Chapter 16

1
Korah Num 26:9-10, Num 27:3; Exod 6:18, Exod 6:21; Jude 1:11

sons of Reuben Gen 49:3-4; 1Chr 5:1-2

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 manuscripts, 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 12:1-2, Num 14:1-4; Ps 106:16; Acts 7:39, Acts 7:51

Ye take too much upon you Heb. It is much for you

all the Exod 19:6; Ezra 9:2; Isa 1:11-16; Jer 7:3-12; Matt 3:9-10; Rom 2:28-29

the Lord Num 14:14, Num 35:34; Exod 29:45-46; 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 21:6-8, Lev 21:12-15; Isa 61:5-6; 1Pet 2:5-9; Rev 1:6, Rev 5:9-10

will cause Exod 28:43; Lev 10:3; Ps 65:4; Ezek 40:46, Ezek 44:15-16; Eph 2:13; Heb 10:19-22, 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 2:3-4


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


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 18:17-18; Matt 21:23-27


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 3:41-45, Num 8:14-16, Num 18:2-6; Deut 10:8; 2Chr 35:3; Neh 12:44; Ezek 44:10-11; Acts 13:2


10
and seek Prov 13:10; Matt 20:21-22; 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 16:7-8, Exod 17:2; Acts 5:4; 1Cor 3:5


12
Prov 29:9; Isa 3:5; 1Pet 2:13-14; 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 20:3-4; Exod 16:3, Exod 17:3

thou make Exod 2:14; Ps 2:2-3; Luke 19:14; Acts 7:25-27, Acts 7:35


14
Moreover Num 36:8-10; 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 16:6-7; Gen 4:4-5; Isa 1:10-15

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 manuscript, 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 (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 12:3-4; Acts 20:33-34; 1Cor 9:15; 2Cor 1:12, 2Cor 7:2, 2Cor 12:14-17; 1Thess 2:10


16
Be thou Num 16:6-7

before 1Sam 12:3, 1Sam 12:7; 2Tim 2:14


17
1Sam 12:7


19
Korah Num 16:1-2

and the glory Num 16:42, Num 12:5, Num 14:10; Exod 16:7, Exod 16:10; Lev 9:6, Lev 9:23


21
Separate Gen 19:15-22; Jer 5:16; Acts 2:40; 2Cor 6:17; Eph 5:6-7; 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 12:28-29


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 18:23-25, Gen 18:32; Josh 7:1-26; 2Sam 24:1, 2Sam 24:17; Rom 5:18; 1Cor 13:7


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 11:16-17, Num 11:25, Num 11:30


26
I pray you The rebels, with all that belonged to them, were, as an accursed thing, devoted to utter destruction (Lev 27:28-29. Josh 7:13-15, Josh 7:23-26). 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 16:21-24; Gen 19:12-14; 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 9:30-31; Job 9:4, Job 40:10-11; Prov 16:18, Prov 18:12; Isa 28:14


28
Hereby Exod 3:12, Exod 4:1-9, 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 26:10-11, Num 27:3; Deut 11:6; Ps 106:17-18


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 6:15-17

Lest Num 17:12-13


35
And there Num 11:1, Num 26:10; Lev 10:2; Ps 106:18

two hundred Num 16:2, Num 16:17


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; Prov 1:18, Prov 8:36, Prov 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


40
that no Num 3:10, Num 3:38, Num 18:4-7; Lev 22:10; 2Chr 26:18-20; Jude 1:11

come near 1Kgs 13:1-3; 2Chr 26:16-21


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 judgment to Moses and Aaron, they impiously called the persons, thus perishing in their rebellion, "the people of the Lord!"

all the Num 16:1-7, Num 14:2; Ps 106:13, Ps 106:23, Ps 106:25-48; Isa 26:11

Ye have Num 16:3; 2Sam 16:7-8; 1Kgs 18:17; Jer 37:13-14, 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 40:34-35; Lev 9:23


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 16:12-13; Isa 6:6-7; Rom 5:9-10; Heb 7:25-27, Heb 9:25-26; Rev 8:3-5

and put Ps 141:2; Mal 1:11

an atonement Exod 30:7-10; Lev 16:11-16; 1John 2:1-2

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 33:10-11; Isa 53:10-12


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 25:8-11; 2Sam 24:16-17, 2Sam 24:25; 1Chr 21:26-27; 1Thess 1:10; 1Tim 2:5-6; Heb 7:24-25; Jas 5:16; John 5:14


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


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


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