Bible Strands
Leviticus 10:4
Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry the bodies of your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Moses addresses Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel, immediately following the death of Nadab and Abihu and Aaron’s silence after God’s declaration of holiness. He commands them to remove the corpses from the sanctuary precincts.
The words — The text foregrounds וַ/יִּקְרָ֣א (va/i.yik.Ra'), meaning "and he summoned," and בְּנֵ֥י (be.Nei), meaning "sons of," establishing the authoritative call and the Kohathite lineage. These terms ground the command in Moses’ leadership and the established priestly family structure.
The thread — The names Uzziel, Mishael, and Elzaphan appear in Exodus 6:18, Exodus 6:22, and Numbers 3:19. These passages consistently identify them as members of the Kohathite clan tasked with sanctuary responsibilities.
Why it lands — The verse demands immediate physical removal of the dead to preserve the sanctity of the holy place. It requires readers to prioritize ritual obedience and divine holiness over familial mourning customs.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
Cross-references
- Exodus 6:22 The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.
- Exodus 6:18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.
- Numbers 3:19 The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
- Numbers 3:30 and the leader of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.
- Acts 5:6 Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
- Acts 5:9 “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”
- 1 Chronicles 6:2 The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
- Luke 7:12 As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
- Acts 8:2 God-fearing men buried Stephen and mourned deeply over him.