Numbers 16:48

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Bible in Basic English

And he took his place between the dead and the living: and the disease was stopped.

Free Bible Version

He stood between those who had died and those who were still alive, and the plague was stopped.

King James (Authorized) Version

And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

One Unity Resource Bible

He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Translation for Translators

He stood between the people who had already died and those who were still alive, and then the plague stopped.

Unlocked Literal Bible

Aaron stood between the dead and the living; in this way the plague was stopped.

Noah Webster Bible

And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

World English Bible

He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Young's Literal Translation

and standeth between the dead and the living, and the plague is restrained;

Context

Murmuring and Plague

⁴⁷So Aaron took the censer as Moses had ordered and ran into the midst of the assembly. And seeing that the plague had begun among the people, he offered the incense and made atonement for the people.⁴⁸He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague was halted.⁴⁹But those who died from the plague numbered 14,700, in addition to those who had died on account of Korah.

Summary

In Numbers 16:48, Aaron took a censer and put fire in it from the altar, along with incense, to make atonement for the people who were dying due to a plague as a result of their rebellion against God and Moses. Through this act of intercession, Aaron stood between the living and the dead, symbolizing the role of a mediator. This event highlights the importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation with God through prayer and repentance, showing that God's mercy can intervene in times of judgment and bring healing and restoration.

Commentary

Adam Clarke
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill

Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague, etc. - What the plague was we know not, but it seems to have begun at one part of the camp, and to have proceeded regularly onward; and Aaron went to the quarter where it was then prevailing, and stood with his atonement where it was now making its ravages, and the plague was stayed; but not before 14,700 had fallen victims to it, Num 16:49. If Aaron the high priest, with his censer and incense, could disarm the wrath of an insulted, angry Deity, so that a guilty people, who deserved nothing but destruction, should be spared; how much more effectual may we expect the great atonement to be which was made by the Lord Jesus Christ, of whom Aaron was only the type! The sacrifices of living animals pointed out the death of Christ on the cross; the incense, his intercession. Through his death salvation is purchased for the world; by his intercession the offending children of men are spared. Hence St. Paul, Rom 5:10, says: If, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved Through His Life, i. e., by the prevalence of his continual intercession. Co2 5:18, Co2 5:19 : "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." By the awful transactions recorded in this chapter, we may see how jealous God is of the sole right of appointing the way and means of salvation. Had any priesthood, and any kind of service, no matter how solemn and sincere, been equally available in the sight of Divine justice and mercy, God would not have resented in so awful a manner the attempts of Korah and his company in their new service. The way of God's own appointment, the agony and death of Christ, is the only way in which souls can be saved. His is the priesthood, and his is the only available sacrifice. All other modes and schemes of salvation are the inventions of men or devils, and will in the end prove ruinous to all those who trust in them. Reader, forget not the Lord who bought thee.