After all these things happened, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. [84] God said, “Abram, don’t be afraid. I will defend you. And I will give you a great reward.”
{The Lord said to Moses,} “Tell your brother Aaron and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, to come to you from the people of Israel. These men will serve me as priests.
He did this the way the Lord commanded him through Moses. This was a sign to help the people of Israel remember that only a person from the family of Aaron should burn incense [215] before the Lord. Any other person who burns incense before the Lord will die like Korah and his followers.
Then Moses said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show which person truly belongs to him. The Lord will show which person is truly holy. And the Lord will bring that person near to him. The Lord will choose that man, and the Lord will bring that man near to him.
But, Aaron, only you and your sons may serve as priests. You are the only ones that can go near the altar. You are the only ones that can go inside the curtain {into the Most Holy Place}. I am giving you a gift—your service as a priest. Anyone else that comes near {my} holy place must be killed.”