Numbers 16:31-35

31 1And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart.
32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and 2all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.
33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and 3they perished from the midst of the assembly.
34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"
35 And 4fire came out from the LORD and consumed 5the 250 men offering the incense.

Numbers 16:31-35 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.

Cross References 5

  • 1. Numbers 26:10; Numbers 27:3; Deuteronomy 11:6; Psalms 106:17
  • 2. [Numbers 26:11; 1 Chronicles 6:22, 27]
  • 3. Jude 11
  • 4. [Numbers 11:1]; Leviticus 10:2; Psalms 106:18
  • 5. ver. 17
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.