It was from this altar that the fire for the censers should be taken to kindle the incense that was to ascend before God. But the sons of Aaron had not taken the required precaution, but had put upon the censer fire that was not called sacred or holy. The reason why they were so neglectful of God's requirement, was that they had been indulging in the drinking of wine, and were confused, and so far stupefied by its influence that they had no discernment as to what was the difference between the sacred and the common, the holy and the unclean. The wine had affected these young men who were officiating in a holy office, in the way it affects everyone who indulges in its use. It had benumbed the moral sensibilities, and had confused in their minds the distinction between the sacred and the common. But the Lord made it manifest that he would have the distinction well defined. "And the Lord spake unto Aaron saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations: and that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; and that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses."

Det var fra dette alter at ilden til røgelseskarrene skulle være taget til at antænde røgelsen der skulle stige op for Gud. Men Arons sønner havde ikke taget den krævede forholdsregel, men havde lagt på røgelseskaret ild der ikke var kaldet indviet eller helligt. Grunden hvorfor de var så ligegyldige overfor Guds krav, var at de havde været eftergivende i at drikke vin, og var forvirrede, og så bedøvede ved dets indflydelse at de ingen dømmekraft havde om hvad forskellen var mellem det indviede og det almindelige, det hellige og det urene. Vinen havde påvirket disse unge mænd der forrettede hellig tjeneste, på samme måde, som det påvirker enhver der giver efter for dets brug. Det havde sløvet den moralske følsomhed, og havde forvirret deres tanker omkring forskellen mellem det indviede og det almindelige. Men Herren gjorde det klart at han ville have forskellen ret defineret. Og HERREN talede til Aron og sagde: Vin og stærk drik må hverken du eller dine sønner drikke, når I går ind i Åbenbaringsteltet, for at I ikke skal dø. Det skal være eder en evig gyldig anordning fra slægt til slægt, for at I kan gøre skel mellem det hellige og det, der ikke er helligt, og mellem det urene og det rene, og for at I kan vejlede Israelitterne i alle de love, HERREN har kundgjort dem ved Moses.