Numbers 16:20-30

20 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
21 "1Separate yourselves from among this congregation, 2that I may consume them instantly."
22 But they fell on their faces and said, "O God, 3God of the spirits of all flesh, 4when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?"
23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, '5Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' "
25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following * him,
26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "6Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing * that belongs to them, 7or you will be swept away in all their sin."
27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and 8their sons and their little ones.
28 Moses said, "By this you shall know that 9the LORD has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing *.
29 "If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the 10fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me.
30 "But 11if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they 12descend alive into Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the LORD."

Numbers 16:20-30 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 12

Footnotes 5

  • [a]. Lit "from my heart"
  • [b]. Lit "like the death"
  • [c]. Lit "the visitation of all men be visited upon them"
  • [d]. Lit "creates a new creation"
  • [e]. I.e. the nether world
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