Māori Bible

1Na ka tango tangata a Koraha tama a Itihara, tama a Kohata, tama a Riwai, ratou ko Ratana, ko Apirama, tama a Eriapa, ko Ono hoki, tama a Perete, he tama na Reupena; 2A ka whakatika ratou kite aroaro o Mohi, me etahi o nga tama a Iharaira, e rua rau e rima tekau, he rangatira no te whakaminenga, e rangona ana i roto i te huihui, he hunga whai ingoa: 3Ka whakahuihui ratou i a ratou ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, ka mea ki a raua, He kaha rawa ta korua tango tikanga, he tapu kau nei te whakaminenga katoa, kei waenganui ano hoki a Ihowa i a ratou: he aha ra korua i whakanui aia i a korua ki runga ake i te whakaminenga a Ihowa? 4A, no te rongonga o Mohi, ka hinga tapapa iho ia: 5A ka korero ki a Koraha ratou ko tana hui katoa, ka mea, A te ata ka whakaaturia mai e Ihowa ko wai tana, ko wai te mea tapu; ka meinga ano e ia kia whakatata ki a ia: ko tana i whiriwhiri ai, ko ia tana e mea ai kia whakatata ki a ia. 6Ko tenei ta koutou e mea ai, Tikina etahi tahu kakara ma koutou, e Koraha ratou ko tana hui katoa; 7Ka maka hoki he ahi ki roto, ka mea ai i te whakakakara ki runga, ki te aroaro o Ihowa apopo, a, ko te tangata e whiriwhiri ai a Ihowa, ko ia te mea tapu: kati ta koutou, e nga tama a Riwai. 8I mea ano a Mohi ki a Koraha, Na, whakarongo mai, e nga tama a Riwai: 9He mea iti ianei ki ta koutou kia wehea koutou e te Atua o Iharaira i roto i te huihui o Iharaira, kia meinga kia whakatata ki a ia, kia mahi i te mahi o te tapenakara o Ihowa, kia tu hoki ki te aroaro o te hui, hei minita ma ratou? 10Kua meinga ano koe e ia kia tata, koutou tahi ko ou teina katoa, ko nga tama a Riwai: na, me whai ano hoki e koutou te tohungatanga? 11Koia koutou ko tau hui katoa ka huihui nei ki a Ihowa: ko Arona hoki, he ha ia, i amauamu ai koutou ki a ia? 12Na ka tono tangata a Mohi hei karanga i a Ratana raua ko Apirama, i nga tama a Eriapa: a ka mea raua, E kore maua e hare atu: 13He mea iti ianei tau kawe mai i a matou i te whenua e rerengia ana e te waiu, e te honi kia mate ai matou ki te koraha, a ka mea rawa hoki koe i a koe. hei rangatira ki runga i a matou? 14Kahore ano hoki koe i kawe i a matou i te whenua e rerengia ana e te waiu, e tona honi, i homai ranei i nga mara, i nga kari, hei kainga: ka pokaia ranei e koe nga kanohi o nga tangata nei: e kore matou e haere atu.  15Na ko te tino riringa o Mohi, ka mea ki a Ihowa, Kaua e tahuri ki ta ratou whakahere: kahore ano kia kotahi te kaihe i tangohia e ahau i a ratou, kahore ano ahau i kino noa ki tetahi o ratou. 16Na ka mea a Mohi ki a Koraha, Puta mai koutou ko tau hui katoa ki te aroaro o Ihowa apopo, a koe, me ratou ko Arona, apopo: 17A me mau e tenei, e tenei o koutou tana tahu kakara, ka mea he whakakakara ki runga, ka kawe ai tena i tana tahu kakara, i tana ki te aroaro o Ihowa, kia rua rau kia rima tekau nga tahu kakara: a koe me tau tahu kakara, a Arona hoki me tana. 18Na ka mau ratou ki tana tahu kakara, ki tana tahu kakara, a hoatu ana he ahi ki roto, meatia ana hoki he whakakakara ki runga, a ka tu tahi me Mohi raua ko Arona ki te whatitoka o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 19Na ka tawhiua e Koraha te whakaminenga katoa ki a raua ki te whatitoka o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga: a ka puta mai te kororia o Ihowa ki te whakaminenga katoa. 20Na ka korero a Ihowa ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, ka mea, 21Wehea atu korua i roto i tenei whakaminenga, e kore hoki e aha ka pau ratou i ahau. 22Na ka tapapa raua, ka mea, E te Atua, e te Atua o nga wairua o nga kikokiko katoa, kia hara ranei te tangata kotahi, a ka riri koe ki te whakaminenga katoa? 23Na ka korero a Ihowa ki a Mohi, ka mea, 24Korero ki te whakaminenga, mea atu, Whakatika i te tapenakara o Koraha, o Ratana, o Apirama. 25Na ka whakatika a Mohi, ka haere ki a Ratana raua ko Apirama: me te whai tahi ano nga kaumatua o Iharaira i a ia. 26Na ka korero ia ki te whakaminenga, ka mea, Tena, mawehe mai i nga teneti o enei tangata kikino, kaua hoki e pa ki te tahi mea a ratou, kei ngaro koutou i roto i o ratou hara katoa. 27Na ka whakatika ratou i nga taha katoa o te tapenakara o Koraha, o Ratana, o Apirama: a ka puta a Ratana raua ko Apirama, ka tu ki nga whatitoka o o raua teneti, ratou ko a ratou wahine, ko a ratou tama, ko a ratou kohungahunga hoki. 28Na ka mea a Mohi, Ma tenei e mohio ai koutou na Ihowa ahau i unga mai ki te mahi i enei mahi katoa; a ehara i te mea whakaaro noa ake naku. 29Ki te mea ko te mate o nga tangata katoa te mate mo enei, ko te whiu ranei o nga tangata katoa te whiu mo ratou, kahore ahau i unga mai e Ihowa. 30Tena ko tenei, ka pokaia houtia e Ihowa he mahi hou, a ka hamama te waha o te oneone, a ka horomia ratou me a ratou me katoa, a ka heke ora ratou ki te rua; katahi koutou ka mohio i whakahawea enei tangata ki a Ihowa. 31A mutu kau tana korero i enei korero katoa, ko te tino kowheratanga o te oneone i raro i a ratou: 32Na hamama ana te waha o te whenua, horomia ake hoki ratou me o ratou whare, me nga tangata katoa o Koraha, me o ratou rawa katoa. 33A heke ora ana ratou me a ratou mea katoa ki te rua, na ka taupokina iho ratou i te whenua: a ngaro iho ratou i roto i te whakaminenga. 34Na rere ana a Iharaira katoa i nga taha katoa o ratou i to ratou aue; i mea hoki, Kei horomia hoki tatou e te whenua. 35Na a puta mai he ahi i a Ihowa, a pau ake nga tangata e rua rau e rima tekau i whakahere nei i te whakakakara. 36Na ka korero a Ihowa ki a Mohi, ka mea, 37Mea atu ki a Eratara tama a te tohunga, a Arona, kia tangohia ake e ia nga tahu kakara i roto i te tahunga, a rukerukea atu hoki e koe te ahi ki ko; he tapu hoki ena; 38Ko nga tahu kakara ano a taua hunga i hara ra ki o ratou wairua, me hanga hei papa paraharaha, hei kopaki mo te aata: i tapaea hoki ki te aroaro o Ihowa, koia i tapu ai: a ka waiho hei tohu ki nga tama a Iharaira. 39Na tikina atu ana e te tohunga, e Ereatara, nga tahu kakara parahi i tapaea e te hunga i tahuna ra, a ka hanga hei papa paraharaha, hei kopaki mo te aata: 40Hei whakamahara mo nga tama a Iharaira, kei whakatata he tangata ke, ehara nei i te uri no Arona, ki te tahu whakakakara ki te aroaro o Ihowa: kei rite ki a Koraha ratou ko tana hui: ko ta Ihowa tenei i korerotia e Mohi ki a ia. 41Otiia i te aonga ake ka amuamu te whakaminenga katoa o nga tama a Iharaira ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, ka mea, Na korua i mate ai te iwi a Ihowa. 42A, i te huihuinga o te whakaminenga katoa ki a Mohi raua ko Arona, i to ratou tahuritanga ake ki te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, e! kua taupokina e te kapua, a ka kitea te kororia o Ihowa. 43Na ka haere a Mohi raua ko Arona ki mua i te tapenakara o te whakaminenga. 44A ka korero a Ihowa ki a Mohi, ka mea, 45Whakatika atu korua i roto i tenei whakaminenga, e kore e aha ka pau ratou i ahau. Na ka tapapa iho raua. 46Na ka mea a Mohi ki a Arona, E mau ki te tahu kakara, meatia iho hoki he ahi i te aata, ka hoatu ai i te whakakakara ki runga, a kia hohoro te haere ki te whakaminenga, te whakamarie mo ratou: kua puta he riri i te aroaro o Ihowa; kua timata te whiu. 47Na tikina ana e Arona, peratia ana me ta Mohi i ki ai, a rere ana ia ki waenganui o te whakaminenga; na kua timata tena te whiu i roto i te iwi: na ka maka iho e ia he whakakakara, a ka whakamarie mo te iwi. 48Na tu ana ia i waenganui o te hunga mate, o te hunga ora; a ka mutu te whiu. 49Na ko nga tangata i mate i te whiu, kotahi tekau ma wha mano e whitu rau, haunga era i mate i to Koraha ra. 50Na hoki ana a Arona ki a Mohi, ki te whatitoka o te tapenakara o te whakaminenga, a mutu iho te whiu.


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   Pride and ambition occasion a great deal of mischief both in churches and states. The rebels quarrel with the settlement of the priesthood upon Aaron and his family. Small reason they had to boast of the people's purity, or of God's favour, as the people had been so often and so lately polluted with sin, and were now under the marks of God's displeasure. They unjustly charge Moses and Aaron with taking honour to themselves; whereas they were called of God to it. See here, 1. What spirit levellers are of; those who resist the powers God has set over them. 2. What usage they have been serviceable. Moses sought instruction from God. The heart of the wise studies to answer, and asks counsel of God. Moses shows their privileges as Levites, and convicts them of the sin of undervaluing these privileges. It will help to keep us from envying those above us, duly to consider how many there are below us.

 12   Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram to bring their complaints; but they would not obey. They bring very false charges against Moses. Those often fall under the heaviest censures, who in truth deserve the highest praise. Moses, though the meekest man, yet, finding God reproached in him, was very wroth; he could not bear to see the people ruining themselves. He appeals to God as to his own integrity. He bade them appear with Aaron next morning, at the time of offering the morning incense. Korah undertook thus to appear. Proud ambitious men, while projecting their own advancement, often hurry on their own shameful fall.

 16   The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first, Lev 9:23, now appeared to confirm him in it; and to confound those who set up against him. Nothing is more terrible to those who are conscious of guilt, than the appearance of the Divine glory. See how dangerous it is to have fellowship with sinners, and to partake with them. Though the people had treacherously deserted them, yet Moses and Aaron approved themselves faithful shepherds of Israel. If others fail in their duty to us, that does not take away the obligations we are under to seek their welfare. Their prayer was a pleading prayer, and it proved a prevailing one.

 23   The seventy elders of Israel attend Moses. It is our duty to do what we can to countenance and support lawful authority when it is opposed. And those who would not perish with sinners, must come out from among them, and be separate. It was in answer to the prayer of Moses, that God stirred up the hearts of the congregation to remove for their own safety. Grace to separate from evil-doers is one of the things that accompany salvation. God, in justice, left the rebels to the obstinacy and hardness of their own hearts. Moses, by Divine direction, when all Israel were waiting the event, declares that if the rebels die a common death, he will be content to be called and counted an imposter. As soon as Moses had spoken the word, God caused the earth to open and swallow them all up. The children perished with their parents; in which, though we cannot tell how bad they might be to deserve it, or how good God might be otherwise to them; yet of this we are sure, that Infinite Justice did them no wrong. It was altogether miraculous. God has, when he pleases, strange punishments for the workers of iniquity. It was very significant. Considering how the earth is still in like manner loaded with the weight of man's sins, we have reason to wonder that it does not now sink under its load. The ruin of others should be our warning. Could we, by faith, hear the outcries of those that are gone down to the bottomless pit, we should give more diligence than we do to escape for our lives, lest we also come into their condemnation.

 35   A fire went out from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense, while Aaron, who stood with them, was preserved alive. God is jealous of the honour of his own institutions, and will not have them invaded. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The censers are devoted, and, as all devoted things, must be made serviceable to the glory of God. This covering of the altar would remind the children of Israel of this event, that others might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. They brought destruction on themselves both in body and soul. Thus all who break the law and neglect the gospel choose and love death.

 41   The gaping earth was scarcely closed, before the same sins are again committed, and all these warnings slighted. They called the rebels the people of the Lord; and find fault with Divine justice. The obstinacy of Israel notwithstanding the terrors of God's law, as given on mount Sinai, and the terrors of his judgments, shows how necessary the grace of God is to change men's hearts and lives. Love will do what fear cannot. Moses and Aaron interceded with God for mercy, knowing how great the provocation was. Aaron went, and burned incense between the living and the dead, not to purify the air, but to pacify an offended God. As one tender of the life of every Israelite, Aaron made all possible speed. We must render good for evil. Observe especially, that Aaron was a type of Christ. There is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove. He enters the defiled and dying camp. He stands between the dead and the living; between the eternal Judge and the souls under condemnation. We must have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins. We admire the ready devotion of Aaron: shall we not bless and praise the unspeakable grace and love which filled the Saviour's heart, when he placed himself in our stead, and bought us with his life? Greatly indeed hath God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, Roma 5:8.