Nadab. [Heb. Nadab, "generous."]

1. The eldest of Aaron's four sons (Ex 6:23; Num 3:2). He, his brother Abihu, his father Aaron, and 70 elders were permitted to accompany Moses to a certain height of Mount Sinai (Ex 24:1, 2). He was later dedicated to the priesthood (ch 28:1), but died childless as did his brother Abihu when the 2 offered "strange fire" before God (Lev 10:1-7; Num 3:4). The fact that immediately after this event the command was given forbidding priests to drink alcoholic beverages when they were to serve God (Lev 10:8-11), leads to the conclusion that Nadab and Abihu had committed their offence under the influence of alcoholic beverages.

2. A Jerahmeelite, descendant of Hezron (1 Chr 2:28, 30).

3. A Benjamite, son of Jeiel (father of Gibeon) and Maacah (1 Chr 8:29, 30; 9:35, 36).

4. Son and successor of Jeroboam I, and the 2d king of the northern kingdom of Israel. He reigned for less than 2 years (c. 910-909 b.c.) and followed his father in all his evil ways (1 Ki 15:25, 26). While besieging Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines at that time, he was killed by Baasha, who then usurped the throne for himself and afterward exterminated all the relatives of the house of Jeroboam (vs. 27-29). This massacre fulfilled Ahija's prophecy concerning Jeroboam (ch 14:10, 11) -- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary.