The Death of Nadab and Abihu

10 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu^(A) took their censers,^(B) put fire in them^(C) and added incense;^(D) and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord,^(E) contrary to his command.^(F)

⁴⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer^(A) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly^(B) to make atonement^(C) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;^(D) the plague^(E) has started.” ⁴⁷ So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,^(F) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. ⁴⁸ He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.^(G)

³ Another angel,^(A) who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,^(B) on the golden altar^(C) in front of the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God^(D) from the angel’s hand. ⁵ Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar,^(E) and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder,^(F) rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.^(G)