Numbers 16

1 Now Korah [a leader] son of Izhar, the son of Kohath [a Levite, from the tribe of Levi] son of Levi, along with some Reubenites [from the tribe of Reuben, descendants of Reuben]—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab [a Reubenite chief], and On [a Reubenite] son of Peleth [took a stand, conducted a rebellion, rose up]—conducted word study 2 a rebellion [against Moses’ leadership, rose up in opposition] against Moses, along with 250 men [renowned leaders, princes of the assembly] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen people] renowned [famous, men of renown] as leaders [princes, captains] of the congregation [the gathering of God’s people, the assembly] and representatives [called to the assembly, men of name] in the assembly [the meeting, the appointed time]. word study 3 They came together [assembled themselves, gathered] against Moses [the Israelite leader, God’s chosen servant] and Aaron [the first high priest, Moses’ brother] and told them, “You have taken [assumed, usurped] too much [excessive authority, undue power] upon yourselves [as leaders, in charge]! For everyone [all the people, the entire congregation] in the entire congregation [assembly, gathering] is holy [set apart, sacred], and the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] is in their midst [among them, present with them]. Why then do you exalt [lift yourselves up, elevate] yourselves above [over, beyond] the assembly [congregation, gathering] of the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel]?” word study 4 When Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] heard [listened with attention and obedience] this, he fell [to prostrate oneself, to be defeated] facedown [upon his face, on the ground, in reverence] [as an act of humility and worship]. word study 5 Then he said to Korah [the leader of the rebellion] and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning [at the break of day, in the morning light] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will reveal [make known, show clearly] who belongs to Him [is set apart for Him, is holy] and who is holy [set apart, consecrated], and He will bring that person near to Himself [into His presence, for intimate communion]. The one He chooses [selects, elects, to appoint], He will bring near to Himself [into a close relationship, for fellowship]. word study 6 You, Korah [a leader who rebelled against Moses], and all [every single one of] your followers [congregation, company] are to do [make, take action] as follows: Take [get, receive] censers [metal pans for burning incense], word study 7 and tomorrow [at a future time, the next day] you are to place [put, set] fire [burning, flame] and incense [a sweet smoke, perfume] in them [the censers, vessels] in the presence [face, before] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]. Then the man [individual, person] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] chooses [selects, elects] will be the one who is holy [set apart, sacred, consecrated]. It is you sons [descendants, offspring] of Levi [a tribe of Israel, the Levites] who have taken [assumed, usurped] too much [excessive authority, power] upon yourselves [your own responsibility, charge]!” word study 8 Moses [the Israelite leader] also said to Korah, “Now [Hear, I pray you] listen [to hear and obey], you sons [descendants] of Levi [a son of Jacob and Leah]! word study 9 Is it not enough [seemeth it but a small thing] for you that the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel has separated [to set apart, distinguish] you from the congregation [gathering, community] of Israel and brought you near [to approach, come close] to Himself to perform [to serve, work] the work at the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] tabernacle [the sacred tent, dwelling place], and to stand [to be stationed, minister] before the congregation [assembly, group] to minister [to serve, attend] to them? word study 10 He has brought you near [to Himself, in a special relationship], you and all [every one of] your fellow Levites [descendants of Levi], but you are seeking [demanding, striving for] the priesthood [the office of a priest, spiritual leadership] as well [also, in addition to your current role]. word study 11 Therefore [thus, in this manner], it is you [as the leader] and all [every single one of] your followers [congregation, company] who have conspired [gathered together, risen up] against the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]! As for Aaron [the high priest, Moses’ brother], who is he [what is his position, what authority does he have] that you should grumble [murmur, complain, lodge a complaint] against him [in opposition to his leadership]?” word study 12 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] summoned [to call out to, to invite] Dathan and Abiram, the sons [descendants, family members] of Eliab, but they said, “We will not [refusing, declining] come [to ascend, to go up] [to appear before you, to present ourselves]! word study 13 Is it not enough [a small thing, little] that you have brought us up out of a land [country, territory] flowing with milk and honey [a sweet and valuable food] to kill us [put us to death, destroy us] in the wilderness [desert, open field]? Must you also [even, too] appoint yourself as ruler [prince, leader, one who exercises power] over us? word study 14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing [flowing with abundance, richly fertile] with milk and honey [a sweet and valuable food] or given us an inheritance [a possession passed down, a legacy] of fields [cultivated lands, agricultural areas] and vineyards [gardens for growing vines and other crops]. Will you gouge out [blind, deprive of sight] the eyes of these men [the leaders, the individuals in question]? No, we will not come [ascend, go up, obey]!” word study 15 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] became very angry [incensed, furious] and said to the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], “Do not [by no means] regard their offering [gift, donation, sacrifice]. I have not [never] taken one donkey [male ass, a reddish-colored animal] from them or [nor] mistreated [afflicted, done wrong to] a single one [united, unique] of them.” word study 16 And Moses [the leader of the Israelites] said to Korah, “You [as the leader of the rebellion] and all [every single one of] your followers [congregation, company] are to appear [stand, present yourselves] before [in the presence of] the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] tomorrow [at a future time, on the next day]—you [as an individual] and they [the rest of the group] and Aaron [the high priest, Moses’ brother]. word study 17 Each man [every individual, person] is to take his censer [a metal pan for burning incense], place incense [a sweet smoke, a pleasing aroma] in it, and present [offer, bring near] it before the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]—250 censers [two hundred and fifty vessels for burning perfume]. You [as a leader] and Aaron [the first high priest] are to present [offer, bring near] your censers [each one’s own vessel for worship] as well.” word study 18 So each man [every individual, male person] took his censer [metal pan for burning incense], put fire [burning, flame] and incense [sweet smoke, pleasing aroma] in it, and stood [in a strong sense, with purpose] with Moses [the Israelite leader, lawgiver] and Aaron [the first high priest] at the entrance [doorway, threshold] to the Tent [tabernacle, nomad’s home] of Meeting [sacred gathering place, appointed time]. word study 19 When Korah [a leader who rebelled against Moses] had gathered [assembled, brought together] his whole assembly [congregation, group of people] against them at the entrance [doorway, threshold] to the Tent [tabernacle, sacred dwelling] of Meeting [appointed time, sacred season], the glory [great honor, splendor] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] appeared [was seen, became visible] to the whole congregation [all the people, entire assembly]. word study 20 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate, or utter] to Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] and Aaron [the brother of Moses, the first high priest of the Israelites], word study 21 “Separate [set apart, divide] yourselves from this [specific, particular] congregation [gathering, assembly] so that I may consume [destroy, use up] them in an instant [moment, brief space of time, like the blink of an eye].” word study 22 But Moses and Aaron fell [prostrated themselves, laid flat] facedown and said, “O God [Elohim, the supreme God], the God [El, the powerful One] of the spirits [breath of life, the wind] of all flesh [humanity, mortal bodies], when one man [a single individual, one person] sins [misses the mark, goes wrong], will You be angry [furious, full of wrath] with the whole congregation [the entire gathering, all the people]?” word study 23 Then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] said [to speak, communicate, or command] to Moses [the Israelite leader, mediator between God and the people], word study 24 “Tell [speak to, command] the congregation [gathering, community] to move away [withdraw, get up] from the dwellings [tabernacle, homes] of Korah [a leader who rebelled], Dathan [a Reubenite chief], and Abiram [my father is exalted].” word study 25 So Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed] got up [rose up, stood up, to rise or stand] and went [to walk, to move from one place to another] to Dathan [a Reubenite chief, brother of Abiram] and Abiram [my father is exalted, a Reubenite], and the elders [old, elderly, respected leaders] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] followed [walked after, to move behind] him. word study 26 And he warned [spoke to, addressed] the congregation [gathering, assembly], “Move away [depart, turn aside] now from the tents [nomadic dwellings, homes] of these [specific, particular] wicked [morally wrong, guilty] men [individuals, persons]. Do not [lest you] touch [reach out to, come into contact with] anything that belongs to them [their possessions, belongings], or you will be swept away [consumed, destroyed] because of all [every, each] their sins [transgressions, rebellions].” word study 27 So they moved away [gat up, withdrew] from the dwellings [tabernacle, tents] of Korah [a leader who rebelled], Dathan [a Reubenite chief], and Abiram [my father is exalted]. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out [gone out, emerged] and stood [stationed themselves] at the entrances [door, doorway] to their tents [nomadic homes, tabernacle] with their wives [women, female companions] and children [sons, descendants] and infants [little ones, young children]. word study 28 Then Moses [the Israelite leader, a servant of God] said, “This [by this sign, hereby] is how you will know [understand, perceive, be aware] that the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of all] has sent [appointed, commissioned] me to do [accomplish, fulfill] all these things [works, deeds, actions], for [because, since] it was not [certainly not] my own doing [from my own mind, of my own heart]: word study 29 If these men [die the common death of all men] die a natural death [or suffer the fate of all men, experiencing the destiny of every human being], or if they [be visited after the visitation of all men, or experience what all men experience] suffer the fate of all men, then the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has not [absolutely not, indicating absence or negation] sent me [appointed or commissioned me as a prophet]. word study 30 But if the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] brings about something unprecedented [a new thing, a marvel], and the earth [the land, the ground] opens its mouth [as if to speak or devour] and swallows them and all that belongs to them [their entire household, everything they have] so that they go down [descend, fall] alive [with their physical life intact, yet spiritually dead] into Sheol [the underworld, the place of no return], then you will know [understand, perceive] that these men [individuals, human beings] have treated the LORD [scorn, despising His authority] with contempt [spurning, rejecting His will].” word study 31 As soon as Moses had finished [completed, ended] saying all this [these words, everything], the ground [land, earth] beneath them [underneath, below] split open [broke asunder, cleaved apart, to break up/open], word study 32 and the earth [land, ground] opened its mouth [lip, edge] and swallowed them [completely, utterly] and their households [families, dwellings]—all Korah’s men [followers, associates] and all their possessions [property, goods, riches]. word study 33 They went down alive [still breathing] into Sheol [the underworld, grave, or place of no return] with all [everything, every possession] they owned. The earth [land, ground] closed [covered, hid from view] over them, and they vanished [perished, were destroyed] from the assembly [congregation, group of people]. word study 34 At their cries [voice, sound], all [everything, the entire nation] the people of Israel [descendants of Jacob, God’s chosen] who were around [surrounding, encompassing] them fled [quickly left, escaped], saying [speaking, declaring], “The earth [land, ground] may swallow us too [lest we be destroyed, perish]!” word study 35 And fire [burning, flame] came forth from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and consumed [to eat, devour] the 250 men [two hundred and fifty individuals] who were offering [presenting, bringing near] the incense [a sweet smoke, a pleasing aroma]. word study 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove [take up, lift] the censers [incense burners, vessels] from the flames [burning, fire] and to scatter [cast, disperse] the coals [fire, embers] far away, because [for, since] the censers are holy [hallowed, consecrated]. word study 38 As for the censers [incense burners, vessels] of those who sinned [transgressed, acted wickedly] at the cost of their own lives [souls], hammer them into sheets [plates, broad plates] to overlay [cover, serve as a covering for] the altar, for these were presented [offered, brought] before the LORD [Yehovah, God], and so have become holy [hallowed, set apart]. They will serve as a sign [reminder, token] to the Israelites [children of Israel, sons of Israel].” word study 40 just as the LORD [Yehovah] commanded him through Moses. This was to be a reminder [memorial, sign] to the Israelites that no outsider [stranger, foreigner] who is not a descendant [seed, offspring] of Aaron should approach [draw near, come near] to offer incense [burn incense, make a perfume] before the LORD, lest he become like Korah and his followers [company, band]. word study 41 The next day the whole congregation [assembly, community] of Israel grumbled [murmured, complained] against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed [put to death, slain] the LORD’s [Yehovah’s, God’s] people!” word study 42 But when the congregation [people, assembly] gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting [tabernacle, dwelling place], and suddenly [behold, unexpectedly] the cloud covered it and the glory [honor, presence] of the LORD [Yehovah, God] appeared. word study 45 “Get away from this congregation [people, assembly] so that I may consume [destroy, annihilate] them in an instant [moment, a flash].” And Moses and Aaron fell [went] facedown [on their faces]. word study 46 Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer [incense burner, vessel], place fire [coals, burning embers] from the altar [sacred altar, place of sacrifice] in it, and add incense [sweet spices, perfume]. Go quickly [hasten, run] to the congregation and make atonement [reconciliation, purification] for them, because wrath [anger, judgment] has come out from the LORD; the plague [disease, affliction] has begun.” word study 47 So Aaron took the censer [incense burner] as Moses had ordered [commanded] and ran into the midst of the assembly [congregation]. And seeing that the plague [disease, pestilence] had begun [started] among the people, he offered the incense [spices] and made atonement [reconciliation] for the people. word study 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague [disease, pestilence] was halted [stayed, restrained]. word study 49 But those who died [perished, fell] from the plague [disease, pestilence] numbered [counted, were] 14,700, in addition to those who had died [perished, fallen] on account of Korah [because of Korah’s rebellion, due to Korah’s actions]. word study 50 Then Aaron returned [went back] to Moses at the entrance [door] to the Tent of Meeting [tabernacle], since the plague [disease, pestilence] had been halted [stayed, stopped]. word study