Numbers 26:60

And vnto Aaron was borne Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. Numbers 26:60 (KJV)

The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Old Testament and records the Israelites’ journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. The verse in question occurs within a census taken by Moses and Eleazar the priest to count the descendants of Israel as they prepared for their inheritance in the land.

Aaron’s sons are named in this verse: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first high priest of Israel, and his four sons were appointed to serve in the priesthood and to participate in Israel’s religious ceremonies and rituals.

Nadab and Abihu, the first two sons, are mentioned earlier in Leviticus 10:1‑2. They were priests who accompanied Moses, Aaron, and the seventy elders up Mount Sinai during the giving of the Law. However, they offered “strange fire” before the Lord, a fire not commanded by Him, and fire came out from the presence of God and consumed them, resulting in their deaths.

After their tragic loss, Eleazar and Ithamar assumed the remaining priestly duties and continued the high‑priestly line of Aaron. Eleazar is especially notable for his later role in the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, Moses’ successor, while Ithamar also served faithfully in the priesthood.

The verse reminds believers of the importance of obeying God’s specific instructions in worship. The mistake of Nadab and Abihu warns against introducing personal innovations or self‑willed practices, urging reverence and obedience. The perseverance of Eleazar and Ithamar highlights faithfulness in carrying on God‑ordained responsibilities despite loss.

The census recorded in this verse was part of the broader organization of the Israelite community. The tribe of Levi, to which Aaron’s family belonged, was set apart for sacred service rather than receiving a territorial inheritance; instead, they were assigned cities scattered among the other tribes (see Numbers 35:1‑8). The land‑inheritance census (Numbers 26) specifically excluded the Levites, emphasizing that their inheritance was the priestly service itself. By noting Aaron’s sons, the passage underscores the continuity of the priestly line within the tribe of Levi, ensuring that the responsibilities of worship and mediation before God were preserved for future generations.