Numbers 16:11

11 and (for that,) all thy gathering together stand against the Lord? For why, what is Aaron, that ye grouch against him? (and for that, all thy company now stand against the Lord! For what is Aaron, that ye should grumble against him?)

Numbers 16:11 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:11

For which cause, both [thou] and all thy company [are]
gathered together against the Lord
For gathering together against his ministers, whom he had put into office to act under him, and endeavouring to overturn a constitution of his erecting, and resisting and not submitting to an ordinance of his, is interpreted gathering against him, and acting in opposition to him; see ( Romans 13:1 Romans 13:2 ) ;

and what [is] Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
what is his transgression? what has he done? as Aben Ezra paraphrases it; he is not chargeable with any fault, he did not take upon him the office of high priest of himself, God called him to it, and put him in it; he is only his minister, and by no means to be blamed, and therefore it is unreasonable to envy him, or murmur against him; and, indeed, murmuring against him is murmuring against the Lord.

Numbers 16:11 In-Context

9 Whether it is little to you (Is it such a small thing for you), that (the) God of Israel [hath] separated you from all the people, and hath joined you to himself, (so) that ye should serve him in the service of the tabernacle, and that ye should stand before the multitude of the people, and serve him, (yea, serve Almighty God)?
10 Made he therefore thee, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi (with thee), to nigh to himself, that ye challenge to you also (the) priesthood, (Yea, he made thee, and all thy brothers, or thy kinsmen, the Levites, with thee, just for that, to be near him; but now ye seek the priesthood for yourselves as well,)
11 and (for that,) all thy gathering together stand against the Lord? For why, what is Aaron, that ye grouch against him? (and for that, all thy company now stand against the Lord! For what is Aaron, that ye should grumble against him?)
12 Therefore Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; which answered, We come not. (And so Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they answered, We shall not come to thee.)
13 Whether is it little to thee, that thou leddest us out of the land that flowed with milk and honey, to slay us in the desert, no but also thou be lord of us? (Is it such a small thing for thee, that thou leddest us out of the land of Egypt which flowed with milk and honey, to kill us here in the wilderness, but must thou also be our lord and master?)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.