Abihu אֲבִיהוּא
Son of Aaron
Who is Abihu in the Bible?
Abihu was the second son of Aaron and Elisheba, and brother to Nadab, Eleazar, and Ithamar (Exodus 6:23). He was consecrated as a priest to serve at the tabernacle alongside his brothers (Exodus 28:1) and was among those who ascended Mount Sinai with Moses to worship before the Lord (Exodus 24:1, 9). However, Abihu and his brother Nadab met a tragic end when they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, and divine fire consumed them on the eighth day of the priests' consecration (Leviticus 10:1-2). Their deaths served as a stark lesson about the importance of obedience and reverence in worship, establishing that only the prescribed offerings and methods were acceptable to God.
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
"And Aaron married Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 24:1
"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to the LORD—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of Israel’s elders—and you are to worship at a distance."
Study Exodus → - Exodus 24:9
"Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel,"
Study Exodus → - Exodus 28:1
"“Next, have your brother Aaron brought to you from among the Israelites, along with his sons Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to serve Me as priests."
Study Exodus →
Leviticus 1 verse
- Leviticus 10:1
"Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command."
Study Leviticus →
Numbers 4 verses
- Numbers 3:2
"These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- Numbers 3:4
"Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron."
- Numbers 26:60
"Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,"
- Numbers 26:61
"but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD."
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 descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar."
- 1 Chronicles 24:2
"But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons; so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֲבִיהוּא | Abihu , a son of Aaron |
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