What event prompted the instructions God gave Moses in Leviticus 16?
The instructions in Leviticus 16 were prompted by the deaths of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they offered strange fire before the Lord. Because of that, God spoke to Moses, instructing him to tell Aaron not to enter the holy place at all times, behind the veil, so that he would not die.
Les explains that Leviticus 16 opens by referring back to the death of Aaron’s two sons, who had offered strange fire before the Lord and died. The Lord then told Moses to speak to Aaron, warning him not to come at all times into the holy place behind the veil, where God would appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. Under the mercy seat was the demanding law, and the law has no mercy; it can only condemn. Aaron was to come with a young bullock for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, wearing the holy linen garments.
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died;