Numbers 16:39

39 El`azar the Kohen took the brazen censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

Numbers 16:39 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:39

And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers
The metal of which these censers were made is particularly observed, to show that they were fit for the use they were ordered to be put unto, namely, for a covering of the altar of burnt offering, which was covered with brass, that being very suitable, since fire was continually burning on it; and by this it appears that these censers were different from those of Aaron and his sons, for theirs were silver ones; the high priest on the day of atonement indeed made use of golden one, but at all other times he used a silver one F2; and so did the common priests every day, morning and night, when they offered incense F3,

wherewith they that were burnt had offered;
the two hundred fifty men burnt with fire from the Lord, having offered incense to him with the brazen censers:

and they were made broad [plates for] a covering of the altar;
not by Eleazar, but by workmen skilled in the art of drawing or beating any kind of metal into thin plates, by the direction and order of Eleazar.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 Misn. Yoma, c. 4. sect. 4.
F3 Misn. Tamid, c. 5. sect. 5.

Numbers 16:39 In-Context

37 Speak to El`azar the son of Aharon the Kohen, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are holy,
38 even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Yisra'el.
39 El`azar the Kohen took the brazen censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,
40 to be a memorial to the children of Yisra'el, to the end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aharon, comes near to burn incense before the LORD; that he not be as Korach, and as his company: as the LORD spoke to him by Moshe.
41 But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el murmured against Moshe and against Aharon, saying, You have killed the people of the LORD.
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