Numbers 16:10

10 {He has allowed you to approach him}, you with all your brothers, the descendants of Levi, but yet you also seek the priesthood.

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 Moses said to Korah, "Please listen, sons of Levi!

9 [Is it] too little for you that the God of Israel set you apart from the community of Israel {to allow you to approach him} to do the work of the tabernacle of Yahweh, to stand {before} the community to serve them?

10 {He has allowed you to approach him}, you with all your brothers, the descendants of Levi, but yet you also seek the priesthood.

11 Therefore you and your company that has banded together against Yahweh. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

12 Moses sent to call [for] Dathan and Abiram son of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come!

Footnotes

• [a] Literally "He has brought you near"
• [b] Or "sons"