Numbers 16:10

10 Made he therefore thee, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi (with thee), to nigh to himself, that ye challenge to you also (the) priesthood, (Yea, he made thee, and all thy brothers, or thy kinsmen, the Levites, with thee, just for that, to be near him; but now ye seek the priesthood for yourselves as well,)

Numbers 16:10 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:10

And he hath brought thee near [to him]
To be in his courts, to watch in his house, and wait on his priests, for which an ample provision was made by tithes. Korah is there personally addressed:

and all thy brethren, the sons of Levi, with thee;
the whole tribe of them, excepting Aaron and his family, who were advanced to be priests:

and seek ye the priesthood also?
the high priesthood, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; this opens the true cause of their discontent and rebellion; they could not be satisfied with being the ministers of the priests, but wanted to be priests themselves, and Korah perhaps to be high priest.

Numbers 16:10 In-Context

8 And again Moses said to Korah, Ye sons of Levi, hear.
9 Whether it is little to you (Is it such a small thing for you), that (the) God of Israel [hath] separated you from all the people, and hath joined you to himself, (so) that ye should serve him in the service of the tabernacle, and that ye should stand before the multitude of the people, and serve him, (yea, serve Almighty God)?
10 Made he therefore thee, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi (with thee), to nigh to himself, that ye challenge to you also (the) priesthood, (Yea, he made thee, and all thy brothers, or thy kinsmen, the Levites, with thee, just for that, to be near him; but now ye seek the priesthood for yourselves as well,)
11 and (for that,) all thy gathering together stand against the Lord? For why, what is Aaron, that ye grouch against him? (and for that, all thy company now stand against the Lord! For what is Aaron, that ye should grumble against him?)
12 Therefore Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; which answered, We come not. (And so Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they answered, We shall not come to thee.)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.