ABIU (EBR. 'ABHŪ' «MIO PADRE È EGLI»; SETTANTA: 'ΑΒΙΟΎΣ')

ABIU (Hebrew 'Abhū' meaning “my father is He”; Septuagint: 'Αβιούς'). — Second son of Aaron (Ex 6:23), he accompanied Moses on Sinai with Aaron and the seventy elders (Ex 24:1–9). Abiu and his three brothers were the first Israelite priests. While assisting their father Aaron in the initial sacrifices on the eighth day of their consecration (Lev 8–9), Abiu and his brother Nadab placed in the censer “strange” or profane fire—not taken from the altar as prescribed (Ex 30:9)—to offer incense to the Lord. They were struck down by the “fire of Yahweh” (probably issuing from the Holy of Holies) for this sacrilege and buried outside the camp with their linen vestments. While Aaron remained silent, Moses underscored the solemn warning (Lev 10:1–5). The people were permitted, but not the priests, to attend the burial and mourn.