Numbers 16:36-50

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 16:36

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... Immediately after these men were consumed by fire from him; out of the same cloud from whence that proceeded, he spoke: saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:37

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest ,.... His eldest son, that was to succeed him as high priest, and who perhaps was upon the spot to see the issue of things; and who, rather than Aaron, is bid to do what follows, partly because Aaron was now officiating, burning incense, and that he might not be defiled with the dead bodies; and partly because it was more proper and decent for the son to do it than the father; and it may be also because it was for the further confirmation of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:38

The censers of these sinners against their own souls ,.... Who by burning incense in them sinned, and by sinning hurt and ruined their souls: let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar ; the altar of burnt offering, which, though it had a covering of brass, another made of these were to be over it, for the further security of it, being of from the fire continually burning on it; these censers were to be beaten into broad plates, by the workmen who understood how to do... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:39

And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers ,.... The metal of which these censers were made is particularly observed, to show that they were fit for the use they were ordered to be put unto, namely, for a covering of the altar of burnt offering, which was covered with brass, that being very suitable, since fire was continually burning on it; and by this it appears that these censers were different from those of Aaron and his sons, for theirs were silver ones; the high priest on the day... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:40

To be a memorial unto the children of Israel ,.... The whole body of them; this explains what is meant by sign, Numbers 16:38 ; that it was to put or keep in mind what follows: that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the Lord ; not only any Gentile but any Israelite, and not any Israelite only, but any Levite; none but those of the family of Aaron might offer incense before the Lord: that he be not as Korah and as his company ; this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:41

But on the morrow ,.... The day following the dreadful catastrophe, the earth swallowing up Dathan and Abiram, and all that belonged to them, the burning of Korah and the two hundred fifty men of his company: all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses , and against Aaron ; not the princes and heads of the people only, but the whole body of them; though the above persons that murmured against them had but the day before been made such dreadful examples of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:42

And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron ,.... To kill them, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; who, perhaps, upon uttering their murmurs, made up to them, and by their gestures showed an intention to murder them: that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation ; either the people did, to see whether they could observe any appearance of the displeasure of God against them; or rather Moses and Aaron looked that way for help and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:43

And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. Whose tent was not far from it, about which the people of Israel were gathered; and from whence they came to the tabernacle, both for shelter and safety, and for advice and instruction how to behave in this crisis; they did not go into it, but stood before it; the Lord being in the cloud over it, they stood in the door of it, Numbers 16:50 ; so the Targum of Jonathan,"and Moses and Aaron came from the congregation to the... read more

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