Why did the Lord kill Nadab and Abihu?

[tonychanyt]

This happened on Day 1 in the inauguration of the brand-new tabernacle/temple.

Leviticus 10:

1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.

Nadab and Abihu improvised without authority from the LORD. They used common fire.

2And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.

Nadab and Abihu did not follow orders. Perhaps they jumped the gun. The fire had to come from the altar, Leviticus 16:

12 he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from the altar before the Lord, and two handfuls of sweet incense beaten small, and he shall bring it inside the veil.

The Lord killed them both on the spot to show that God meant serious business with the brand-new Tabernacle.

 

[Aaron112]

The Lord killed them both on the spot to show that God meant serious business with the brand-new Tabernacle.

Is any of God's Word not serious ? Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that Proceeds from the Mouth of God, right ?
Like the man designated to be executed, and he was put to death, for picking up sticks at a forbidden time ?