Numbers 16:1-50

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:1-11

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, Jude 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... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:12-22

Here is, I. The insolence of Dathan and Abiram, and their treasonable remonstrance. Moses had heard what Korah had to say, and had answered it; now he summons Dathan and Abiram to bring in their complaints (Num. 16:12); but they would not obey his summons, either because they could not for shame say that to his face which they were resolved to say, and then it is an instance of some remains of modesty in them; or, rather, because they would not so far own his authority, and then it is an... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:23-34

We have here the determining of the controversy with Dathan and Abiram, who rebelled against Moses, as in the next paragraph the determining of the controversy with Korah and his company, who would be rivals with Aaron. 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, Num.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:35-40

We must now look back to the door of the tabernacle, where we left the pretenders to the priesthood with their censers in their hands ready to offer incense; and here we find, I. Vengeance taken on them, Num. 16:35. It is probable that when the earth opened in the camp to swallow up Dathan and Abiram a fire went out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men that offered incense, while Aaron that stood with them was preserved alive. This punishment was not indeed so new a thing as the former, for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:41-50

Here is, I. A new rebellion raised the very next day against Moses and Aaron. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and wonder, O earth! Was there ever such an instance of the incurable corruption of sinners? On the morrow (Num. 16:41) the body of the people mutinied. 1. Though they were so lately terrified by the sight of the punishment of the rebels. The shrieks of those sinking sinners, those sinners against their own souls, were yet sounding in their ears, the smell of the fire yet remained,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:1

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, Exodus 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", ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:2

And 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 perhaps chiefly of the tribe of Reuben, as Jarchi: two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly ; or "congregation" F9 עדה "congregationis", Pagninus. , who were princes in the several tribes to which they belonged, heads of houses and families of their... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:3

And they gathered themselves together against Moses, and against Aaron ,.... They met together by appointment, and went up in a body to Moses and Aaron: and said unto them, ye take too much upon you ; the one to be king, and the other to be priest; for they imagined that Moses took the civil government into his hands, and Aaron the priesthood, of themselves, without any call of God to either; but the contrary is most certain, Hebrews 3:2 ; the Israelites, those of the other tribes... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:4

And when Moses heard it ,.... What they said, their complaint against him, for setting up Aaron for an high priest, and against Aaron for taking this honour to himself: he fell upon his face ; through shame, as the Targum of Jonathan, blushing at their sin, in opposing the ordinance of God; and through fear of the divine displeasure, and of the wrath of God coming upon them for such wickedness; and in order to pray to God for them to make them sensible of their sin, and give them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:5

And he spake unto Korah, and unto all his company ,.... The two hundred fifty princes that were with him; what follows was said to them apart from Dathan and Abiram, who seem not to be present at this time; and this was after Moses had finished his prayer to God, and had received instructions from him, by an impulse on his mind, what he should say unto them, and was now risen up from the earth he fell upon: saying, even tomorrow the Lord will show who are his ; his priests, whom he had... read more

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