Numbers 16:5-19

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

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

John Gill

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:12

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab ,.... He sent messengers to call them to the house of judgment, as the Targum of Jonathan, to the court of judicature, where the Jews suppose Moses, with the seventy elders, were now sitting: it seems these two men departed either before. Moses rose up from prayer, or however before he had finished his speech to Korah and the Levites; which being particularly directed to them, these men might think they had no concern in it, and... read more

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