“Then Moshe carefully investigated what had happened to the goat of the sin offering and discovered that it had been burned up. He became angry with El‘azar and Itamar, the remaining sons of Aharon, and asked, ‘Why didn’t you eat the sin offering in the area of the sanctuary, since it is especially holy? He gave it to you to take away the guilt of the community, to make atonement for them before Adonai.'”-Leviticus 10:16-17
The Lord’s grace is on display from verse 12.
Here we have Moses going over a checklist of the procedures the priests need to adhere to when officiating.
A wise thing to do considering what had just happened to Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu.
Moses makes sure the newly consecrated priests understand that the unleavened dough from the MINCHAH (Grain Offering) is eaten by the priests “beside the altar” INSIDE the courtyard of the Tabernacle.
The reason I say the Lord’s Grace is on display here is because we can see that the tragic incident involving Nadav and Avihu didn’t change anything.
The show will still go on so to speak.
The rituals and their atoning purposes will remain the same.
Aaron and his remaining sons will still be the Lord’s priests.
In spite of the disaster that has just occurred, their holy office was not taken away from them.
However, verses 16 and onwards present us with an interesting conundrum.
When Moses hears what happened with the Purification Offering, he explodes in anger.
Apparently, Aaron’s remaining two sons Eleazar and Ithamar had not eaten the meat from the HATTA-AT Offering (Purification Offering) in a proper manner.
They were supposed to eat it inside the confines of the courtyard but instead disregarded God’s command and ate it in a different location.
Although this action wasn’t as serious as what Nadav and Avihu did, it was still a violation against the Lord’s specific command involving his Holy Property.
So why weren’t Eleazar and Ithamar destroyed?
My answer: I’m not sure.
And believe me, my logical mind hates not knowing the answers.
Maybe it was the Lord showing compassion because He knew that Eleazar and Ithamar were still in a state of shock from what had just happened to Nadav and Avihu.
Maybe there is some unseen boundary line in the heavens that when crossed the Lord’s heavy hand of judgment will fall but other times the Lord will show grace.
The only answer I can possibly think of is God’s Words from Exodus Chapter 33.
“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
Who are we to question the sovereign Lord’s decisions on such matters?
I’m pretty confident in my answer to that question.
NOBODY is the answer.
Hi there! I love the way you broke down these verses. To answer the question as to why the LORD did not destroy Eleazar and Ithamar, it has to do with the way Aaron, their father responded to Moses when he asked them why they burnt up the sin offering instead of eating it as they should have according to the law. Leviticus 10:19-20 gives us Aaron’s response. Please read those verses when you have a moment. He may have reasoned that any members of the priestly family in which such sin was found, should not partake of a Holy offering. At the end of vs 19, he asked, would it have been pleasing to the LORD. It could have been the manner in which Aaron addressed the situation. In the face of a potentially heated situation, he responded in a calm, humble and respectful manner and in a way that dignified Moses and brought honor to the LORD. In a tumultuous time, Aaron’s main focus was pleasing the LORD. And what was the result? Well, as we see in vs 20, when Moses heard Aaron’s response, he was satisfied and evidently the LORD too was satisfied with Aaron’s reasoning. So, the LORD extended mercy upon them.
Thanks for sharing Gloria.
I thank Yahweh for you openness of heart. I mean you openly confessed that I am not sure! regarding the other two sons of Aaron.
Thanks David. Be blessed.