NADAB, nā’ dăb (נָדָב׃֙, Ναδάβ; willing, liberal). 1. Eldest son of Aaron and Elisheba (Exod 6:23; Num 3:2; 26:60; 1 Chron 6:3; 24:1). He and his next younger brother, Abihu, were permitted to accompany Aaron and seventy Israelite elders while ascending Mt. Sinai to see a representation of God and to eat and drink in God’s presence (Exod 24:1, 9-11). This official group represented Israel in intimate fellowship with God in keeping with the new covenantal relationship just ratified earlier the same day (24:3-8). Nadab and his brothers, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, were admitted to priestly office with their father, Aaron (Exod 28:1; Lev 8:1-36). After several days of consecration, on the eighth day when official service began, Nadab and Abihu sinned in offering “unholy fire” before the Lord. They were immediately consumed in death by fire from the Lord (Lev 10:1, 2; Num 3:4). To emphasize the seriousness of the sin, Moses forbade Aaron and the two living sons to observe customary mourning ceremonies for them (Lev 10:6). Both men died without offspring (Num 3:4; 1 Chron 24:2).
The exact nature of the sin is not clear. Moses’ words (Num 3:3) imply that the sin issued from hearts out of keeping with God’s holiness and glory. Apparently their hearts were proud. The term, “unholy fire” (אֵ֨שׁ זָרָ֜ה), designating that which they offered, suggests error in the nature of the fire used. Leviticus 16:12 and Numbers 16:46 imply that fire from the brazen altar was to be used in offering incense. Nadab and Abihu may have taken live coals from elsewhere. Their act is described as putting fire in censers and laying incense on it while yet in the censers. This was to be the procedure on the day of atonement (Lev 16:12, 13), but otherwise incense was to be offered on the golden altar (Exod 30:7, 8). Further, they seem to have offered at a wrong time. Incense was to be offered morning and evening (Exod 30:7, 8), but the time implied was during the day, between the sacrificial activity of Leviticus 9 and the ceremonial eating of Leviticus 10:12-20. Further still, the injunction of vv. 9, 10 implies that the brothers were under the influence of strong drink at the time.
2. A Judahite, son of Shammai, father of two sons (1 Chron 2:28, 30).
3. A Benjaminite, son of Jehiel and Maacah, relative of Kish, father of Saul, Israel’s first king (1 Chron 8:30-33; 9:35-39).
4. King of Israel, succeeding his father Jeroboam I about 910 b.c. (1 Kings 15:25-31). His two years of rule (v. 25) were really only parts of two years (cf. vv. 25, 28, 33). It is said that he laid siege to Gibbethon (v. 27), a city belonging to Dan (Josh 19:40-46) and assigned as a Levitical city (Josh 21:23). At this time it was held by Philistines (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15). It is commonly identified with modern Tell el-Melat, three m. E of ’Aqir (presumably Ekron) and three m. W of Gezer. It was considered important, though comparatively small, for twenty-six years later Omri, then general under King Elah, laid siege to it again (16:15-17). Sargon too besieged it, even picturing the city on a panel in his Khorsabad palace, calling it Gab-bu-tu-nu. Nadab was killed by his successor, Baasha, during his siege of Gibbethon. Baasha exterminated the whole house of Jeroboam, thus fulfilling Ahijah’s prophecy (14:10, 11).
Bibliography E. G. Kraeling, Bible Atlas (1956), 272, 273; J. Simons, GTT (1959), 201, 337, 359, 510.