Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Numbers 16
Concise Complete
The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Korah
contends for the priesthood. (1-11) Disobedience of Dathan and Abiram. (12-15)
The glory of the Lord appears The intercession of Moses and Aaron. (16-22) The
earth swallows up Dathan and Abiram. (23-34) The company of Korah consumed.
(35-40) The people murmur A plague sent. (41-50)
Verses 1-11
Pride and ambition occasion a great deal of mischief both in churches and
states. The rebels quarrel with the settlement of the priesthood upon Aaron and
his family. Small reason they had to boast of the people's purity, or of God's
favour, as the people had been so often and so lately polluted with sin, and
were now under the marks of God's displeasure. They unjustly charge Moses and
Aaron with taking honour to themselves; whereas they were called of God to it.
See here, 1. What spirit levellers are of; those who resist the powers God has
set over them. 2. What usage they have been serviceable. Moses sought
instruction from God. The heart of the wise studies to answer, and asks counsel
of God. Moses shows their privileges as Levites, and convicts them of the sin of
undervaluing these privileges. It will help to keep us from envying those above
us, duly to consider how many there are below us.
Verses 12-15
Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram to bring their complaints; but they would not
obey. They bring very false charges against Moses. Those often fall under the
heaviest censures, who in truth deserve the highest praise. Moses, though the
meekest man, yet, finding God reproached in him, was very wroth; he could not
bear to see the people ruining themselves. He appeals to God as to his own
integrity. He bade them appear with Aaron next morning, at the time of offering
the morning incense. Korah undertook thus to appear. Proud ambitious men, while
projecting their own advancement, often hurry on their own shameful fall.
Verses 16-22
The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first,
leviticus 9:23, now
appeared to confirm him in it; and to confound those who set up against him.
Nothing is more terrible to those who are conscious of guilt, than the
appearance of the Divine glory. See how dangerous it is to have fellowship with
sinners, and to partake with them. Though the people had treacherously deserted
them, yet Moses and Aaron approved themselves faithful shepherds of Israel. If
others fail in their duty to us, that does not take away the obligations we are
under to seek their welfare. Their prayer was a pleading prayer, and it proved a
prevailing one.
Verses 23-34
The seventy elders of Israel attend Moses. It is our duty to do what we can to
countenance and support lawful authority when it is opposed. And those who would
not perish with sinners, must come out from among them, and be separate. It was
in answer to the prayer of Moses, that God stirred up the hearts of the
congregation to remove for their own safety. Grace to separate from evil-doers
is one of the things that accompany salvation. God, in justice, left the rebels
to the obstinacy and hardness of their own hearts. Moses, by Divine direction,
when all Israel were waiting the event, declares that if the rebels die a common
death, he will be content to be called and counted an imposter. As soon as Moses
had spoken the word, God caused the earth to open and swallow them all up. The
children perished with their parents; in which, though we cannot tell how bad
they might be to deserve it, or how good God might be otherwise to them; yet of
this we are sure, that Infinite Justice did them no wrong. It was altogether
miraculous. God has, when he pleases, strange punishments for the workers of
iniquity. It was very significant. Considering how the earth is still in like
manner loaded with the weight of man's sins, we have reason to wonder that it
does not now sink under its load. The ruin of others should be our warning.
Could we, by faith, hear the outcries of those that are gone down to the
bottomless pit, we should give more diligence than we do to escape for our
lives, lest we also come into their condemnation.
Verses 35-40 A
fire went out from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that
offered incense, while Aaron, who stood with them, was preserved alive. God is
jealous of the honour of his own institutions, and will not have them invaded.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The censers are
devoted, and, as all devoted things, must be made serviceable to the glory of
God. This covering of the altar would remind the children of Israel of this
event, that others might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. They
brought destruction on themselves both in body and soul. Thus all who break the
law and neglect the gospel choose and love death.
Verses 41-50
The gaping earth was scarcely closed, before the same sins are again committed,
and all these warnings slighted. They called the rebels the people of the Lord;
and find fault with Divine justice. The obstinacy of Israel notwithstanding the
terrors of God's law, as given on mount Sinai, and the terrors of his judgments,
shows how necessary the grace of God is to change men's hearts and lives. Love
will do what fear cannot. Moses and Aaron interceded with God for mercy, knowing
how great the provocation was. Aaron went, and burned incense between the living
and the dead, not to purify the air, but to pacify an offended God. As one
tender of the life of every Israelite, Aaron made all possible speed. We must
render good for evil. Observe especially, that Aaron was a type of Christ. There
is an infection of sin in the world, which only the cross and intercession of
Jesus Christ can stay and remove. He enters the defiled and dying camp. He
stands between the dead and the living; between the eternal Judge and the souls
under condemnation. We must have redemption through His blood, even the
remission of sins. We admire the ready devotion of Aaron: shall we not bless and
praise the unspeakable grace and love which filled the Saviour's heart, when he
placed himself in our stead, and bought us with his life? Greatly indeed hath
God commended his love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us,
romans 5:8.
Chapter 16:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 Leviticus Deuteronomy
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
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Revelation
