Numbers16
English Standard Version
1Now the of , of , of , and and the of , and the of , of , men.
2And they , with a of the of , of the , from the , .
3They assembled themselves and and to them, You have ! in the are , every one of , and the Lord is them. then do you yourselves the of the Lord?
4When it, he his ,
5and he to and his , In the the Lord will is his, and who is , and will bring him to him. The one he he will to him.
6 : , and his ;
7 in and them the Lord , and the the Lord shall be the one. You have gone too , of !
8And to , , you of :
9is it too a thing for you the of has you from the of , to bring you to himself, to in the of the Lord and to the to to them,
10and that he has you near him, and your the of with you? And would you the ?
11 it is the Lord that you and your have . is you him?
12And to and the of , and they , We will come .
13Is it a small you have us up out of a with and , to us in the , you must yourself a us?
14 , you have a with and , nor us of and . Will you the of ? We will come .
15And was and to the Lord, Do their . I have from them, and I have of them.
16And to , Be present, you and your , the Lord, you and they, and , .
17And let every of you his and it, and every of you the Lord his , ; you also, and , his .
18So every his and them and them and at the of the of with and .
19Then the them at the of the of . And the of the Lord to the .
20And the Lord to and to , ,
21 yourselves from , that I may them in a .
22And they their and , O , the of the of , shall , and will you be the ?
23And the Lord to , ,
24 to the , Get the of , , and .
25Then and to and , and the of him.
26And he to the , , , , from the of , and of theirs, you be with their .
27So they the of , , and . And and and at the of their , together with their , their , and their .
28And , you shall the Lord has me to , and it has been of my own .
29 men as , or if they are by the of , then the Lord has me.
30But the Lord something , and the its and them up with belongs to them, and they go into , then you shall have the Lord.
31And as soon as he had , the them split .
32And the its and them up, with their and the belonged to and their .
33So they and that belonged to them into , and the them, and they from the of the .
34And were them at their , they , the us up!
35And from the Lord and the the .
36Then the Lord to , ,
37 the of the to take the of the . Then the far and , they have become .
38As for the of men who have at the cost of their , let them be into as a for the , for they them the Lord, and they became . Thus they shall be a to the of .
39So the the , those who were had , and they were as a for the ,
40to be a to the of , so no , is of the of , should to the Lord, he become like and his —as the Lord to him .
41But on the next the of the of and , , You have the of the Lord.
42And when the had and , they the of . And , the it, and the of the Lord .
43And and to the of the of ,
44and the Lord to , ,
45 from the of this , that I may them in a . And they their .
46And to , your , and it from the and it and to the and make them, has gone from the Lord; the has .
47So it as and into the of the . And , the had already among the . And he on the and made the .
48And he the and the , and the was .
49Now those who in the were , those who the of .
50And to at the of the of , when the was .
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 16.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Korah contends for the priesthood. (1–11). Disobedience of Dathan and Abiram. (12–15). The glory of the Lord appears, The intercession of Moses and Aaron. (16–22). The earth swallows up Dathan and Abiram. (23–34). The company of Korah consumed. (35–40). The people murmur A plague sent. (41–50).
vv1-11
Pride and ambition occasion a great deal of mischief both in churches and states. The rebels quarrel with the settlement of the priesthood upon Aaron and his family. Small reason they had to boast of the people's purity, or of God's favour, as the people had been so often and so lately polluted with sin, and were now under the marks of God's displeasure. They unjustly charge Moses and Aaron with taking honour to themselves; whereas they were called of God to it. See here, 1. What spirit levellers are of; those who resist the powers God has set over them. 2. What usage they have been serviceable. Moses sought instruction from God. The heart of the wise studies to answer, and asks counsel of God. Moses shows their privileges as Levites, and convicts them of the sin of undervaluing these privileges. It will help to keep us from envying those above us, duly to consider how many there are below us.
vv12-15
Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram to bring their complaints; but they would not obey. They bring very false charges against Moses. Those often fall under the heaviest censures, who in truth deserve the highest praise. Moses, though the meekest man, yet, finding God reproached in him, was very wroth; he could not bear to see the people ruining themselves. He appeals to God as to his own integrity. He bade them appear with Aaron next morning, at the time of offering the morning incense. Korah undertook thus to appear. Proud ambitious men, while projecting their own advancement, often hurry on their own shameful fall.
vv16-22
The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first, Le 9:23, now appeared to confirm him in it; and to confound those who set up against him. Nothing is more terrible to those who are conscious of guilt, than the appearance of the Divine glory. See how dangerous it is to have fellowship with sinners, and to partake with them. Though the people had treacherously deserted them, yet Moses and Aaron approved themselves faithful shepherds of Israel. If others fail in their duty to us, that does not take away the obligations we are under to seek their welfare. Their prayer was a pleading prayer, and it proved a prevailing one.
Key Words
קֹרַח: Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
יִצְהָר: Jitshar, an Israelite
קְהָת: Kehath, an Israelite
לֵוִי: Levi, a son of Jacob
דָּתָן: Dathan, an Israelite
אֲבִירָם: Abiram, the name of two Israelites
אֱלִיאָב: Eliab, the name of six Israelites
אוֹן: On, an Israelite
פֶּלֶת: Peleth, the name of two Israelites
Cross References
Numbers 16New Testament warning against 'the rebellion of Korah' (Greek: Core) as a pattern of rebellion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Sought-after historical summary: 'They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the Lord.'
Moses recalls the judgment when the earth opened and swallowed Dathan and Abiram.
Supported by JFB
Direct poetic recount of the earth opening to swallow Dathan and covering the company of Abiram.
Direct poetic recount of the fire that was kindled in their company and burned up the wicked.
Genealogy specifically notes Dathan and Abiram as those who strove against Moses and Aaron.
Supported by JFB
The rebels distort God's promise that Israel would be 'a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.'
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
No man takes this honor of the priesthood to himself, but he who is called by God.
Paul's phrasing 'The Lord knoweth them that are his' echoes Moses' test in Septuagint wording.
Confirms the earth swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died.
Aaron standing between the living and the dead typifies Christ's ultimate, plague-stopping intercession.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Zelophehad's daughters clarify their father died in his own sin, not in Korah's rebellion.
Incense offered with unauthorized fire brings death, recalling Nadab and Abihu's judgment.
Samuel's protestation of personal integrity ('whose ox have I taken?') closely mirrors Moses' words.
Paul echoes Moses' integrity: 'I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.'
The title 'God of the spirits of all flesh' is echoed in 'Father of spirits.'
The fire from the Lord consuming the 250 mirrors the fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu.
The brazen plates and Aaron's rod both served as a 'sign' against rebels.
Uzziah's judgment for trying to burn incense illustrative of the 'memorial' warning.
Previous rebellion by Miriam and Aaron challenging Moses' exclusive prophetic status.
Supported by JFB
Moses' repeated, humble posture of falling on his face during times of national rebellion.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Murmuring against God's appointed human leaders is fundamentally a rejection of God Himself.
Lot warning his family to flee Sodom's destruction, similar to departing Korah's tents.
The call to 'Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins.'
Supported by Matthew Henry
Reinforces that any outsider (stranger) who comes near to offer incense shall be put to death.