Numbers 16:2

2 and rose up before Moses, and two hundred and fifty men of the sons of Israel, chiefs of the assembly, chosen councillors, and men of renown.

Numbers 16:2 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:2

And they rose up before Moses
To his face, openly and publicly, in a bold and audacious manner; with impudence, as the Targum of Jonathan:

with certain of the children of Israel;
some out of the several tribes, but perhaps chiefly of the tribe of Reuben, as Jarchi:

two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly;
or "congregation" F9, who were princes in the several tribes to which they belonged, heads of houses and families of their fathers, rulers of thousands, hundreds, &c.

famous in the congregation;
or "called" F11 to the tabernacle of the congregation; who, when the great men among the people were gathered together to consult about any affair, were called, as Ben Melech observes:

men of renown,
or "of name" F12; in high esteem among the people for their birth and rank, their wealth and riches, wisdom and prudence; and were so before they came out of Egypt, as Aben Ezra remarks; so that the persons concerned in this rebellion were not the mob and dregs of the people, but men of the greatest figure and fame, and therefore was likely to be of bad consequence.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 (hde) "congregationis", Pagninus.
F11 (yarq) "vocati", Montanus, Drusius.
F12 (Mv yvna) "viri nominis", Montanus, Drusius.

Numbers 16:2 In-Context

1 And Core the son of Isaar the son of Caath the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiron, sons of Eliab, and Aun the son of Phaleth the son of Ruben, spoke;
2 and rose up before Moses, and two hundred and fifty men of the sons of Israel, chiefs of the assembly, chosen councillors, and men of renown.
3 They rose up against Moses and Aaron, and said, Let it be enough for you that all the congregation holy, and the Lord among them; and why do ye set up yourselves against the congregation of the Lord?
4 And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.
5 And he spoke to Core and all his assembly, saying, God has visited and known those that are his and who are holy, and has brought them to himself; and whom he has chosen for himself, he has brought to himself.

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.