Numbers 16:28-30

28 And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been 1of my own accord.
29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, 2then the LORD has not sent me.
30 But if the LORD creates something new, and 3the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they 4go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD."

Numbers 16:28-30 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 4

  • 1. [Jeremiah 23:16; Ezekiel 13:2, 17]
  • 2. [1 Kings 22:28]
  • 3. [Genesis 4:11]
  • 4. ver. 33; Psalms 55:15
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.