Numbers 16
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
The month of Abib to be observed, Deu 16:1. The feast of the passover and of unleavened bread, Deu 16:2-8. The feast of weeks, Deu 16:9-12. The feast of tabernacles, Deu 16:13-15. All the males to appear before the Lord thrice in the year, none to come empty, each to give according to his ability, Deu 16:16, Deu 16:17. Judges and officers to be made in all their cities, Deu 16:18. Strict justice shall be executed, Deu 16:19, Deu 16:20. No grove to be planted near the altar of God, nor any image to be set up, Deu 16:21, Deu 16:22.
Open source ↗THE REBELLION OF KORAH. (Num. 16:1-30) Now Korah, the son of Izhar--Izhar, brother of Amram (Exo 6:18), was the second son of Kohath, and for some reason unrecorded he had been supplanted by a descendant of the fourth son of Kohath, who was appointed prince or chief of the Kohathites (Num 3:30). Discontent with the preferment over him of a younger relative was probably the originating cause of this seditious movement on the part of Korah. Dathan and Abiram, . . . and On--These were confederate leaders in the rebellion, but On seems to have afterwards withdrawn from the conspiracy [compare Num 16:12, Num 16:24-25, Num 16:27; Num 26:9; Deu 11:6; Psa 106:17]. took men--The latter mentioned individuals, being all sons of Reuben, the eldest of Jacob's family, had been stimulated to this insurrection on the pretext that Moses had, by an arbitrary arrangement, taken away the right of primogeniture, which had vested the hereditary dignity of the priesthood in the first-born of every family, with a view of transferring the hereditary exercise of the sacred functions to a particular branch of his own house; and that this gross instance of partiality to his own relations, to the permanent detriment of others, was a sufficient ground for refusing allegiance to his government. In addition to this grievance, another cause of jealousy and dissatisfaction that rankled in the breasts of the Reubenites was the advancement of Judah to the leadership among the tribes. These malcontents had been incited by the artful representations of Korah (Jde 1:11), with whom the position of their camp on the south side afforded them facilities of frequent intercourse. In addition to his feeling of personal wrongs, Korah participated in their desire (if he did not originate the attempt) to recover their…
Open source ↗Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,.... A great grandson of Levi's, and own cousin to Moses and Aaron, being brothers children; for Amram the father of Moses and Aaron, and Izhar the father of Korah, were own brothers, both of them the sons of Kohath, and Amram the eldest, and Izhar the next, Exo 6:16; this man is mentioned first, being the contriver, and plotter, and ringleader of the following sedition, and which is called "the gainsaying of Core", Jde 1:11; when this was made is not certain; Aben Ezra thinks this affair happened in the wilderness of Sinai, when the firstborn were exchanged, and the Levites were separated for holy service, Num 3:1; but, according to the Targum of Jonathan, it was after the law concerning the fringes was given, which it here follows, and was on that account; for it says, that Korah took his coat, which was all blue, and that the men with him rose up, and in the face of Moses taught the rite concerning the blue ribbon; when Moses declared he had it from God, that the fringe should be of white, and one thread of blue should be in it; but Korah and his company made their coats and fringes all of blue, which the Lord commanded not: but what Korah is said to take is either himself, or men, or both, and not clothes, as follows: and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men; which men are described in Num 16:2, even princes of the assembly, &c. or he, Korah, took himself, as Ben Melech, or divided himself, as Onkelos, separated himself from the congregation, and set himself at the head of a party he gathered together; and the "vau" or "and" before "Dathan" may be additional or superfluous, as Chaskuni observes, and so Abendana; and then the sense is, that Korah took D…
Open source ↗Num 16:1-2 The authors of the rebellion were Korah the Levite, a descendant of the Kohathite Izhar, who was a brother of Amram, an ancestor (not the father) of Aaron and Moses (see at Exo 6:18), and three Reubenites, viz., Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, of the Reubenitish family of Pallu (Num 26:8-9), and On, the son of Peleth, a Reubenite, not mentioned again. The last of these (On) is not referred to again in the further course of this event, either because he played altogether a subordinate part in the affair, or because he had drawn back before the conspiracy came to a head. The persons named took (יקּח), i.e., gained over to their plan, or persuaded to join them, 250 distinguished men of the other tribes, and rose up with them against Moses and Aaron. On the construction ויּקוּמוּ...ויּקּה (Num 16:1 and Num 16:2), Gesenius correctly observes in his Thesaurus (p. 760), "There is an anakolouthon rather than an ellipsis, and not merely a copyist's error, in these words, 'and Korah,...and Dathan and Abiram, took and rose up against Moses with 250 men,' for they took 250 men, and rose up with them against Moses," etc. He also points to the analogous construction in Sa2 18:18. Consequently there is no necessity either to force a meaning upon לקח, which is altogether foreign to it, or to attempt an emendation of the text. "They rose up before Moses:" this does not mean, "they stood up in front of his tent," as Knobel explains it, for the purpose of bringing Num 16:2 into contradiction with Num 16:3, but they created an uproar before his eyes; and with this the expression in Num 16:3, "and they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron," may be very simply and easily combined. The 250 men of the children of Israel who joined the rebels no doubt belonged to th…
Open source ↗Here is, I. An account of the rebels, who and what they were, not, as formerly, the mixed multitude and the dregs of the people, who are therefore never named, but men of distinction and quality, that made a figure. Korah was the ring-leader: he formed and headed the faction; therefore it is called the gainsaying of Korah, Jde 1:11. He was cousin-german to Moses, they were brothers' children, yet the nearness of the relation could not restrain him from being insolent and rude to Moses. Think it not strange if a man's foes be those of his own house. With him joined Dathan and Abiram, chief men of the tribe of Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob. Probably Korah was disgusted both at the preferment of Aaron to the priesthood and the constituting of Elizaphan to the head of the Kohathites (Num 3:30); and perhaps the Reubenites were angry that the tribe of Judah had the first post of honour in the camp. On is mentioned (Num 16:1) as one of the heads of the faction, but never after in the whole story, either because, as some think, he repented and left them, or because he did not make himself so remarkable as Dathan and Abiram did. The Kohathites encamped on the same side of the tabernacle that the Reubenites did, which perhaps gave Korah an opportunity of drawing them in, whence the Jews say, Woe to the wicked man, and woe to his neighbour, who is in danger of being infected by him. And, these being themselves men of renown, they seduced into the conspiracy two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly (Num 16:2); probably they were first-born, or at least heads of families, who, before the elevation of Aaron, had themselves ministered in holy things. Note, The pride, ambition, and emulation, of great men, have always been the occasion of a great deal of mischief both in churche…
Open source ↗16:1–17:13 Another rebellion called for a clear delineation of the duties of priests and Levites. This power struggle was a more serious challenge than any of the previous rebellions against God’s authority (ch 11; 12:1-15; 14:1-45). As in all of these historical episodes, the coconspirators protested relatively minor issues and questioned the actions of their leaders, but Moses reminded them that they were really rebelling against God. Once again, the Israelites suffered the deadly consequences of their rebellion.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִצְהָר (Yitshâr, H3324) — Jitshar, an Israelite קְהָת (Qᵉhâth, H6955) — Kehath, an Israelite לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob דָּתָן (Dâthân, H1885) — Dathan, an Israelite אֲבִירָם (ʼĂbîyrâm, H48) — Abiram, the name of two Israelites אֱלִיאָב (ʼĔlîyʼâb, H446) — Eliab, the name of six Israelites אוֹן (ʼÔwn, H203) — On, an Israelite פֶּלֶת (Peleth, H6431) — Peleth, the name of two Israelites רְאוּבֵן (Rᵉʼûwbên, H7205) — Reuben, a son of Jacob לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications)
Open source ↗קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty נָשִׂיא (nâsîyʼ, H5387) — properly, an exalted one, i.e. a king or sheik; also a rising mist עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) קָרִיא (qârîyʼ, H7148) — called, i.e. select מוֹעֵד (môwʻêd, H4150) — properly, an appointment, i.e. a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival;… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,…
Open source ↗קָהַל (qâhal, H6950) — to convoke מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God תָּוֶךְ (tâvek, H8432) — a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative קָהָל (qâhâl, H6951) — assemblage (usually concretely)
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… נָפַל (nâphal, H5307) — to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or… פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and…
Open source ↗דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) בֹּקֶר (bôqer, H1242) — properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose בָּחַר (bâchar, H977) — properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select
Open source ↗עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) מַחְתָּה (machtâh, H4289) — a pan for live coals קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
Open source ↗נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) הֵן (hên, H2004) — they (only used when emphatic) שׂוּם (sûwm, H7760) — to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and… קְטֹרֶת (qᵉṭôreth, H7004) — a fumigation פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מָחָר (mâchâr, H4279) — properly, deferred, i.e. the morrow; usually (adverbially) tomorrow; indefinitely,… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… בָּחַר (bâchar, H977) — properly, to try, i.e. (by implication) select קָדוֹשׁ (qâdôwsh, H6918) — sacred (ceremonially or morally); (as noun) God (by eminence), an angel, a saint, a… רַב (rab, H7227) — abundant (in quantity, size, age, number, rank, quality) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites שָׁמַע (shâmaʻ, H8085) — to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively,… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob
Open source ↗מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) אֱלֹהִים (ʼĕlôhîym, H430) — gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בָּדַל (bâdal, H914) — to divide (in variation senses literally or figuratively, separate, distinguish, differ,… עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose עָבַד (ʻâbad, H5647) — to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc. עֲבֹדָה (ʻăbôdâh, H5656) — work of any kind מִשְׁכָּן (mishkân, H4908) — a residence (including a shepherd's hut, the lair of animals, figuratively, the grave;… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God עָמַד (ʻâmad, H5975) — to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive) פָּנִים (pânîym, H6440) — the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and… שָׁרַת (shârath, H8334) — to attend as a menial or worshipper; figuratively, to contribute to
Open source ↗קָרַב (qârab, H7126) — to approach (causatively, bring near) for whatever purpose אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… לֵוִי (Lêvîy, H3878) — Levi, a son of Jacob בָּקַשׁ (bâqash, H1245) — to search out (by any method, specifically in worship or prayer); by implication, to… כְּהֻנָּה (kᵉhunnâh, H3550) — priesthood
Open source ↗כֵּן (kên, H3651) — properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or… עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) יָעַד (yâʻad, H3259) — to fix upon (by agreement or appointment); by implication, to meet (at a stated time), to… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses לוּן (lûwn, H3885) — to stop (usually over night); by implication, to stay permanently; hence (in a bad sense)…
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver שָׁלַח (shâlach, H7971) — to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications) קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… דָּתָן (Dâthân, H1885) — Dathan, an Israelite אֲבִירָם (ʼĂbîyrâm, H48) — Abiram, the name of two Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֱלִיאָב (ʼĔlîyʼâb, H446) — Eliab, the name of six Israelites אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of…
Open source ↗מְעַט (mᵉʻaṭ, H4592) — a little or few (often adverbial or compar.) כִּי (kîy, H3588) — (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) זוּב (zûwb, H2100) — to flow freely (as water), i.e. (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to… חָלָב (châlâb, H2461) — milk (as the richness of kine) דְּבַשׁ (dᵉbash, H1706) — honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill מִדְבָּר (midbâr, H4057) — a pasture (i.e. open field, whither cattle are driven); by implication, a desert; also… שָׂרַר (sârar, H8323) — to have (transitively, exercise; reflexively, get) dominion
Open source ↗אַף (ʼaph, H637) — meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively though בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) זוּב (zûwb, H2100) — to flow freely (as water), i.e. (specifically) to have a (sexual) flux; figuratively, to… חָלָב (châlâb, H2461) — milk (as the richness of kine) דְּבַשׁ (dᵉbash, H1706) — honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.) נַחֲלָה (nachălâh, H5159) — properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom;… שָׂדֶה (sâdeh, H7704) — a field (as flat) כֶּרֶם (kerem, H3754) — a garden or vineyard נָקַר (nâqar, H5365) — to bore (penetrate, quarry) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) אֱנוֹשׁ (ʼĕnôwsh, H582) — a man in general (singly or collectively) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of…
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.
The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.
The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived 133 years.