Numbers 16:17-27

17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the LORD. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.”

18 So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly.

20 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”

23 Then the LORD said to Moses,

24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’ ”

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

Numbers 16:17-27 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

• 1. Ezekiel 8:11
• 2. Leviticus 10:1
• 3. ver 42; Numbers 20:2
• 4. S Exodus 16:7; Numbers 14:10; Numbers 20:6
• 5. ver 24
• 6. S Genesis 19:14; S Exodus 32:10
• 7. S Numbers 14:5
• 8. Numbers 27:16; Job 12:10; Job 27:8; Job 33:4; Job 34:14; Jeremiah 32:27; Ezekiel 18:4; Hebrews 12:9
• 9. S Leviticus 10:6
• 10. S Genesis 18:23; S Job 21:20
• 11. S Exodus 19:7
• 12. Isaiah 52:11
• 13. S Genesis 19:15
• 14. Jeremiah 51:6
• 15. S ver 12
• 16. ver 32; Joshua 7:24; Isaiah 13:16; Isaiah 14:21
• 17. S Exodus 33:8