And there went out fire from the Lord. — By fire they sinned, and by fire they died. The Divine fire which issued forth to consume the sacrifices as a token of acceptance, now descended as the avenger of sin to consume the sacrificers, just as the same gospel is to one a savour of life unto life, and to another a savour of death unto death. (2 Corinthians 2:16.)
And devoured them. — That is, slay them, since we are told in Leviticus 10:5 that not only were their bodies in a perfect state of preservation, but even their garments were not burnt. The word consume, however, is used here to keep up the connection between this verse and chap 9:24.
They died before the Lord. — That is, in the court of the sanctuary (see Leviticus 10:1), on the very spot where the sin was committed.