Numbers 16:1-6

Korah's Rebellion

1 Now 1Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with 2Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action,
2 and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, 3chosen in the assembly, men of renown.
3 They assembled together 4against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "5You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and 6the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"
4 When Moses heard this, 7he fell on his face;
5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His, and 8who is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even 9the one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself.
6 "Do this: take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company,

Numbers 16:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 16

This chapter gives an account of a sedition of Korah and others against Moses and Aaron, Nu 16:1-4, with whom Moses expostulates, and shows the unreasonableness of their clamour against Aaron, Nu 16:5-11; sends for Dathan and Abiram, who were in the confederacy, but refused to come, which greatly angered Moses, Nu 16:12-15; orders Korah and his company to appear before the Lord the next day, with Aaron, to have the controversy decided, Nu 16:16-18; when all the congregation gathered together would have been, consumed had it not been for the intercession of Moses and Aaron, Nu 16:19-22; and who, being separated from the rebels by the command of the Lord, some of the rebels were swallowed up in the earth, and others destroyed by fire from heaven, Nu 16:23-35; and their censers were made a covering for the altar, as a memorial of their sin, Nu 16:36-40; on which there was a new insurrection of the people, which brought a plague upon them, and destroyed 14,700 persons, and which was stopped at the intercession of Aaron, Nu 16:41-50.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Exodus 6:21; Jude 11
  • 2. Numbers 26:9; Deuteronomy 11:6
  • 3. Numbers 1:16; Numbers 26:9
  • 4. Numbers 12:2; Psalms 106:16
  • 5. Numbers 16:7
  • 6. Numbers 5:3
  • 7. Numbers 14:5
  • 8. Leviticus 10:3; Psalms 65:4
  • 9. Numbers 17:5, 8

Footnotes 4

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