Numbers 16:1-11 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:10

And he hath brought thee near to him ,.... To be in his courts, to watch in his house, and wait on his priests, for which an ample provision was made by tithes. Korah is there personally addressed: and all thy brethren, the sons of Levi, with thee ; the whole tribe of them, excepting Aaron and his family, who were advanced to be priests: and seek ye the priesthood also ? the high priesthood, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan; this opens the true cause of their discontent and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:11

For which cause, both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord ,.... For gathering together against his ministers, whom he had put into office to act under him, and endeavouring to overturn a constitution of his erecting, and resisting and not submitting to an ordinance of his, is interpreted gathering against him, and acting in opposition to him; see Romans 13:1 , and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him ? what is his transgression? what has he done?... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:1

Now Korah - took men - Had not these been the most brutish of men, could they have possibly so soon forgotten the signal displeasure of God manifested against them so lately for their rebellion. The word men is not in the original; and the verb ויקח vaiyikkach , and he took, is not in the plural but the singular, hence it cannot be applied to the act of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture where this rebellion is referred to it is attributed to Korah, (see Numbers 26:3 ,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:3

Ye take too much upon you - The original is simply לכם רב rab lachem , too much for you. The spirit of this saying appears to me to be the following: - "Holy offices are not equally distributed: you arrogate to yourselves the most important ones, as if your superior holiness entitled you alone to them; whereas all the congregation are holy, and have an equal right with you to be employed in the most holy services." Moses retorts this saying Numbers 16:7 ; : Ye take too much upon you, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:5

The Lord will show who are his - It is supposed that St. Paul refers to this place, 2 Timothy 2:19 ; : The foundation of God - the whole sacrificial system, referring to Christ Jesus, the foundation of the salvation of men; standeth sure, notwithstanding the rebellions, intrusions, and false doctrines of men; having this seal - this stamp of its Divine authenticity, The Lord knoweth them that are his; εγνω Κυριος τους οντας αυτου , a literal translation of לו אשר את יהוה וידע veyoda... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:1

Verse 1 1.Now Korah, the son of Izhar. The impious conspiracy is here related of a few men, but these of the highest rank, whose object was to subvert and destroy the divinely-appointed priesthood. They make their attack, indeed, upon Moses, and accuse him of ruling unjustly; for thus it is that turbulent persons are carried away without reason or discrimination; but, the only cause why they are set against him is because they suppose him to be the originator of the priesthood, as we easily... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:3

Verse 3 3.Ye take too much upon you. (89) Some explain, “Let it suffice,” as if they desired to put an end to the tyranny of Moses; but I am rather of opinion that they would thus make a charge of presumptuous and sacrilegious supremacy, as if Moses and Aaron had not only usurped more than their right, but had also robbed God of His supreme authority. They, therefore, reproach the holy men with having impiously subjected to themselves the inheritance of God. Thus we see that God’s faithful... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:4

Verse 4 4.And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face. There is no doubt but that he had recourse to prayer in his perplexity, since he knew that the remedy for so great an evil was only in the hand of God. It is in this respect that the magnanimity of the ungodly differs from the firmness of believers; for it often happens that unbelievers also labor in the defense of a good cause, voluntarily expose themselves to the hatred of many, undergo severe contests, and encounter of their own... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:5

Verse 5 5.And he spoke unto Korah. Moses did not inconsiderately choose this mode of divination, but by the dictation of the Spirit maintained the priesthood of his brother by this token and testimony; for we know how, in matters of doubt and obscurity, he was accustomed to inquire what God’s pleasure was. He did not, therefore, at this time make this proposal hastily and at random, but by the inspiration of the Spirit had recourse to the sure judgment of God. The effect of his prayer was that... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:8

Verse 8 8.Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi. He addresses the whole body, and yet it is said that his discourse was directed to Korah alone, and this was because he had corrupted others of the Levites, and therefore is first summoned to God’s tribunal, so that the whole party might be at the same time included. He was able to expostulate with the Levites at once, because their residence was close to the sanctuary. He accuses them of ingratitude, because they were not satisfied with the honor... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:11

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:1

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:3

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:4

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:5

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:8

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