatment of
sacred things Why did they act thus?
We may not discern their motives Many
conjectures have been made. The more
common opinion is that they were proud OF
the new honor that had come to them, as
if they had forgotten that they were sinful
men, subordinates to the high priest, sub
ject to law.
PUNISHMENT.-A fearful visitation
from God came upon these men while they
were offering incense Fire came forth and
struck them both down dead. This fire was
the symbol of divine presence and wrath.
Oeut. iv:24) On the day before 1t con-
sumed the sacrifice. Now it is directed to-
ward the officiating priests. Other cases OF
its destroying power are recorded. Numb.
xvi :35.) To us this seems to have been
severe punishment. We might be disposed
to plead that these young men were mex
perenced. having but little time in office;
at least time to repent; that because of
their relations to Aaron and Moses and be-
cause only two priests would be left, they
ought to have been spared; that 1t was
pity to take them away while ch1ldless
Numb. iii:4, and so cut off their name for
ever. But we must remember that God mad
declared His purpose to destroy Individual
transgressors eek xXxii:33), so that there
had been ample warning Their position
ought not to shield them. the more exalted
the offender the greater should be the PEN
atty. Furthermore, the 1sraelites were I'M
der schooling. A few days before they went
over to idoatry. They must now be Sc
we're lesson, not likely to be forgotten
Numb xxvi:6D, be made to know Gods
purpose to secure obedience and reverence,
without which His plan for this people can
never be accomplished.
REASON-This great calamity-the
instant death of two priests While in the
tabernacle engaged In service-must nave
produced great CONSERVATION among all
classes What did 1t mean? The question
was doubtless upon every lip. Moses, the
servant and mouthpiece Of God, steps for
ward to explain. With the utmost calm
ness and simplicity he vindicates God and
lays bare the offense which has thus awak-
ened His wrath. He speaks to Aaron, his
brother, who, as father Of the deceased, was
afflicted and who, as high priest, needed to
understand this sad event. This is in ac-
cordance with the Lords own utterance,"
he said, referring probably to several decla-
rations What were they, Il will be sancti-
fled in them that come nigh me'-that is,
the priests-"that l may be g'or!fied before
all the people," (Ex. Xix:22D 1t was not to
be expected that religion among the masses
would reach any higher plane than it did
among the ministers. So in after years
holy men Offering holy service in holy
place is the best guarantee of popular re-
Ision Aaron listened to his brothers words
and held his peace.
BURIAL-The bodies of the dead
must be taken from the tabernacle and
buried Moses gave instructions concern
ing this matter that were calculated to
observe the proprieties of the place and the
occasion, minister somewhat to the feelings
of the bereaved and protect the cause OF
God against any evils that might arise.
Michael and Elizaphan, sons of Uzziel,