“Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:”
You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. The prohibition on alcohol for priests entering the tent of meeting is a lasting ordinance — permanent and generational, like the Sabbath and the priestly vestments. The consequence is the same as for other priestly violations: death. The placement of this ordinance immediately after the death of Nadab and Abihu suggests a possible connection: some later interpreters speculated that unauthorized fire was offered under the influence of alcohol. Whether or not this is correct, the prohibition on alcohol in the priestly service communicates the requirement of full mental and spiritual clarity for those who approach the holy God.
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
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