Numbers 16

Korah, Dathan and Abiram, raise a sedition against Moseh and Aaron v.1. etc. How Moseh carried himself against it, 4. The seditious are fearfully punished by God, 31. Their perfuming Censers are kept for remembrance and warning, 36. The people murmur over the destruction of the seditious, by reason whereof fourteen thousand and seven hundred are consumed by fire, 41. Aaron by Moseh his order maketh the plague 10cease, 46.

1. Now Korah the son of Jizbar, the son of Kabath, the son of Levi, [This Korah was the head and the ring leader of sedition and mutiny (v. 22. and 49.) Who had least reason for it, himself being a Levite as appeareth here, and below v. 5. 6. See also Num.26.9. and 27.3. and Jude 2.v. 11.] took to himself both Dathan and Abiran sons of Eliah, and On [which man is named no more hereafter: whence some conjecture, that he because better advised, and repented himself of the Enterprise] the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben. [or children of Rueben, i.e. such as were of his posterity. This is to be understood of Dathan, Abiram and on. Reuben indeed was the first-born, but had forfeited the right of primogeniture by his abominable trespass: how-beit it seemeth these were made so much the forwarder by it, as Korah was by his descent from Levi.]

2. And they rose up before the face of Moseh [i.e. they rose up in conspiracy against him, daring him to his very face, and showing their malice in his presence]

3. And they gathered themselves together against Moseh, and against Aaron, and said unto them; It is too much for you; [Hebrew much for you: or, you much, i.e. it is enough, or too much for you both: (Compare Ezekiel 44:6.) for the rest of the Israelites are as good, and have as good a right and interest in the priesthood and interest in the priesthood and Government, as you two can have, which the sense of the following, words in the Text] for this whole Congregation, they all, are holy, and the LORD is in the LORD is in the midst of them: wherefore then do ye exalt your selves over the Congregation if the LORD? [meaning, that Moseh took upon him the Government, and Aaron the Priesthood.]

4. When Moseh heard this, he fell down upon his face. [As being much troubled and grieved here at, and signing to God, for the appeasing of this dreadful sedition.]

5. And he spake to Korah, [Inspired and encouraged by God, with a strong confidence of a good issue in this affair, and being thereupon well advised, and resolved how to carry himself] and to his whole Congregation, [i.e. to all that had gathered themselves to and about him, the whole fray of them] saying, tomorrow morning the LORD shall make it known, who is his, and the holy one, whom he shall cause to approach unto himself, [i.e. he whom God hath chosen for the Priesthood] and him whom he shall have chosen, [Hebrew shall choose, i.e. shew and manifest to have chosen: and so in the sequel] him be shall cause to approach to himself.

6. Do this: take ye censers of Frankincense, Korah and all his Congregation:

7. And put fire therein tomorrow, [viz. in the morning, as was said above, v.5.] putting incense thereon before the face of the LORD; and it shall come to pass, that the man whom the LORD shall choose, the same shall be holy: it is too much for you ye children of Levi. [i.e. ye ought to rest satisfied and contended with your allotted share, (spoken of in the verses following:) or it is high and far enough, cease from, and give over this evil purpose and practice of yours.]

8. Moreover, Moseh said to Korah; Hear, I pray, ye children of Levi.

9. Is it too little for you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the Congregation of Israel, for to administer the service of the Tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the face of the Congregation, for to minister unto them? [See above, chapter, 3. 6, 7, 8, 9,11, 12, etc.]

10. When as he hath made thee, and all thy brethren the children of Levi with thee, to approach; do ye now also seek the Priesthood?

11. By reason whereof, thou and all thy Congregation, have assembled yourselves against the LORD? For Aaron, What is he that ye murmur against him?

12. And Moseh sent, to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliah: [As desirous to try whether he might reclaim and withdraw them by his reasoning the case with, and warning and rebuking of them, as he hath endeavoured to do with Korah and the ret, though in vain] but they said; [i.e. they sent word unto him, or returned him this answer] We will not come up.

13. Is it too little, that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, [Understand here the Land of Egypt] for to kill us in the wilderness that thou likewise makest thy self altogether a Sovereign over us? [Hebrew makest thy self a Sovereign (or prince,) making thy self a sovereign?]

14. Also thou hast not brought us into a Land flowing with milk and honey, [viz. whereof thou hast been speaking so much, to allure us. See Exodus, 13. 5. Leviticus, 20.24, etc.] nor hast given us Fields and Vineyards to inherit: wilt thou dig out the eyes of these men [i.e. blend or blind-fold them, as we say; bereaving them of all sense and understanding, not to take notice of thy deceitful dealings] We will not come up.

15. Then Moseh was incensed very much, [Hebrew (it) incensed or kindled Moseh, viz. the anger; understand an holy anger proceeding out of a singular zeal for the honour of God, against these enemies of God, and his holy Institutions. Compare Genesis.4. on v.5.] and he said to the LORD; Do not regard their offering: [compare Genesis.4.4. otherwise, meat-offering] I have not taken one Asse from them, nor have I done evil to (any) one of them. [implying, that he had not done the least wrong or prejudice to any of them, but on the contrary, he had wished and done them all the good he could. Comp.1 Sam. 12.3.]

16. Moreover, Moseh said to Korah; be thou and all thy congregation before the face of the LORD; thou and they, also Aaron tomorrow.

17. And take ye every one his Censer of Frankincense, and put incense therein, and bring before the face of the LORD every one his censer, two hundred and fifty censer: also thou and Aaron, every one his censer.

18. So they took every one his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense therein, and they stood before the door of the Tent of the Congregation; also Moseh and Aaron.

19. And Korah caused all the Congregation to gather against them [viz. against Moseh and Aaron] at the door of the Tent of the Congregation; then the glory of the LORD [in the pillar of cloud, which was a wonderful sign or token of Gods singular presence, and so below v.42.] appeared to all this Congregation?

20. And the LORD spake to Moseh and Aaron, saying;

21. Separated yourselves out of the midst of this Congregation, and I will consume them as in a moment. [i.e. very suddenly, and so below v.45.]

22. But they fell upon their faces and said; O God, God of the Spirits [i.e. of the souls whom thou hast created, being thereby the Author of Life. Thus spirit is taken for life, Psa.31.6. and 146.4. Eccles.12.7. Luke 8 55. And chap.23.46. Acts 7:59. Hebrew 12.9.] of all flesh: [i.e. of all men or mankind, see Genesis.6. on v.12.] one onely man [viz. Korah: see above, v.1. and below, v.49.] shall have sinned, and wilt thou be greatly wroth over all this Congregation?

23. And the LORD spake to Moseh, saying;

24. Speak unto this Congregation, saying; Go up from round about the habitation of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

25. Then Moseh arose, and went up to Dathan and Abiram: and after him went the eldest of Israel.

26. And he spake to the congregation, saying; Turn off I pray, from the Tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of what is theirs; that peradventure ye perish not in all their sins. [i.e. in the punishment, which is ready to light upon them, by reason of all their sins. See Genesis 4. On v.13.]

27. So they went up from the habitation of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, from round about: but Dathan and Abiram went forth standing in the door of their Tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little children: [i.e. with all their Families and households.]

28. Then Moseh said, hereby shall ye acknowledge, that the LORD, hath sent me, to do all these deeds; that they are not of my (own) heart. [i.e. that they are not of my own devising, nor done and performed by my own will and pleasure, or of my own authority: Compare below, chapter 24.13. Ezek.13.2. and the Annot.]

29. If those shall die as all men die, [i.e. after the common known and usual manner] and a visitation shall be made over them, according to all men visitations; [i.e. if God shall punish them by a common, known, and usual judgement, or plague] then the LORD hath not sent me.]

30. But if the LORD shall create some new thing, [Hebrew. create a creation, i.e. by his Divine Almighty power, do a new and hitherto unheard-of miracle. See Genesis.1. on v.1.] and the earth shall open her mouth, and swallow them up with all that is theirs, and they go down alive into Hell, [or into the Grave, into the Pit, i.e. into the clest, which by the power of God shall be made in the Earth; of the Hebrew word, school: see Genesis 37 on v.35. and compare Psal.55.16.] then shall ye acknowledge, that these men have provoked the LORD.

31. And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking all these words; that the earth which was under them, was cloven:

32. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, with their houses, and all men, appertaining to Korah, [Except the sons of Korah, who perished not, serving peradventure at this time in the Tabernacles or Tent of the Congregation, and being ignorant of their fathers rebellious design, or at leastwise not approving of it; See below, chapter 26.11. 1 Chron.6.22.37.] and all the substance.

33. And they went down, and all that was theirs [Or, all that belonged to them] alive to hell: and the earth covered them, and they perished out of the midst of the Congregation.

34. And all Israel, that were round about them, fled before their cry: for they said: lest the earth do swallow us up.

35. Besides there went forth a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men, [See above, v.2.17, 18.] which offered incense,

36. And the LORD spake to Moseh, saying:

37. Saying to Eleazar, the on of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the Embrazement, and scatter the fire far away: [Or, yonder-ward, yonder-way. i.e. let him cause or order it to be done; viz. forth the camp, where the ashes were strewed forth; as some conceive.] for they are holy. [they, viz. the Censers (as followeth) wherein these men had brought fire and incense, before the LORD, according to Moseh order and command.]

38. (To wit) the censers of these, which sinned against their souls, [i.e. which by this heinous sin of theirs, did hale down this destruction upon themselves. Compare 1 King. 2. 23. Proverbs 20:2.] that extended plates to be made thereof, [Hebrew extension of plates. Understand that they were to be beaten and hammered out at large to make flat plates thereof] for a cover for the Altar: for they have brought them before the face of the LORD, therefore they are holy; and they shall be for a token to the children of Israel. [i.e. for a token of Remembrance, to put them in mind of this revengeful judgement of God upon the Authors of such a rebellion against his Ordinance, to make every one take heed of meddling in that kind; See v.40.]

39. And Eleazar the Priest took the copper Censers, which the burned (ones) had brought, and they extended them for a covering of the Altar:

40. For a Remembrance to the children of Israel; that no stranger not being of the seed of Aaron, do approach to kindle Incense before the face of the LORD: left he become as Korah and his Congregation: [i.e. left the like judgement light upon him, as did befall Korah, etc.] according as the LORD had told, [i.e. foretold, threatened,] him by the Minister [Hebrew hand] of Moseh.

41. But the second day all the Congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moseh, and against Aaron, saying; you have put to death the LORDS people.

42. And it came to pass, when the Congregation assembled themselves against Moseh and Aaron, and turned themselves towards the Tent of the Congregation, behold that cloud did cover it, [i.e. the pillar of cloud covered the Tent of the Congregation: See above v.19.] and the Glory of the LORD appeared.

43. Now Moseh and Aaron came unto the door of the Tent of the Congregation.

44. Then the LORD spake unto Moseh, saying:

45. Get [Or lift] you up out of the midst of this Congregation; and I will consume them, as in a moment: then they fell upon their faces: [they, viz. Moseh and Aaron. See above, v.4 and 22.]

46. And Moseh said to Aaron: take the Censer, and put fire in it from the Altar, and lay incense upon it, hastily going to the Congregation, make atonement over them: [See Leviticus 1. On V.4.] for a great wrath is gone forth from before the face of the LORD, the plague hath begun. [i.e. a very great judgement, or punishment is sent forth by God, and beginneth to be put in execution.]

47. And Aaron took it, according as Moseh had spoken, and ran into the middest of the Congregation, and behold the Plague had begun among the people; and he layed incense therein, and made atonement over the people.

48. And he stood between the dead and between the living; thus the plague was ceased. [Or stayed, with held, kept in, viz.by God; Compare 2 Sam.24.21,25.]

49. Those now which died of that Plague, were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those which died for the matter of Korah. [i.e. about and for the rebellion, whereof Korah was the author and ringleader.]

50. And Aaron returned again to Moseh, to the door of the Tent of the Congregation: and the Plague was ceased.