VW-Edition Bible (2010)

1Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; 2and they rose up before Moses with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown. 3They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and Jehovah is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah? 4And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face; 5and he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, Tomorrow morning Jehovah will show who is His and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to Him. The one whom He chooses He will cause to come near to Him. 6Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company; 7put fire in them and put incense in them before Jehovah tomorrow, and it shall be that the man whom Jehovah chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi! 8And Moses said to Korah, Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to serve them; 10and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking the priesthood also? 11Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against Jehovah. And what is Aaron that you grumble against him? 12And Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, We will not come up. 13Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you rule to lord it over us? 14Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up! 15And Moses was very angry, and said to Jehovah, Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I done evil to any of them. 16And Moses said to Korah, Tomorrow, you and all your company be before Jehovah; you and they, as well as Aaron. 17Each one take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censer before Jehovah, two hundred and fifty censers; you and Aaron, each with his censer. 18And each man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tent of meeting. And the glory of Jehovah appeared to all the congregation. 20And Jehovah spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. 22And they fell on their faces, and said, O Mighty God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will You be angry with all the congregation? 23And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 24Speak to the congregation, saying, Get away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25And Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26And he spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart now from the tents of these wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. 27So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children. 28And Moses said: By this you shall know that Jehovah has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them from my own heart. 29If these men die the death of all men, or if they are visited according to the visitation of all men, then Jehovah has not sent me. 30But if Jehovah creates a new thing, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have rejected Jehovah. 31And it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them, 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their houses and all the men with Korah, with all their possessions. 33So they and all those with them went down alive into Sheol; the earth covered over them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34And all Israel who were around them fled at the sound, for they thought, Lest the earth swallow us up also! 35And a fire came forth from Jehovah and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense. 36And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying: 37Speak to Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, that he pick up the censers out of the burning, for they are holy, and scatter the fire away. 38The censers of these men who sinned against their own souls, let them be made into broad plates as a covering for the altar; because they presented them before Jehovah, therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel. 39So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had presented, and they were beaten out as a covering for the altar, 40as a memorial to the children of Israel; that no strange man, who is not a seed of Aaron, should come near to offer incense before Jehovah, that he might not become like Korah and his company, as Jehovah had spoken by the hand of Moses.  41And the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, You have killed the people of Jehovah. 42And it happened, when the congregation had gathered against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting; and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Jehovah appeared. 43And Moses and Aaron came before the tent of meeting. 44And Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, 45Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. And they fell on their faces. 46And Moses said to Aaron, Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Jehovah; the plague has begun. 47And Aaron took as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was restrained. 49Now those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died in the matter of Korah. 50And Aaron returned to Moses at the door of the tent of meeting, for the plague had been restrained.


Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
 1   Num 16:1 The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Num 16:23 Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents.
Num 16:31 The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others.
Num 16:36 The censers are reserved to holy use.
Num 16:41 Fourteen thousand and seven hundred are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron.
Num 16:46 Aaron by incense stays the plague.
Korah.
Num 26:9 Num 26:10 Num 27:3 Exod 6:18 Exod 6:21 Jude 1:11
sons of Reuben.
Gen 49:3 Gen 49:4 1Chr 5:1 1Chr 5:2
took men. As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt, "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb wyyikkach, "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, ben, son, instead of beney, sons.


 2   famous.
Num 26:9 Gen 6:4 1Chr 5:24 1Chr 12:30 Ezek 16:14 Ezek 23:10

 3   gathered.
Num 16:11 Num 12:1 Num 12:2 Num 14:1 - Num 14:4 Ps 106:16 Acts 7:39 Acts 7:51
Ye take too much upon you. Heb. It is much for you. allthe.
Exod 19:6 Ezra 9:2 Isa 1:11 - Isa 1:16 Jer 7:3 - Jer 7:12 Matt 3:9 Matt 3:10 Rom 2:28 Rom 2:29
the Lord.
Num 14:14 Num 35:34 Exod 29:45 Exod 29:46 Ps 68:17

 4   Num 16:45 Num 14:5 Num 20:6 Josh 7:6

 5   the Lord.
Mal 3:18 2Tim 2:19
who is holy.
Num 16:3 Lev 21:6 - Lev 21:8 Lev 21:12 - Lev 21:15 Isa 61:5 Isa 61:6 1Pet 2:5 - 1Pet 2:9 Rev 1:6 Rev 5:9 Rev 5:10
will cause.
Exod 28:43 Lev 10:3 Ps 65:4 Ezek 40:46 Ezek 44:15 Ezek 44:16 Eph 2:13 Heb 10:19 - Heb 10:22 Heb 12:14
even him.
Num 17:5 Exod 28:1 Lev 8:2 1Sam 2:28 Ps 105:26 John 15:16 Acts 1:2 Acts 1:24 Acts 13:2 Acts 15:7 Acts 22:14 2Tim 2:3 2Tim 2:4

 6   Num 16:35 - Num 16:40 Num 16:46 - Num 16:48 Lev 10:1 Lev 16:12 Lev 16:13 1Kgs 18:21 - 1Kgs 18:23

 7   that the man.
Num 16:3 Num 16:5 Eph 1:4 2Thess 2:13 1Pet 2:9
too much.
Num 16:3 1Kgs 18:17 1Kgs 18:18 Matt 21:23 - Matt 21:27

 8   Num 16:8

 9   Seemeth it but.
Num 16:13 Gen 30:15 1Sam 18:23 2Sam 7:19 Isa 7:13 Ezek 34:18 1Cor 4:3
separated.
Num 1:53 Num 3:41 - Num 3:45 Num 8:14 - Num 8:16 Num 18:2 - Num 18:6 Deut 10:8 2Chr 35:3 Neh 12:44 Ezek 44:10 Ezek 44:11 Acts 13:2

 10   and seek.
Pro 13:10 Matt 20:21 Matt 20:22 Luke 22:24 Rom 12:10 Phil 2:3 3John 1:9

 11   against.
Num 16:3 1Sam 8:7 Luke 10:16 John 13:20 Rom 13:2
what is Aaron.
Exod 16:7 Exod 16:8 Exod 17:2 Acts 5:4 1Cor 3:5

 12   Pro 29:9 Isa 3:5 1Pet 2:13 1Pet 2:14 Jude 1:8

 13   a small.
Num 16:9
out of a.
Num 11:5 Exod 1:11 Exod 1:22 Exod 2:23
to kill.
Num 20:3 Num 20:4 Exod 16:3 Exod 17:3
thou make.
Exod 2:14 Ps 2:2 Ps 2:3 Luke 19:14 Acts 7:25 - Acts 7:27 Acts 7:35

 14   Moreover.
Num 36:8 - Num 36:10 Exod 3:8 Exod 3:17 Lev 20:24
put out. Heb. bore out.


 15   very wroth.
Num 12:3 Exod 32:19 Matt 5:22 Mark 3:5 Eph 4:26
Respect.
Num 16:6 Num 16:7 Gen 4:4 Gen 4:5 Isa 1:10 - Isa 1:15
I have not. Though Moses was their ruler, under God, yet, so far from oppressing them, he had not imposed the smallest tax, nor taken, as a present, so much as an ass from one of them. The common present that is now made to the great, in these countries, is a horse; but there is reason to believe, that an ass might formerly have answered the same purpose. "If it is a visit of ceremony from a bashaw," says Dr. Russell, "or other person in power, a fine horse, sometimes with furniture, or some such valuable present, is made to him at his departure." As asses were esteemed no dishonourable beasts for the saddle, Sir. J. Chardin, in his MS., supposes, that when Samuel disclaimed having taken the ass of any one, (1Sam 12:3,) he is to be understood of not having taken any ass for his riding. In the same light, he considers this similar declaration of Moses. His reason is "asses being then esteemed very honourable creatures for riding on, (ch. 22:21, 30 Num 22:21, Num 22:30. Judg 5:10. 2Sam 16:2,) as they are at this very time in Persia, being rode with saddles."
1Sam 12:3 1Sam 12:4 Acts 20:33 Acts 20:34 1Cor 9:15 2Cor 1:12 2Cor 7:2 2Cor 12:14 - 2Cor 12:17 1Thess 2:10

 16   Be thou.
Num 16:6 Num 16:7
before.
1Sam 12:3 1Sam 12:7 2Tim 2:14

 17   1Sam 12:7

 18   Num 16:18

 19   Korah.
Num 16:1 Num 16:2
and the glory.
Num 16:42 Num 12:5 Num 14:10 Exod 16:7 Exod 16:10 Lev 9:6 Lev 9:23

 20   Num 16:20

 21   Separate.
Gen 19:15 - Gen 19:22 Jer 5:16 Acts 2:40 2Cor 6:17 Eph 5:6 Eph 5:7 Rev 18:4
that I may.
Num 16:45 Num 14:12 Num 14:15 Exod 32:10 Exod 33:5 Ps 73:19 Isa 37:36 Heb 12:28 Heb 12:29

 22   they fell.
Num 16:4 Num 16:45 Num 14:5
the God.
Num 27:16 Job 12:10 Eccl 12:7 Isa 57:16 Zech 12:1 Heb 12:9
one man sin.
Gen 18:23 - Gen 18:25 Gen 18:32 Josh 7:1 - Josh 7:26 2Sam 24:1 2Sam 24:17 Rom 5:18 1Cor 13:7

 23   Num 16:23

 24   Num 16:21
It should seem that Dathan and Abiram had set up a spacious tabernacle in the midst of the tents of their families, where they kept court, met in council, and hung out their flag of defiance against Moses; it is here called the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. There, as in the place of rendezvous, Dathan and Abiram stayed, when Korah and his friends went up to the tabernacle of the Lord, waiting the issue of their trial; but here we are told how they had their business done, before that trial was over. God will take what method he pleases in his judgments.


 25   Num 11:16 Num 11:17 Num 11:25 Num 11:30

 26   Depart, I pray you. The rebels, with all that belonged to them, were, as an accursed thing, devoted to utter destruction. (Lev 27:28, Lev 27:29. Josh 7:13 - Josh 7:15, Josh 7:23 - Josh 7:26.) The people therefore were forbidden to touch anything belonging to them; that they might enter a solemn protest against their wickedness, acknowledge the justice of their punishment, and express their fear of being involved in it.
Num 16:21 - Num 16:24 Gen 19:12 - Gen 19:14 Deut 13:17 Isa 52:11 Matt 10:14 Acts 8:20 Acts 13:51 2Cor 6:17 1Tim 5:22 Rev 18:4

 27   and stood.
2Kgs 9:30 2Kgs 9:31 Job 9:4 Job 40:10 Job 40:11 Pro 16:18 Pro 18:12 Isa 28:14

 28   Hereby.
Exod 3:12 Exod 4:1 - Exod 4:9 Exod 7:9 Deut 18:22 Zech 2:9 Zech 4:9 John 5:36 John 11:42 John 14:11
for I have. Kee lo millibbee, "and that not out of my heart." It was not of my own device or contrivance. It was not out of an ambitious desire to be great myself that I took upon me the government, nor out of private affection to my brother, that I appointed him and his family to the priesthood.
of mine.
Num 24:13 1Kgs 18:36 Jer 23:16 Ezek 13:17 John 5:30 John 6:38

 29   the common, etc. Heb. as every man dieth. visited.
Exod 20:5 Exod 32:34 Job 35:15 Isa 10:3 Jer 5:9 Lam 4:22
the Lord.
1Kgs 22:28 2Chr 18:27

 30   make a new thing. Heb. create a creature; weim beriah yivra Yehowah, "And if Jehovah should create a creation," i.e., do such a thing as was never done before.
Job 31:3 Isa 28:21 Isa 43:19 Isa 45:7 Isa 45:12 Jer 31:22
and they.
Num 16:33 Ps 55:15

 31   Num 26:10 Num 26:11 Num 27:3 Deut 11:6 Ps 106:17 Ps 106:18

 32   the earth.
Num 16:30 Gen 4:11 Isa 5:14 Rev 12:16
all the.
Num 16:17 Num 26:11 Num 27:3 1Chr 6:22 1Chr 6:37 Ps 84:1 Ps 85:1 Ps 88:1
; *titles


 33   into the.
Ps 9:15 Ps 55:23 Ps 69:15 Ps 143:7 Isa 14:9 Isa 14:15 Ezek 32:18 Ezek 32:30
they perished.
Jude 1:11

 34   fled.
Isa 33:3 Zech 14:5 Rev 6:15 - Rev 6:17
Lest.
Num 17:12 Num 17:13

 35   And there.
Num 11:1 Num 26:10 Lev 10:2 Ps 106:18
two hundred.
Num 16:2 Num 16:17

 36   Num 16:36

 37   the censers.
Num 16:7 Num 16:18
hallowed. Kadashoo, consecrated, i.e., to the service of God, though in this instance, improperly employed.
Lev 27:28

 38   sinners.
1Kgs 2:23 Pro 1:18 Pro 8:36 Pro 20:2 Hab 2:10
a sign.
Num 16:40 Num 17:10 Num 26:10 Ezek 14:8 1Cor 10:11 2Pet 2:6

 39   Num 16:39

 40   that no.
Num 3:10 Num 3:38 Num 18:4 - Num 18:7 Lev 22:10 2Chr 26:18 - 2Chr 26:20 Jude 1:11
come near.
1Kgs 13:1 - 1Kgs 13:3 2Chr 26:16 - 2Chr 26:21

 41   on the morrow. It is not unlikely, that the people persuaded themselves that Moses and Aaron had used some cunning in this business and that the earthquake and fire were artificial; for, had they discerned the hand of God in this punishment, they would scarcely have dared the anger of the Lord in the very face of his justice. And while they thus absurdly imputed this judgement to Moses and Aaron, they impiously called the persons, thus perishing in their rebellion, "the people of the Lord!"
all the.
Num 16:1 - Num 16:7 Num 14:2 Ps 106:13 Ps 106:23 Ps 106:25 - Ps 106:48 Isa 26:11
Ye have.
Num 16:3 2Sam 16:7 2Sam 16:8 1Kgs 18:17 Jer 37:13 Jer 37:14 Jer 38:4 Jer 43:3 Amos 7:10 Matt 5:11 Acts 5:28 Acts 21:28 2Cor 6:8

 42   when the.
Num 16:19
the glory.
Num 16:19 Num 14:10 Num 20:6 Exod 16:7 Exod 16:10 Exod 24:16 Exod 40:34 Exod 40:35 Lev 9:23

 43   Num 16:43

 44   Num 16:44

 45   Get you up.
Num 16:21 Num 16:24 Num 16:26
And they.
Num 16:22 Num 20:6 1Chr 21:16 Matt 26:39

 46   from off.
Lev 9:24 Lev 10:1 Lev 16:12 Lev 16:13 Isa 6:6 Isa 6:7 Rom 5:9 Rom 5:10 Heb 7:25 - Heb 7:27 Heb 9:25 Heb 9:26 Rev 8:3 - Rev 8:5
and put.
Ps 141:2 Mal 1:11
an atonement.
Exod 30:7 - Exod 30:10 Lev 16:11 - Lev 16:16 1John 2:1 1John 2:2
there is wrath.
Num 1:53 Num 8:19 Num 11:33 Num 18:5 Lev 10:6 1Chr 27:24 Ps 106:29
the plague is begun. God now punished them by a secret blast, so as to put the matter beyond dispute; His hand, and His alone, was seen, not only in the plague, but in the manner in which the mortality was arrested. It was necessary that it should be done in this way, that the whole congregation might see that these men who had perished were not "the people of the Lord," and that God, not Moses and Aaron, had destroyed them.


 47   and ran.
Matt 5:44 Rom 12:21
and behold.
Ps 106:29
and he put.
Num 16:46 Deut 33:10 Deut 33:11 Isa 53:10 - Isa 53:12

 48   What the plague was we know not; but it seems from this to have begun at one part of the camp, and to have proceeded regularly onward.
Num 16:18 Num 16:35 Num 25:8 - Num 25:11 2Sam 24:16 2Sam 24:17 2Sam 24:25 1Chr 21:26 1Chr 21:27 1Thess 1:10 1Tim 2:5 1Tim 2:6 Heb 7:24 Heb 7:25 Jas 5:16 John 5:14

 49   fourteen thousand.
Num 16:32 - Num 16:35 Num 25:9 1Chr 21:14 Heb 2:1 - Heb 2:3 Heb 10:28 Heb 10:29 Heb 12:25

 50   Num 16:43 1Chr 21:26 - 1Chr 21:30