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Matthew Henry

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:6

This do, take you censers ,.... Vessels to put incense in to offer, which was the business of the priests: Korah, and all his company ; the two hundred fifty princes that were with him, for so many we read took censers, and offered incense, Numbers 16:18 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:7

And put fire therein ,.... Into the censers: and put incense in them ; on the coals of fire in the censers: before the Lord ; not at the altar of incense in the holy place, into which none but Aaron and his sons might come, but at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, where the glory of the Lord appeared, Numbers 16:18 ; and this they were to do tomorrow ; the day following that on which the insurrection was made, and in the morning of that day, which was the usual... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:8

And Moses said unto Korah ,.... Continued his discourse to him, as the head of the conspiracy, and the ringleader of it: hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi ; to whom also he had been before speaking; though Aben Ezra thinks the first speech was made to Korah and his company, and what follows to the Levites. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:9

Seemeth it but a small thing unto you ,.... It should not; for it was a great thing which the Lord had done for them, and with which they should have been satisfied, and for it thankful: that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel : this was a special favour, and ought to have been esteemed such, that God, who was the God of the whole people of Israel in common, should separate the tribe of Levi from all the rest of the tribes of Israel: to bring you... read more

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