Numbers 16:18-28

18 So they each took his own censer and put fire on it, and laid incense on it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.

19 Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And ¹the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

21 "²Separate yourselves from among this congregation, ³that I may consume them instantly."

22 But they fell on their faces and said, "O God, ⁴God of the spirits of all flesh, ⁵when one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?"

23 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

24 "Speak to the congregation, saying, '⁶Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.' "

25 Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following * him,

26 and he spoke to the congregation, saying, "⁷Depart now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing * that belongs to them, ⁸or you will be swept away in all their sin."

27 So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and ⁹their sons and their little ones.

28 Moses said, "By this you shall know that ¹⁰the LORD has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing *.

Numbers 16:18-28 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.

Cross References

• 1. Numbers 14:10; Numbers 16:42; Numbers 20:6
• 2. Numbers 16:45
• 3. Exodus 32:10, 12
• 4. Numbers 27:16
• 5. Genesis 18:23-32; Leviticus 4:3
• 6. Numbers 16:45
• 7. Isaiah 52:11
• 8. Genesis 19:15, 17
• 9. Numbers 26:11
• 10. Exodus 3:12-15; Exodus 4:12, 15

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "them"
• [b] Lit "them"
• [c] Lit "from my heart"