Bible Commentary

Numbers 16

Numbers 16 — Overview

John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible · John Gill (1697–1771) · Public Domain

This chapter gives an account of a sedition of Korah and others against Moses and Aaron, Nu 16:1, with whom Moses expostulates, and shows the unreasonableness of their clamour against Aaron, Nu 16:5; sends for Dathan and Abiram, who were in the confederacy, but refused to come, which greatly angered Moses, Nu 16:12; orders Korah and his company to appear before the Lord the next day, with Aaron, to have the controversy decided, Nu 16:16; when all the congregation gathered together would have been, consumed had it not been for the intercession of Moses and Aaron, Nu 16:19; and who, being separated from the rebels by the command of the Lord, some of the rebels were swallowed up in the earth, and others destroyed by fire from heaven, Nu 16:23; and their censers were made a covering for the altar, as a memorial of their sin, Nu 16:36; on which there was a new insurrection of the people, which brought a plague upon them, and destroyed 14,700 persons, and which was stopped at the intercession of Aaron, Nu 16:41.

Ver. 1. Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi,....

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Numbers 16 — OverviewNumbers 16 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleThe date of the history contained in this chapter is altogether uncertain. Probably these mutinies happened after their removal back again from Kadesh-barnea, when they were fixed (if I may so speak) for their…Numbers 16 — OverviewNumbers 16 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeNumbers 16:1, The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; Numbers 16:23, Moses separates the people from the rebels’ tents; Numbers 16:31, The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others; Numbers 16:36, The…Numbers 16:1-11Numbers 16:1-11 · Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole BibleHere 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…Numbers 16:1Numbers 16:1 · Treasury of Scripture KnowledgeKorah: Numbers 26:9-10, Numbers 27:3; Exodus 6:18, Exodus 6:21; Jude 1:11 sons of Reuben: Genesis 49:3-4; 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 took men: As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took…Numbers 16:2Numbers 16:2 · Treasury of Scripture Knowledgefamous: Numbers 26:9; Genesis 6:4; 1 Chronicles 5:24, 1 Chronicles 12:30; Ezekiel 16:14, Ezekiel 23:10Numbers 16:2Numbers 16:2 · John Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd they rose up before Moses,.... To his face, openly and publicly, in a bold and audacious manner; with impudence, as the Targum of Jonathan:with certain of the children of Israel; some out of the several tribes, but…