Nadab

Meaning "noble," "willing," or "generous," Nadab is the name of four individuals found in the Old Testamet.

1. 13 of the 21 occurrences of the name Nadab refer to the eldest son of Aaron and Elisheba (Exo 6:23; Num 3:2). Together with his three brothers—Abihu, Eleazer, and Ithamar—and their father, Nadab was appointed and anointed to be priests of Yahweh when He reveled Himself in the glory of Mount Sinai (Exo 28:1). In time, however, Nadab with his brother, Abihu, were struck dead for offering "unauthorised fire before the Lord, contrary to His command" (Lev 10:1). No detail is given to explain the specific nature of their transgression (the most detailed account is given in Lev 9:23-10:11) but it was offensive enough that, on the occasion, Aaron and his family were forbidden to observe the usual customs of mourning for them (v6). Yahweh command that "wine and other fermented drink" were to be banned whenever they "go into the Tent of Meeting" (v9) in this context suggests that their transgression may have been occasioned by their intoxication. That here is young man, having worshipped God just beyond the periphery of the glory of God on Mount Sinai and having been appointed to such high office, should suffer such a terrifying fate at Yahweh's hand is a reminder to all of us of how seriously we should view God in His holiness.

2. The son of Jeroboam son of Nebat and second king of the break-away kingdom of Israel. He ruled for only about a year, c.911/10-910/909 BC, (this is reckoned as "two years" in the text, 1 Ki 15:25) when he was assassinated by a usurper named Baasha, together with the rest of his siblings. This, the author of Kings understood, was in fulfilment of the oracle given by Yahweh to Nadab's father, Jeroboam ben Nebat, for having "done more evil than all who lived before you. You have made for yourself other gods, idols made of metal; you have provoked me to anger and thrust me behind your back" (1 Ki 14:9).

3. One of the sons of a certain Shammai who is listed as the descendants of Judah in 1 Chron 2:28-30. This Nadab is also reported to have two sons, one of whom died without issue.

4. A descendant of the tribe of Benjamin, the son of a certain leader ("father," perhaps founder) "of Gibeon," named Jeiel (1 Chron 9:35-36; also 8:29-30). Nothing else is known about him.