1 Chronicles 24 · a question people ask
What happened to Nadab and Abihu?
This chapter says only, "But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children" (24:2). Leviticus tells it: they "offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them" (Leviticus 10:1), and "Fire came out from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:2). Numbers says it twice more, "Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children" (Numbers 3:4), and "Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD" (Numbers 26:61). What was wrong with the fire is read in more than one way; Leviticus 10's honest question on what was wrong with the fire sets out the main readings. 1 Chronicles 24 doesn't take it up. It names them, says they had no children, and goes on to the brothers who served (24:2).
The verses
“But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children; therefore Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.”
“Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. Fire came out from before the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.”
“Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD when they offered strange fire before the LORD in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest’s office in the presence of Aaron their father.”
“Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.”