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David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
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Guzik - The name Korah means “baldness.” Old baldy was going to give Moses a tough time! Matthew
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Guzik - It was significant this accusation was made publicly, in front of two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation … men of renown. Men like Korah are always playing to an audience, always trying to draw a following after themselves—after Moses has already gathered the nation and led them this far, of course! Chosen in the assembly, Heb. “The called ones of the congregation.” KJV has "famous in the congregation, men of renown." Chosen (famous)(qariy) means one who has been called out, so these men have been separated from the others in the congregation and thus these were men of renown (men of reputation), those who were well-known, prominent leaders. Men of renown - Heb. “Men of name." These are in stark contrast to the complaining "mixed multitude" of Nu 11:4KJV+! They should have know better! The original phrase occurs with respect to the giants, Ge 6:4. These men of renown wanted more renown for they had fallen prey to what John called "the boastful pride of life." (1 Jn 2:16+) Matthew
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Guzik - The “Korahs” of the ministry are difficult enough to deal with, but the people who follow them—the two hundred and fifty leaders … representatives … men of renown—who lack the discernment to oppose the “Korahs” can be even more painful. Brian Bell -GOD’S SINKHOLE! MINE, MINE MINE! (1-19) [Seagulls on Finding Nemo!] Paul teaches us “Godliness with contentment is great gain!” (1 Tim 6:6) ("Godliness is great gain because when you have contentment, you have an inward satisfaction and sufficiency that keeps you at peace in spite of your outward circumstances." - Mattoon) When you’re not content with your gifts, you really not content with your calling; & when you’re not content with your calling, you’re really not content with God’s calling; & when you’re not content with God’s calling, you’re really not content with God. Remember God made tabernacle appointments...not Moses! Four men who desire to promote themselves. They were not content to assist, they wanted to serve as a priest! Korah aspired to priestly privilege not being content with sacred duties. LASB - Korah and his associates had seen the advantages of the priesthood in Egypt. Egyptian priests had great wealth and political influence, something Korah wanted for himself. Korah may have assumed that Moses, Aaron, and his sons were trying to make the Israelite priesthood the same kind of political machine, and he wanted to be a part of it. He did not understand that Moses' main ambition was to serve God rather than to control others. Cyril Hocking - Although we may tend to pay little attention to Korah and his conspiracy, Jude includes him with two other sinful characters, Jude 1:11, not in chronological order, to illustrate and warn against spiritual declension at the end of the age: Cain acted in self-will, Balaam sought self-enrichment, and Korah aimed at self-exaltation. Besides the prophetic warning, there is also a practical one from Korah for us: do not aspire to do work that the Lord has not allocated to you! In his book, God in the Wasteland, David Wells laments, “It is one of the defining marks of our time that God is now weightless. I do not mean by this that he is ethereal, but rather that he has become unimportant. He rests on the world so inconsequentially as not to be noticeable.”The “weightlessness” of God in our age is like the refusal of the Israelites to treat God as holy, recorded here in Numbers 16. What was apparently a showdown between rival leaders for Moses' and Aaron's positions—a conspiracy motivated by self-ish ambition and pride—was at its core a rejection of God's authority. (Today in The Word) Larry Richards - The Levites Korah, Dathan, and Abiram challenged the spiritual leadership of Moses and Aaron. They based the challenge on the very truth emphasized by the blue cord: the whole community is holy. Like others today, however, they emphasized one truth at the expense of others. The whole community was holy, but God had chosen Moses for leadership and Aaron’s family for the priesthood. We need to be careful of those who base their views on one line of biblical teaching and ignore other truths intended to provide balance. Psychologically, it’s fascinating that this rebellion was led by Levites, for they enjoyed far greater spiritual privileges than the majority of the Israelites. Yet these Levites were upset that they could not serve as priests. Even today some with almost nothing are more thankful than those who have almost everything. It seems that when we have almost everything, the little we lack is most likely to create discontent. This challenge to the leaders was yet another expression of unbelief. Korah and his coconspirators refused to acknowledge that God had spoken clearly, and often, through Moses. Their sin too was met with immediate, spectacular judgment. Fire consumed those who dared to approach God with incense in violation of His law, while the earth opened to swallow Korah and the rest of his followers. (365 Day Devotional) Ken Totton - The lessons here for our consideration are several. We must never seek place or position beyond that for which the Lord has fitted and enabled us. His way is perfect, 2 Sam. 22:31, and His ways are not our ways, Isa. 55:8. Further, in God’s assembly, rebellion against those the Lord has placed in authority is never warranted or approved by the Lord. Rebellion may be the very spirit of the day in which we live, but it is never God’s way. We are a ‘kingdom of priests’, Rev. 1:5–6, and a ‘holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’, 1 Pet. 2:5. What Korah and his fellow-rebels wanted and could never have under the law, what they died trying to gain, we now enjoy as a gift through grace. What a place! What a position! Let us never take lightly these offices we have, purchased by the blood of Calvary’s Lamb. As believers, we can enter His presence unafraid, bidden to come, invited to stay, because of the finished work of the Saviour. May we never take this for granted! (Day By Day) But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy (Acts 13:45). Envy and jealousy are feelings of discontent and resentment aroused by thinking about another person's desirable qualities or possessions and wanting them for ourselves. Here are some classic examples: Rachel envied Leah because she bore children (Gen. 30:1); Joseph's brothers resented him for his dreams (Gen. 37:11); Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and two hundred fifty princes envied Moses (Num. 16:1-3); Saul was jealous of David because the women praised him (1 Sam. 18:7-9); and in Acts 13:45, the Jews opposed Paul's preaching for the same reason—envy. Any advantage held by another—intelligence, good looks, a slim figure, popularity, a good job, or even a person's spiritual insight—may trigger this feeling. The most devout Christian is not immune to its subtle attack. When F. B. Meyer first held meetings at Northfield, Massachusetts, large crowds thronged to hear his stirring messages. Then the great British Bible teacher G. Campbell Morgan came to Northfield, and the people flocked to hear his brilliant expositions of Scripture. Meyer confessed that at first he was envious. He said, "The only way I can conquer my feeling is to pray for Morgan daily—which I do." James Smith - Handfuls of Purpose - THE DESTRUCTION OF KORAH AND HIS COMPANY Numbers 16 “When Thou seest passion in me burn, Upon me, Lord, Thy meek face turn; Such vision, giving me of faith, So touching me with Thy soft breath That I shall not impatient be, But find myself conformed to Thee.” Pride goeth before a fall. When envy enters the heart it soon becomes a hotbed for the rank weeds of discontent, impatience, and presumption. 1. See the sinners. The three leaders of this rebellion against Moses and Aaron the saint of the Lord (Psa. 106:16) were Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; their followers were 250 princes, famous men of renown. Great men are not always wise. The voice of the people is frequently the voice of the devil. Korah seems to have been the ringleader. His name means ICE, and he answers to his name. Only a man with an icy, cold heart and frozen feelings could have acted such an ungracious part toward the “meekest man on the face of the earth.” Where love is thin faults are thick. When professing Christian workers become icy in their manner, you may soon expect them leading the opposition. Such icebergs are a terrible danger to Gospel ships. 2. See their sin. It was very great, and was the growth of time, as all great sins are. A backslider is one who is sliding back, slowly it may be, but surely, into the mire of open sin. The down grade from uncharitableness leads to the engulfing of the whole character in the pit of iniquity. Its— 1. ROOT WAS UNBELIEF. They had ceased to believe that Moses and Aaron were still the special representatives among the congregation. Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief. Begin to doubt God’s will, and you begin to fall. 2. BRANCH WAS ENVY. “Wherefore lift ye up yourselves above the congregation?” (v. 3). The Lord had lifted Moses and Aaron up, but it was they that were lifting themselves up. It was Socrates who said, “Envy is the daughter of pride, the beginner of secret sedition, and the perpetual tormentor of virtue.” This witness is true. 3. BLOSSOM WAS PRESUMPTION. “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them” (v. 3). As if all the people were as gracious and saintly as Moses and Aaron. Their sin is ripening. There is a growing blindness to the good in others, and to their own sinfulness. 4. FRUIT WAS DEATH. Lust bringeth forth sin, and sin brings forth death, just as surely as night follows day. 3. See them separated. “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them” (vs. 21–24). It is an ominous sign when the representatives of a government are called out from among a nation. The calling out of Lot meant the destruction of Sodom. The calling up of the Church indicates coming judgments (2 Thess. 1:7–10; Jer. 51:6; Rev. 18:4). This separating reminds us that— 1. THERE ARE TWO CLASSES. Those for God and those against Him. The wheat and the tares, growing together now, but must finally be separated. 2. A SEPARATION IS NEEDED. God will not judge the righteous with the wicked. Before God could accomplish His purpose with Sodom Lot had to be dragged outside. Separation is needed now if we, as the followers of Christ, would escape the judgment of the world through lust (2 Cor. 6:17). 3. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS. In calling for a separation He shows His special regard for His own. “Come out of her, My people.” Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? None perish that trust in Him. 4. See them swallowed up. “The earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up” (vs. 31–35). The means of vengeance are always at the hand of God. The powerful opposition is easily overcome when the arm of God is made bare. The judgment of these gainsayers (Jude 11) was— 1. UNEXPECTED. “The ground clave asunder that was under them” (v. 31). Their foundation gave way. They have no standing in the judgment (Ps. 1:5). Only the ground between them and the pit, instead of the promise of God. 2. SUDDEN. “They went down alive into the pit” (v. 33). He that hardeneth his neck, having been often reproved, shall suddenly perish, and that without remedy. They say, Peace, peace, then suddenly destruction cometh. 3. COMPLETE. “They, and all that appertained to them, went down” (v. 33). God’s destroying work is as perfect as His saving work. “How shall ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation?” Passing Judgment "Then the whole congregation … murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Exodus 16:2). Fred Grimm, a Christian probation officer, told of a father who made a scapegoat of his son by blaming him for family conflicts. Although the man and his wife had been fighting for years, the father told his son, "It's always because of your big mouth that your mother and I fight. If I leave you and your mother, it will be your fault." The youngster's problems were compounded when the father died suddenly from a stroke and the mother accused her son of having caused his father's death. The boy was devastated. Blaming others for our problems is not only unjust and cruel, it's displeasing to the Lord. The children of Israel did this in the wilderness shortly after their deliverance from the land of Egypt. When food and water were short, they panicked and blamed Moses and Aaron for getting them into their predicament. They made scapegoats of their leaders. Yet God mercifully overlooked their lack of faith and unfair criticism of His servants in those two incidents. Later, though, when the Israelites committed the same sin again, He judged them severely (see Numbers 16). We won't get closer to God by passing judgment on others. Numbers 16:3 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?" BGT Numbers 16:3 συνέστησαν ἐπὶ Μωυσῆν καὶ Ααρων καὶ εἶπαν ἐχέτω ὑμῖν ὅτι πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ πάντες ἅγιοι καὶ ἐν αὐτοῖς κύριος καὶ διὰ τί κατανίστασθε ἐπὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν κυρίου NET Numbers 16:3 And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the LORD?" NLT Numbers 16:3 They united against Moses and Aaron and said, "You have gone too far! The whole community of Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and he is with all of us. What right do you have to act as though you are greater than the rest of the LORD's people?" ESV Numbers 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?" NIV Numbers 16:3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?" KJV Numbers 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD? YLT Numbers 16:3 and they are assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and say unto them, 'Enough of you! for all the company -- all of them are holy, and in their midst is Jehovah; and wherefore do ye lift yourselves up above the assembly of Jehovah?' assembled together against: Nu 16:11 12:1,2 14:1-4 Ps 106:16 Ac 7:39,51 all the: Ex 19:6 Ezr 9:2 Isa 1:11-16 Jer 7:3-12 Mt 3:9,10 Ro 2:28,29 the LORD: Nu 14:14 35:34 Ex 29:45,46 Ps 68:17 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Exodus 19:6+ And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.” THEIR PATHETIC PRETEXT A pretext is something put forward to conceal the true motive. Pretext is an excuse to do something or say something that is not accurate. Pretexts may be based on a half-truth or developed in the context of a misleading fabrication. Pretexts have been used to conceal the true purpose or rationale behind actions and words. Notice how they put forth All the congregation. The truth is that these men wanted power and prestige in All the congregation.. Matthew Henry calls this "the Rebel's Remonstrance (expression of protest)." They assembled together against Moses and Aaron - Niphal passive = "were gathered together." Lxx has "They rose up against Moses and Aaron." NLT = "They united against Moses and Aaron." Look at the odds - 2 against thousands! God likes those odds, for then He can show Himself mighty of behalf of His servants. Perhaps the "odds" are against you in some issue which in your heart you know is God's will. If so, you can know that God is for you, regardless of the immediate outcome (the story isn't over till it's over! Some "chapters" will be written in the world to come!). Bush - The above named company assembled in a body against Moses and Aaron as the usurpers and arbitrary dispensers of all preferment. THOUGHT - Significantly, “Kohath”, to whose family Korah belonged, means “assembly”, and “Korah” seemed to be dead in spirit, whilst his three Reubenite associates, descendants of the rejected firstborn, were malcontents. Sadly, sometimes in assembly life today, some carnally-minded members are disloyal, as Korah was, and others are discontented as the Reubenites were, both of whom are disruptive. (Cyril Hocking) and said to them, "You have gone far enough - Hebrew literally "Too much to you!" NET - "You take too much upon yourselves." Too much what? Probably too much power, authority and prestige which festered in Moses' cousin Korah and birthed a spirit of resentment and jealousy. NET Note - Sol. Jarchi paraphrases the passage, “Ye have taken to yourselves greatness much more than enough.” "The meaning of רַב־לָכֶם (rab-lakhem) is something like “you have assumed far too much authority.” It simply means “much to you,” perhaps “you have gone to far,” or “you are overreaching yourselves." He is objecting to the exclusiveness of the system that Moses has been introducing." Guzik adds "You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: This was a clever attack. Korah acted as if he is represented the people and fought for their interests. The truth was that he desired a following and a position for himself. “Moses, you shouldn’t be the leader. Let everyone be a leader. God can speak to everyone.” Rebels and divisive persons have always used such words for their cause.. Significantly, Korah proclaimed the holiness of the people (all the congregation is holy) and regarded strong leadership as unnecessary (You take too much …) at the very time when the nation was not holy and desperately needed strong leadership! Korah, like many rebels and divisive persons, completely misread the state of the “flock”—because he was not a true shepherd. For - Term of explanation. Now Korah explains why they are accusing Moses of "going too far." All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst - NLT - "Everyone in Israel has been set apart by the LORD, and He is with all of us." By saying they are holy they are implying that all are as fit to be employed in offering sacrifice as Aaron is! In theory, they were not incorrect for in Exodus 19:6+ God made it clear Israel was a "holy nation." That was their position, but sadly was all to infrequently their actual practice! What Korah et al are implying is that there is no justifiable grounds for distinction between the Aaronic priesthood and the laity for they were all holy! The congregation may have been "holy" (set apart from the pagan nations and unto God) in their position but, as stated, they were far from holy or set apart in their behavior! Just recall their unholy actions in Numbers 14 which resulted in a wilderness funeral march for all except Joshua and Caleb! Matthew Henry on all are...holy - Small reason they had to boast of the people’s purity, or of God’s favour, as the people had been so frequently and so lately polluted with sin, and were now under the marks of God’s displeasure, which should have made them thankful for priests to mediate between them and God; but, instead of that, they envy them. Irving Jensen on Korah's argument - Their justification for claiming that spiritual leadership was not needed any more was that (1) all the congregation were holy, “every one of them” (Nu 16:3), and (2) Jehovah was in their midst. The latter statement was an accurate one; in fact, it was to be demonstrated shortly when this same Jehovah, dwelling in their midst, would identify sin and consume the sinners, Korah and his company. The former justification was a false one, as the events of the next day would show when God would consume “in a moment” those whom Korah called holy (Nu 16:21). (EvBC-Nu) Steven
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Guzik - Moses knew that the rebellion of Korah was rooted in ingratitude. They were not thankful for the wonderful ministry God gave them to do. He rebuked the pride and self-seeking that prompted their challenge. Mattoon - The Kohathites were guardians of the temple treasures and were God's guardians of the Ark, the holy vessels, and sacred furniture of the Tabernacle. This was a very important responsibility, but it was not good enough for Korah. It did not meet his expectations. The attitude of his life was "not thy will, but my will be done." Bush - He appeals to them to consider how ungrateful a part they were acting towards the Lord for the honor done them in selecting their tribe to minister at his tabernacle and serve him as his own domestics. He would have them reflect how unworthily they demeaned themselves by thus contemning the honorable post assigned them, and mutinously aspiring to an office previously bestowed upon others. How weak and foolish, moreover, was their spite at Aaron, who was but passive in the case, and appointed a superior minister with his family under him, by the Lord’s special direction. THOUGHT - What is one of Korah's basic problems? Failure to be content with what he already had! Is this not a frequent visitor to each of our hearts, prompting sinful, selfish thoughts "If I only had ________." (fill in the blank with people, places, things, position, etc). Contentment "is an inner sense of rest or peace that comes from being right with God and knowing that He is in control of all that happens to us. It means having our focus on the kingdom of God and serving Him, not on the love of money and things." (Steven Cole) Only genuine believers can be truly, fully content, for in the final analysis, contentment is not a natural attainment but a supernatural gift from our heavenly Father to His children (Jas 1:17+)! To say it another way, a believer's degree of contentment in this present passing world is a reflection of our degree of contentment regarding the everlasting world to come! The more the invisible, eternal realities grip our heart (cf Col 3:1+, Col 3:2+, see "Vertical Vision"), the less the visible, temporal things of the world will have power to cause discontent. We all need a "Moses' Mindset" - "considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he was looking (cf "Vertical Vision") to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing Him who is unseen (cf "Vertical Vision") (Hebrews 11:26-27+) . Henrietta Mears said that "The man who keeps busy helping the man below him won't have time to envy the man above him."
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Guzik - The foolishness of this shows how, against all reason, rebels and divisive people often assign every evil intention to the heart of leaders like Moses. Would you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up - NLT picks up the idea of this phrase = "Are you trying to fool these men? " "The original is peculiarly strong; tenakkēr, wilt thou dig out, or, bore out, q. d. “Dost thou think so absolutely to blind us, that none of us shall discern thy craft and ambition? Thinkest thou that thou wilt be able to hoodwink us, and to lead us about at pleasure, like blind men, under pretence of bringing us to a rich and fertile country?” Alas, their language and their conduct showed that they were most grievously blinded by the operation of their discontented, proud, and rebellious spirits. They could not see that they were altogether in fault, while accusing Moses, and were quarrelling with their Maker in rejecting the authority of his servants. " (Bush) Merrill on put out the eyes of these men - Lit., “Will you gouge out the eyes of these men?” This was a punishment for runaway slaves, rebellious vassals, or prisoners of war (Judg 16:21; 2 Kgs 25:4–7; Jer 39:4–7; 52:7–11), but here, “this idiom means ‘hoodwink’ and corresponds to the modern idiom ‘throw dust in the eyes’ (Gray 1903:201) or ‘pull the wool over the eyes’ ” (Milgrom 1989:134). In Deut 16:19, taking a bribe blinds the eyes of officials and judges. If Moses understood the accusation in this way, that might explain his answer, “I have not taken so much as a donkey from them” (16:15). (CBC-Nu) NET NOTE on put out the eyes - Heb “will you bore out the eyes of these men?” The question is “Will you continue to mislead them?” (or “hoodwink” them). In Deut 16:19 it is used for taking a bribe; something like that kind of deception is intended here. They are simply stating that Moses is a deceiver who is misleading the people with false promises.
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Guzik - God used the censers with fire and incense in this test for a good reason. A censer is a metal pot used to burn incense, and they were used in the priestly worship of God. Since Korah and his companions questioned Moses and Aaron’s right to lead the nation and conduct the priesthood, each group would come to the LORD as worshipping priests—and God would show which group He accepted. Moses made the rebels take the position they desired—the position of priest. Often the best judgment on the divisive and rebellious is to let them lead. Humanly speaking, the odds were not good. It was Moses and Aaron stand alone against all the congregation. Yet God would make this choice, and not popular opinion. Numbers 16:18 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. BGT Numbers 16:18 καὶ ἔλαβεν ἕκαστος τὸ πυρεῖον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἐπ᾽ αὐτὰ πῦρ καὶ ἐπέβαλον ἐπ᾽ αὐτὸ θυμίαμα καὶ ἔστησαν παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου Μωυσῆς καὶ Ααρων NET Numbers 16:18 So everyone took his censer, put fire in it, and set incense on it, and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. NLT Numbers 16:18 So each of these men prepared an incense burner, lit the fire, and placed incense on it. Then they all stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron. ESV Numbers 16:18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. NIV Numbers 16:18 So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. KJV Numbers 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. YLT Numbers 16:18 And they take each his censer, and put on them fire, and lay on them perfume, and they stand at the opening of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. LXE Numbers 16:18 And each man took his censer, and they put on them fire, and laid incense on them; and Moses and Aaron stood by the doors of the tabernacle of witness. ASV Numbers 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries 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 - 250 men plus Korah minus Dathan and Abiram. As alluded to it was a dangerous thing for a person who was not a priest to offer incense. King Uzziah found out by personal experience But when he (KING UZZIAH) became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant men. 18 They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God.” 19 But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense. 20 Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the LORD had smitten him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land. (2 Chr 26:16-21) THOUGHT - today believers are a KINGDOM, PRIESTS and can ''BURN INCENSE'' in the A.M., P.M. and all times in between = WITHOUT CEASING. Lord, please show me what PRAYER means to you, how important it is for me, and how it is part of fulfilling my role as Your priest on earth, Your ''go between'' so to speak, interceding for sinful men and women. Lord, I want to know what prayer means (Written 1/14/97 stimulated by insights He revealed as I was studying Rev 8:3 and the golden censer. Awesome. PTL. Amen and Amen.) This "Censer Test" reminds us of the tragic event in Leviticus 10:1-2+ involving men who were legitimate priest but offering incense in an illegitimate manner.... Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Bush - This was not of course the usual place where incense was to be offered, which was within the Holy Place of the Tabernacle. But as that room was not sufficiently large to contain so great a number, and as the occasion was extraordinary, the scene of the trial was transferred to the court of the Tabernacle. As this event was of such a nature as to require to be witnessed by the people in general, which it could not have been within the Tabernacle, therefore a place was chosen which would give it the utmost publicity. So Moses, on another important occasion, Nu 16:46, 47, offered incense “in the midst of the congregation.” Related Resources: What is the meaning of the strange fire in Leviticus 10:1? | GotQuestions.org Who were Nadab and Abihu? | GotQuestions.org Numbers 16:19 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. BGT Numbers 16:19 καὶ ἐπισυνέστησεν ἐπ᾽ αὐτοὺς Κορε τὴν πᾶσαν αὐτοῦ συναγωγὴν παρὰ τὴν θύραν τῆς σκηνῆς τοῦ μαρτυρίου καὶ ὤφθη ἡ δόξα κυρίου πάσῃ τῇ συναγωγῇ NET Numbers 16:19 When Korah assembled the whole community against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, then the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole community. NLT Numbers 16:19 Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all gathered at the Tabernacle entrance. Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to the whole community, ESV Numbers 16:19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. NIV Numbers 16:19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire assembly. KJV Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. YLT Numbers 16:19 And Korah assembleth against them all the company unto the opening of the tent of meeting, and the honour of Jehovah is seen by all the company. LXE Numbers 16:19 And Core raised up against them all his company by the door of the tabernacle of witness; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation. ASV Numbers 16:19 And Korah assembled all the congregation against them unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the glory of Jehovah appeared unto all the congregation. Korah: Nu 16:1,2 and the glory: Nu 16:42 Nu 12:5 Nu 14:10 Ex 16:7,10 Lev 9:6,23 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries REBELLION SPREAD TO ALL THE CONGREGATION Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting - NLT = "Meanwhile, Korah had stirred up the entire community against Moses and Aaron, and they all assembled at the Tabernacle entrance." Korah appears to rally most of Israel behind him. Now the rebellion has grown from a couple hundred to a couple million! (cf "all the congregation...grumbled" in Nu 16:41). And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation - The Shekinah glory cloud appeared. This recalls the previous episode when Moses' life was in danger for "all the congregation said to stone them with stones. Then the glory of the LORD appeared in the tent of meeting to all the sons of Israel." (Nu 14:10+, cf Yahweh's sudden intervention in Nu 12:4,5+) Now picture this scene - 250 men who are not authorized to offer incense and God (the one to Whom incense is rightly offered) makes an appearance. What did most holy people in the Bible do when they saw such a visitation? They were on their faces with an appropriate reverential fear of God. Not these rebels. Why not? As Paul said in Romans 3:18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” He was quoting David in Psalm 36:1 "Transgression speaks to the ungodly within his heart; There is no fear of God before his eyes." (Ps 36:1+).
Números 16
Guzik - The New Testament also speaks along this same principle: Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus 3:10–11) Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17–18)i. Remember a divisive, contentious person will never claim to be divisive and contentious—they always consider their work a noble cause. Therefore Christians need some discernment and to look at what others do, not only at what they say. Bishop Hall - “God and Moses knew how to distinguish betwixt the heads of the faction and the train; though neither be faultless, yet the one is plagued, the other forgiven. God’s vengeance, when it is at the hottest, makes differences of men. Even before common judgment there is a separation.” THOUGHT - Moses clearly stated what God intended to do to the rebels (Nu 16:28-30). He did this so that everyone would have to choose between following Korah or following Moses, God's chosen leader. When God asks us to make a fundamental choice between siding with wicked people or siding with him, we should not hesitate but commit ourselves to be 100 percent on the Lord's side. Numbers 16:27 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. BGT Numbers 16:27 καὶ ἀπέστησαν ἀπὸ τῆς σκηνῆς Κορε κύκλῳ καὶ Δαθαν καὶ Αβιρων ἐξῆλθον καὶ εἱστήκεισαν παρὰ τὰς θύρας τῶν σκηνῶν αὐτῶν καὶ αἱ γυναῖκες αὐτῶν καὶ τὰ τέκνα αὐτῶν καὶ ἡ ἀποσκευὴ αὐτῶν NET Numbers 16:27 So they got away from the homes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram on every side, and Dathan and Abiram came out and stationed themselves in the entrances of their tents with their wives, their children, and their toddlers. NLT Numbers 16:27 So all the people stood back from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Then Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrances of their tents, together with their wives and children and little ones. ESV Numbers 16:27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. NIV Numbers 16:27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents. KJV Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. YLT Numbers 16:27 And they go up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, from round about, and Dathan, and Abiram have come out, standing at the opening of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their infants. LXE Numbers 16:27 And they stood aloof from the tent of Core round about; and Dathan and Abiron went forth and stood by the doors of their tents, and their wives and their children and their store. ASV Numbers 16:27 So they gat them up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones. stood: 2Ki 9:30,31 Job 9:4 40:10,11 Pr 16:18 18:12 Isa 28:14 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram - One of the few times Israel had obeyed Moses. Why now? I am not sure, but the presence of the glory of the LORD must have instilled some degree of fear. Bush - “Had Korah removed his tent near to those of Dathan and Abiram? As a Kohathite, his tent could not properly be in the camp of Reuben, and still less could the tents of Reubenites be in the camp of the Levites. The present direction seems to imply that the tents were together; yet further on, we only read of Dathan and Abiram; and it does not from this chapter appear, unless by inference, that Korah’s tent was swallowed up; and that it actually was not, would appear from the fact, that whereas the children of the Reubenite rebels perished with their parents, those of Korah did not (see Nu 26:11, 1 Chr. 6:22–38 for Korah's genealogy) 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 - Notice the wives and little ones will suffer for the leaders sins! Guzik - We may be uneasy seeing the families destroyed also, but it clearly shows that the families of the rebellious, divisive, contentious people suffer also—often greatly. NET NOTE on came out standing - The verb נִצָּבִים (nitsavim) suggests a defiant stance, for the word is often used in the sense of taking a stand for or against something. It can also be somewhat neutral, having the sense of positioning oneself for a purpose. Bush - “Came out standing;” implying an easy, unconcerned, and sauntering kind of air; they came out and stood in a leaning or lounging way at the door of their tents, as if to see what or whether any thing would take place. Those who were not actually partners in the conspiracy appear to have taken timely warning and fled; while the rest, with astonishing recklessness, came forth with their families and put themselves in the very jaws of destruction. Bishop Hall has an interesting thought - “Moses had well hoped that when these rebels should see all the Israelites run from them, as from monsters, and looking affrightedly upon their tents, and should hear that fearful proclamation of vengeance against them, their hearts would have misgiven. But, lo, these bold traitors stand impudently staring in the door of their tents, as if they would out-face the revenge of God; as if Moses had never wrought a miracle before them; as if no one Israelite had ever bled for rebellion. Those that shall perish are blinded. Pride and infidelity obdure the heart and make even cowards fearless. Numbers 16:28 Moses said, "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing. BGT Numbers 16:28 καὶ εἶπεν Μωυσῆς ἐν τούτῳ γνώσεσθε ὅτι κύριος ἀπέστειλέν με ποιῆσαι πάντα τὰ ἔργα ταῦτα ὅτι οὐκ ἀπ᾽ ἐμαυτοῦ NET Numbers 16:28 Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. NLT Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things that I have done-- for I have not done them on my own. ESV Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. NIV Numbers 16:28 Then Moses said, "This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: KJV Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. YLT Numbers 16:28 And Moses saith, 'By this ye do know that Jehovah hath sent me to do all these works, that they are not from my own heart; LXE Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby shall ye know that the Lord has sent me to perform all these works, that I have not done them of myself. ASV Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that Jehovah hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. Hereby: Ex 3:12 4:1-9 7:9 De 18:22 Zec 2:9 4:9 Joh 5:36 11:42 14:11 of mine: Nu 24:13 1Ki 18:36 Jer 23:16 Eze 13:17 Joh 5:30 6:38 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES IS SIMPLY CARRYING OUT YAHWEH'S JUSTICE Moses said, "By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these deeds - Moses was a mediator between God and man. What he had done was at the behest of the Yahweh. Bush on all these deeds - The works to which he here especially alludes were the institution of the priesthood, the appointment of the Levites, and other matters of government; to which we may add also the ordering of Korah and his company to appear with censers on this occasion. For this is not my doing -- Chald. “Not of my own will, or pleasure.” Gr. “Not of myself.” Vulg. “That I have not forged them of my own head.” Hebrew = "and that not out of my heart." NLT = "done--for I have not done them on my own." In other words this punishment was not from a heart of vengeance or retaliation in Moses. NET NOTE- The Hebrew text simply has כִּי־לֹא מִלִּבִּי (ki-lo’ millibbi, “for not from my heart”). The heart is the center of the will, the place decisions are made (see H. W. Wolff, Anthropology of the Old Testament). Moses is saying that the things he has done have not come “from the will of man” so to speak—and certainly not from some secret desire on his part to seize power. Bush - I did it not from any ambitious promptings tending to my own aggrandizement, nor from any private affection or favoritism towards my brother. Heart (03820)(leb) sometimes refers to a literal heart (Ex 28:29, 1Sa 25:37, 2Ki 9:24), but most often is used figurative to refer to what I term the "control center" of our being. Think of an Air Traffic Controller and how dysfunctional, even destructive it is when the controllers fail to function as they should. Just as a healthy human heart is at the center of the body and absolutely essential for physical life and health, so too a healthy spiritual heart (intellect, emotion, will) is at the center of one's inner being (soul) and is vital for a healthy soul, serving as the "fountain" of all moral attitudes and actions. Our spiritual heart thus controls out actions and our actions determine our habits, which in turn determine our character. When God measures the ''worth'' of a man's life He puts the measuring tape around his heart, not around his head. Be a man after God's Own heart (Acts 13:22+) We must continually "post a guard" at the doorway of our heart, so that every avenue for sin's entry is blocked. Numbers 16:29 "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. BGT Numbers 16:29 εἰ κατὰ θάνατον πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἀποθανοῦνται οὗτοι εἰ καὶ κατ᾽ ἐπίσκεψιν πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐπισκοπὴ ἔσται αὐτῶν οὐχὶ κύριος ἀπέσταλκέν με NET Numbers 16:29 If these men die a natural death, or if they share the fate of all men, then the LORD has not sent me. NLT Numbers 16:29 If these men die a natural death, or if nothing unusual happens, then the LORD has not sent me. ESV Numbers 16:29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. NIV Numbers 16:29 If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the LORD has not sent me. KJV Numbers 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. YLT Numbers 16:29 if according to the death of all men these die -- or the charge of all men is charged upon them -- Jehovah hath not sent me; LXE Numbers 16:29 If these men shall die according to the death of all men, if also their visitation shall be according to the visitation of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. ASV Numbers 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Jehovah hath not sent me. visited: Ex 20:5 32:34 Job 35:15 Isa 10:3 Jer 5:9 La 4:22 the Lord: 1Ki 22:28 2Ch 18:27 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SIGN THAT GOD HAD SENT MOSES If these men die the death of all men or if they suffer the fate of all men - Heb. “If according to the dying of all men, these men die.” KJV = "visited after the visitation of all men." He is referring obviously to natural death. Then the LORD has not sent me - If they die anything but a supernatural, miraculous death, then Moses says this is a sign Yahweh has not sent him. Bush - If these men that now oppose and scandalize us shall die the common death of other men, then you are all at liberty to think of us as ill as you please. But if, on the other hand, an immediate and unheard of miracle is wrought for their destruction, by causing the earth to open her mouth and swallow them up, and all that belong to them; then you will have no excuse for refusing to acknowledge that Aaron and myself are acting as we do by a divine commission, and that the conspiracy now formed is less against us than against the Lord himself. Kitto remarks that "“From the beginning of the world unto this day, no man ever made so bold and noble an assertion of divine approval, or subjected his claims, in the presence of a nation, to a test so immediate and so infallible.” Numbers 16:30 "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." BGT Numbers 16:30 ἀλλ᾽ ἢ ἐν φάσματι δείξει κύριος καὶ ἀνοίξασα ἡ γῆ τὸ στόμα αὐτῆς καταπίεται αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν καὶ τὰς σκηνὰς αὐτῶν καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐστὶν αὐτοῖς καὶ καταβήσονται ζῶντες εἰς ᾅδου καὶ γνώσεσθε ὅτι παρώξυναν οἱ ἄνθρωποι οὗτοι τὸν κύριον NET Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD does something entirely new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up along with all that they have, and they go down alive to the grave, then you will know that these men have despised the LORD!" NLT Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD does something entirely new and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all their belongings, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have shown contempt for the LORD." ESV Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD." NIV Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt." KJV Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. YLT Numbers 16:30 and if a strange thing Jehovah do, and the ground hath opened her mouth and swallowed them, and all that they have, and they have gone down alive to Sheol -- then ye have known that these men have despised Jehovah.' LXE Numbers 16:30 But if the Lord shall shew by a wonder, and the earth shall open her mouth and swallow them up, and their houses, and their tents, and all that belongs to them, and they shall go down alive into Hades, then ye shall know that these men have provoked the Lord. new thing: Job 31:3 Isa 28:21 43:19 45:7,12 Jer 31:22 and they: Nu 16:33 Ps 55:15 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries MOSES PROPHESIES THEIR DEMISE BY A "NEW THING" But if the LORD brings about an entirely new thing - "creates a creation," or "create a creature;” that is, perform a new, unprecedented work, by bringing about such a death by which no one has ever died of before. NET adds that brings about (creates) "means to fashion or make or do something new and fresh. Here the verb is joined with its cognate accusative to underscore that this will be so different everyone will know it is of God." Brings about (creates) (01254)(bara') has the basic meaning "to create", to bring into existence (first use Ge 1:1) and God is the subject of the majority of the OT uses of bara' (exceptions - Josh 17:15, 18 = "clear away")! Only God can "create" out of nothing Jensen - The critical moment had arrived. Moses spoke. If Jehovah had not chosen Moses to this position of leadership, Korah and his company would, in the natural course of events, eventually die the common death of man. But if these men had despised Jehovah (16:30), the sign of Jehovah would be the creation of a sudden catastrophic situation: the ground would “open its mouth, and swallow them up” (16:30). And the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs - This is a vivid personification of the coming catastrophe of the earth consuming or swallowing these rebels whole! Bush - "That is, on a sudden; at a time when all is calm and still, with no premonitions of an earthquake; and in such a way, moreover, that only the guilty shall be involved, the rest being delivered." (Bush) The English of the Lxx amplifies the Hebrew - “Swallow them up, and their houses, and their tents, and all that belongs to them.” Bush has an interesting thought - The whole history of the divine providence shows that it has ever regarded a man’s surroundings and appendages as a part, as it were, of himself. And they descend alive into Sheol (see Nu 16:33) - Do they not die per se? The text would indicate they go consciously from one place on earth to their new abode in Hell! Amazing! Bush agrees writing "That is, alive and active, hale and sound, not dead, as men usually are before they descend into the grave." Currid - They will ‘descend’ to Sheol; they had refused to go up (Nu 16:12), so now they will go down! Sheol, of course, is the realm of the dead, and how terrifying it would be to descend there while still alive! The act of swallowing is a common ancient Near-Eastern motif for utter and absolute destruction (cf. Exod. 7:12; 15:12). Hort has attempted to demonstrate that such an event would be produced by a natural phenomenon that is known to occur in these desert regions (a boggy area called a kewir). A naturalistic explanation hardly does justice to the account, however. NET NOTE on alive - The word is “life” or “lifetime”; it certainly means their lives—they themselves. But the presence of this word suggest more. It is an accusative specifying the state of the subject—they will go down alive to Sheol. Henry
Números 16
Guzik - God had promised judgment in Numbers 16:45 (that I may consume them in a moment). Therefore, Moses told Aaron, as the high priest over God’s people, to immediately offer incense to make atonement for the congregation. (Aaron's) sense of urgency is characteristic of true intercession. A censer filled with burning incense was used to stop the plague. Incense is a picture of prayer in the Bible (as in Revelation 8:3–4), because the sweet-smelling smoke of incense ascends to heaven as our prayers would. This was a dramatic picture of Aaron, as high priest, interceding for God’s people. Bell - If Moses had a bitter spirit, he would have allowed the plague to destroy the people. Instead he commands his brother Aaron to go into the midst of the plague w/his censer to stop it. How little the people realized Moses’s love & sacrifice for them. (Sounds a lot like what people fail to realize about Jesus!) Bush - Incense was regularly to be offered nowhere but at the golden altar within the sanctuary; but on the present extraordinary emergency, Aaron is sent with it into the camp in order to stay the plague, by making an atonement for the people; the natural effect of which would be to afford them a convincing proof of the sanctity and authority which should henceforth pertain to his ministry. “God might have stayed the plague without the intervention of Aaron; but in this time of discontent, it pleased him to afford another convincing testimony that the high-priest was acting in his sacred office by his appointment and under his direction. They must have been hardened indeed who could doubt the authority under which the high-priest acted, after such a striking evidence of the Lord’s respect to his official intervention.”—Kitto. and make atonement for them That is, by acting as a mediator or interceder on behalf of the people. There is nothing of an expiatory kind implied in the use of the term in this connection. (Bush) for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!" Bush - The Heb. negeph from nâgaph to strike, to smite, is a term of general import denoting any severe stroke or infliction from the divine hand. Our English word plague is derived from the Latin plaga, and that from the Gr. πληγη, plēgē, in both which languages it is used to signify a stroke, a blow, a stripe, a wound. By an extension of the import of the word it is made to denote a pestilence or some other fatal disease, which would naturally be regarded as an extraordinary scourge proceeding directly from the Lord. Numbers 16:47 Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly, for behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. BGT Numbers 17:12 καὶ ἔλαβεν Ααρων καθάπερ ἐλάλησεν αὐτῷ Μωυσῆς καὶ ἔδραμεν εἰς τὴν συναγωγήν καὶ ἤδη ἐνῆρκτο ἡ θραῦσις ἐν τῷ λαῷ καὶ ἐπέβαλεν τὸ θυμίαμα καὶ ἐξιλάσατο περὶ τοῦ λαοῦ NET Numbers 16:47 So Aaron did as Moses commanded and ran into the middle of the assembly, where the plague was just beginning among the people. So he placed incense on the coals and made atonement for the people. NLT Numbers 16:47 Aaron did as Moses told him and ran out among the people. The plague had already begun to strike down the people, but Aaron burned the incense and purified the people. ESV Numbers 16:47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. NIV Numbers 16:47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. KJV Numbers 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. YLT Numbers 16:47 And Aaron taketh as Moses hath spoken, and runneth unto the midst of the assembly, and lo, the plague hath begun among the people; and he giveth the perfume, and maketh atonement for the people, LXE Numbers 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses spoke to him, and ran among the congregation, for already the plague had begun among the people; and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. ASV Numbers 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses spake, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people. and ran: Mt 5:44 Ro 12:21 and behold: Ps 106:29 and he put: Nu 16:46 De 33:10,11 Isa 53:10-12 Numbers 16 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries AARON SENSES THE URGENCY Then Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and ran into the midst of the assembly - Aaron runs in order to save lives. for behold, - An interjection inserted to call one's attention to what follows, in this case as if one need to get their attention. Behold (02009)(hinneh) is an interjection meaning behold, look, now; if. "It is used often and expresses strong feelings, surprise, hope, expectation, certainty, thus giving vividness depending on its surrounding context." (Baker) Hinneh generally directs our mind to the text, imploring the reader to give it special attention. In short, the Spirit is trying to arrest our attention! And so hinneh is used as an exclamation of vivid immediacy.