161 Now 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 action, 2 and they rose up before Moses , together with some of the sons of Israel , two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation , chosen in the assembly , men of renown . 3 They assembled together against Moses and Aaron , and said to them, " You have gone far enough , for all the congregation are holy , every one of them, and the Lord is in their midst ; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord ?" 4 When Moses heard this, he fell on his face ; 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company , saying , "Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His, and who is holy , and will bring him near to Himself; even the one whom He will choose , He will bring near to Himself. 6 "Do this : take censers for yourselves, Korah and all your company , 7 and put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of the Lord tomorrow ; and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the one who is holy . You have gone far enough , you sons of Levi !" 8 Then Moses said to Korah , "Hear now , you sons of Levi , 9 is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel , to bring you near to Himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord , and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10 and that He has brought you near , Korah, and all your brothers , sons of Levi , with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also ? 11 "Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the Lord ; but as for Aaron , who is he that you grumble against him?"
12 Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram , the sons of Eliab ; but they said , "We will not come up. 13 "Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness , but you would also lord it over us? 14 "Indeed , you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey , nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards . Would you put out the eyes of these men ? We will not come up!" 15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord , " Do not regard their offering ! I have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them." 16 Moses said to Korah , "You and all your company be present before the Lord tomorrow , both you and they along with Aaron . 17 "Each of you take his firepan and put incense on it, and each of you bring his censer before the Lord , two hundred and fifty firepans ; also you and Aaron shall each bring his firepan ." 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 the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation . 20 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron , saying , 21 " Separate yourselves from among this congregation , that I may consume them instantly ." 22 But they fell on their faces and said , "O God , God of the spirits of all flesh , when 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 , ' Get 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 e him, 26 and he spoke to the congregation , saying , " Depart now from the tents of these wicked men , and touch nothing e that belongs to them, or 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 their sons and their little ones . 28 Moses said , "By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds ; for this is not my doing e . 29 "If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men , then the Lord has not sent me. 30 "But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs , and they descend alive into Sheol , then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord ." 31 As he finished speaking all these words , the ground that was under them split open ; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households , and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions . 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to Sheol ; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly . 34 All Israel who were around them fled at their outcry , for they said , "The earth may swallow us up!"
35 Fire also came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 16:1-35
Commentary on Numbers 16:1-11
(Read Numbers 16:1-11)
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.
Commentary on Numbers 16:12-15
(Read Numbers 16:12-15)
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.
Commentary on Numbers 16:16-22
(Read Numbers 16:16-22)
The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first, Leviticus 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.
Commentary on Numbers 16:23-34
(Read Numbers 16:23-34)
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.
Commentary on Numbers 16:35-40
(Read Numbers 16:35-40)
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.