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Leviticus 10:2

King James Version (KJV)

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Translations

Leviticus 10:2 - Amplified Bible

And there came forth fire from before the Lord and killed them, and they died before the Lord.

Leviticus 10:2 - American Standard Version

And there came forth fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.

Leviticus 10:2 - Bible in Basic English

And fire came out from before the Lord, burning them up and causing their destruction before the Lord.

Leviticus 10:2 - Darby Bible

And there went out fire from before Jehovah, and devoured them, and they died before Jehovah.

Leviticus 10:2 - English Standard Version

And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

Leviticus 10:2 - King James Version

And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 10:2 - La Biblia de las Americas

Y de la presencia del SEÑOR saliò fuego que los consumiò, y murieron delante del SEÑOR.

Leviticus 10:2 - The Message

Leviticus 10:2 - New American Standard Bible

And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 10:2 - Nueva Biblia Latinoamericana de Hoy

Y de la presencia del SEÑOR saliò fuego que los consumiò, y murieron delante del SEÑOR.

Leviticus 10:2 - World English Bible

There came forth fire from before Yahweh, and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

Leviticus 10:2 - Young's Living Translation

and fire goeth out from before Jehovah, and consumeth them, and they die before Jehovah.

Leviticus 10:2 - Additional Comments

"Devoured" could also be "burned up" or "consumed". This is the same word as in 9:24, in which the burnt offering was devoured. Note that here their clothes were not burned up (see verse 5). So God's fire consumes what He wishes. He is in control.
They died childless (Num 3:4 and 1 Chron 24:2). God blotted out their name, and gave them no legacy, because of their sin. And they, as sons of Aaron, were destined to a great legacy.
God did not withhold punishment because of how it would inconvenience their brothers, for now the remaining 2 must perform, with Aaron, all the duties of the priests. Nor did He withhold it for any other reasons (youth, immaturity, etc.), for God was laying down His new laws through Moses, and He required obedience, i.e. "first time obedience". God needed to show that He was to be obeyed. God didn't make excuses for them as we often do for our children, when they disobey. We need to require our children to have "first time obedience", to bring more value to our rules. Disobedience reflects bad equally on the one who made the rules as the one who disobeys them. God was to be honored (verse 3). Our children are to honor us (Exo 20:12).
Punishment of the first violators needed to be swift and strong. Punishment not only reproves the sinner but also warns others of the consequences of sin (compare to Ananias and Sapphira - Acts 5:1-11).
Having seen the consequence of disobedience, others may no longer have viewed the strict rules as an annoyance. This probably prevented irregularities in following the rules in the future.
Violating the law devalued God's law. The punishment magnified the law and gave it honor. This is how we are to view God's law (Isa 42:21).
Since these 2 brothers were both sons of Aaron and the older brothers, they were in leadership positions. God's requirements for leaders are stricter (Luke 12:48, Heb 13:17).

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