Numbers 16:26

26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, ¹“Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. ”

Numbers 16:26 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:26

And he spake unto the congregation
To the people of Israel assembled together on this occasion: some, out of ill will to Moses and Aaron, inclining to the side of Korah and his accomplices, and some out of curiosity to see the issue of this affair saying, depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men;
these turbulent, seditious, and ill-designing men, disturbers of the commonwealth and church of Israel, enemies to the peace of its civil and ecclesiastic state: and when Moses desires the people to depart from their tents, he means not only that they would remove in person, and stand at a distance, but such who had their tents, and families, and substance near them, would take care to remove, lest they should be destroyed with them: and touch nothing of theirs;
not carry off anything belonging to them along with their own, being all devoted to destruction: lest ye be consumed in all their sins;
lest partaking of their sins they should of their plagues, and die in their sins, as they would, or for them.

Numbers 16:26 In-Context

24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. ”

25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins. ”

27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.

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 of my own accord.

Cross References

• 1. 16:26 [Gen. 19:12-14; Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:17; Rev. 18:4]