Numbers 16:12-22

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, who said, "We will not come up.

13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, unless thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"

15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, "Respect not Thou their offering. I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them."

16 And Moses said unto Korah, "Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou and they and Aaron, tomorrow.

17 And take every man his censer and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers, thou also and Aaron, each of you his censer."

18 And they took every man his censer and put fire in them and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?"

Numbers 16:12-22 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.