Leviticus 10:1 - Exposition

Nadab and Ahibu are said to have each taken his censer. This is the first time that the word used in the original is translated "censer." It means any vessel or pan that will hold embers or tinder (see Exodus 25:38 ; Exodus 27:3 , 23; Exodus 28:3 ). They put fire therein, and put incense thereon. No doubt they used the incense ordered in Exodus 30:34 . They are not found fault with for the incense, but for the fire that they used. They offered strange fire , that is, fire not taken from the altar of burnt offering, which they might have feared to approach after the miracle that had occurred. In Exodus 16:12 it is ordered that, on the Day of Atonement, the incense fire should be taken from the brazen altar, and this was no doubt the rule on all occasions, though the law has not been recorded.