Abihu אֲבִיהוּא
Son of Aaron
Biography
Abihu was the second son of Aaron and Elisheba, and the brother of Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Exo.6.23; Num.3.2). He was consecrated as a priest along with his brothers to serve at the tabernacle (Exo.28.1). Abihu went up Mount Sinai with Moses, Aaron, Nadab and seventy elders of Israel to worship the Lord before He gave the tablets of the Testimony to Moses (Exo.24.1,9).
However, Abihu and his brother Nadab offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, and fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died (Lev.10.1-2; Num.3.4; 26.61). This occurred on the eighth day of the priests' consecration. Aaron and his surviving sons were not allowed to mourn their deaths (Lev.10.6).
The sin of Abihu and Nadab was in offering "strange fire" which the Lord had not commanded (Lev.10.1). This may refer to offering incense that was not prepared according to God's instructions, or performing this in a wrong manner or at an inappropriate time. Their deaths served as a stern warning against improper worship. After this incident, God gave Aaron further regulations for priestly service and conduct (Lev.10.8-11). The genealogies record Aaron's descendants through his other sons Eleazar and Ithamar, since Nadab and Abihu had no children before their untimely deaths (Num.3.4; 1Ch.24.1-2).
Family
Parents
In Scripture
4 biblical books ; 2 with study contentExodus 4 verses
- Exodus 6:23
"Aaron took Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as his wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 24:1
"He said to Moses, “Come up to Yahweh, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 24:9
"Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 28:1
"“Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office: Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons."
Study Exodus →
Leviticus 1 verse
- Leviticus 10:1
"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 Yahweh, which he had not commanded them."
Study Leviticus →
Numbers 4 verses
- Numbers 3:2
"These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- Numbers 3:4
"Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh when they offered strange fire before Yahweh 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."
- Numbers 26:60
"To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
- Numbers 26:61
"Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh."
1 Chronicles 3 verses
- 1 Chronicles 6:3
"The children of Amram: Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- 1 Chronicles 24:1
"These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- 1 Chronicles 24:2
"But Nadab and Abihu died before their father, and had no children: therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the priest’s office."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִיהוּא | H0030 |
Abihu
It may be inferred from the emphatic prohibition of wine or strong drink, laid upon the priests immediately after this tragedy, that the two brothers were going to their priestly functions in an intoxicated condition (Le 10:8-11). Their death is mentioned three times in subsequent records (Nu 3:4; 26:61; 1Ch 24:2).
a-bi'-hud ('abhihudh, "father of majesty," or "my father is majesty," though some regard the second part as the proper name Judah): The son of Bela the oldest son of Benjamin (1Ch 8:3</ref