Numbers 16:42-50

42 It happened, when the congregation was assembled against Moshe and against Aharon, that they looked toward the tent of meeting: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 Moshe and Aharon came to the front of the tent of meeting.

44 The LORD spoke to Moshe, saying,

45 Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. They fell on their faces.

46 Moshe said to Aharon, Take they censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

47 Aharon took as Moshe spoke, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.

48 He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those who died about the matter of Korach.

50 Aharon returned to Moshe to the door of the tent of meeting: and the plague was stayed.

Numbers 16:42-50 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.