Numbers 16:25-35

25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 He spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.

27 So they got them up from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones.

28 Moses said, Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of my own mind.

29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Yahweh hasn't sent me.

30 But if Yahweh make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain to them, and they go down alive into Sheol; then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.

31 It happened, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split apart that was under them;

32 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who appertained to Korah, and all their goods.

33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.

34 All Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up.

35 Fire came forth from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

Numbers 16:25-35 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.