Numbers 16

Numbers 16:1

KOrah the sonne] In being the sonne of Izhar, he was cousin german to Moses and Aaron; for his father Izhar was brother to their father Amram; compare this place with Exodus 6:18.

sonnes of Reuben] See Annot. on vers. 7.

Numbers 16:2

before Moses] And not only before him, but (as it is in the third verse) against him and Aaron. This sheweth the boldnesse of their rebellion, that they were not afraid to begin it in his presence.

men of renowne] Men of note, and name, for their parentage, and parts; and now notorious for the abuse of them by an impious conspiracy and rebellion.

Numbers 16:3

Yee take too much] Too much state, too much power, too much honour, too much holinesse, in appropriating those administrations to your selves, wherein all the people might partake with you, and make as neere approaches to God, and with as much acceptance, as you doe, and therefore they may offer incense, and present their own oblations, and offer their own sacrifices as well as you; which may be probably collected from the prayer of Moses against them, Respect not thou their offerings, which, though it may be first meant of the incense mentioned in the following Chapter, because they began their usurpation with that, yet it is like they meant to goe on with the like intrusion into the Priestly office in other services appropriate unto it. This presumption was not ended with Korah and his company, we see the practise of it in the present ages among the people of severall sects, taking upon them the preaching of the Word, and ministration of the Sacraments, and the exercise of Ecclesiasticall discipline, which belongeth not to them.

holy every one] They flatter the people, while they slander their Governours, to stirre them up to sedition against them; and their flattery ascribeth that praise to all, which is to be found but in very few, the praise of holinesse; perhaps because God required they should be so, Exodus 19. vers. 5, 6. and they promised they would be so, because of his especiall presence among them.

Numbers 16:4

fell upon his face] See Annot. on Chap. 14. vers. 5.

to Korah] As the Ringleader of this rebellion, which he is thought to have raised of indignation, and disdaine, that Elizaphan the sonne of the fourth or youngest Family of the Cohathites, was made a Prince of his Tribe, and that himself, being of the second Family and his elder, was neglected. Compare Exodus 6:18. with Numbers 3:30. And he exasperated Dathan, Abiram and On with this pretence, that they being of the Tribe of Reuben the first-born of Jacob, had more right to the supreme authoritie then Moses.

Numbers 16:5

to morrow] To morrow the Lord will manifestly declare, whether he hath made choice of us for his chiefest services or no, and whether he accompt all the Congregation so holy, that they may come as neere the Altar as we, and offer sacrifices as well as we.

Numbers 16:7

yee take too much] He layeth the same fault to their charge justly, wherewith they wrongfully charged him; so did Elijah retort the accusation upon Ahab, 1 King. 18. 17, 18.

yee sonnes of Levi] Korah was a Levite, and he had others of his Tribe of the same conspiracie, but Dathan, Abiram, and On were Reubenites, and therefore called the sonnes of Reben, vers. 1.

Numbers 16:8

yee sonnes of Levi] He addressed his speech principally to Korah Captain of the Conspiracie; yet so, as that what he said to him concerned all of them; and therefore though he began with Korah in the singular number, he presently turneth his speech unto the plurall.

Numbers 16:9

seemeth it a small thing] The lowest degree of peculiar service unto God, is a great honour to the sonnes of men, though men of renowne, vers. 2. So that he that was in dignitie a King, disdained not the office of a door-keeper in the house of the Lord.

Numbers 16:10

neere] Neerer then the other Tribes, to doe service at the Tabernacle; though not so neere as the Priests, to offer sacrifice to God; for the Levites were to minister unto the Priest, the Priest unto God by offering incense vers. 40. and sacrifice. See Chap. 18. vers. 2, 3, 7.

Numbers 16:11

against the Lord] See Annot. on Exodus 16:7.

what is Aaron] What hath he done, what hath he assumed? but what the Lord hath put upon him? and what is he in comparison of him? if you take offence at the setling of the Priesthood upon Aaron, and his posteritie, it is Gods doing, not Aarons, and what is he to God?

Numbers 16:12

Moses sent] Korah was present with Moses, and he sent for these Conspirators, who were absent, to wit, Dathan, Abiram, and (it is like) On, named in the first verse, though here he be not.

Numbers 16:13

with milke and hony] That which Joshua and Caleb said in commendation of the Land of Canaan, Chap. 14. 8. they speake in the praise of Egypt; and so both ungratefully, and presumptuously they preferre the land of their cruell bondage, before that of Gods gracious promise.

Numbers 16:14

put out the eyes] Wilt thou make them that searched the Land beleeve that they saw not that which they saw, or make us so blinde, as not to see how thou hast deceived us, in promising us plenty in a fruitfull land, and leading us up and downe in a wilde and desolate wildernesse, where there is neither milke nor hony, but an extreme want of all necessary sustenance? and wilt thou not onely afflict us with famine, but domineere over us with pride, as if thou wert not a brother, or companion among us, but a Prince over us?

Numbers 16:15

neither have] He refutes their objection, by alledging his moderation and equitie toward them, neither taking any of their goods from them, nor doing any hurt unto them; which is not their manner who usurpe authoritie over others, or who have it and abuse it: See the 1 Samuel 8:11.

Numbers 16:16

before the Lord] At the doore, or entrance of the Tabernacle.

Numbers 16:19

all the Congregation] That is, that were of their faction.

glory of the Lord] Shining in the cloud over the Sanctuarie; see vers. 24. & Chap. 14. 10.

Numbers 16:21

consume them] Societie with sinners is dangerous to the godly, Genesis 19:15. and separation of the godly is dangerous for the wicked, Genesis 19:22.

Numbers 16:22

one man sinne] Meaning Korah the principall incendiary, who inflamed all the rest into an heat of rebellion; in comparison of whose wickednesse all the rest were in a manner innocent.

Numbers 16:24

and Abiram] On here againe must be understood, though he be not mentioned, as vers. 1.

Numbers 16:26

in all their sinnes] That is, punishments; by a figurative speech whereby the cause is put for the effect; and so neere of kinne is the guilt of sinne, and smart of paine, that one terme may stand for them both; See Genesis 4:13. text & margin. & Chap. 18. vers. 1. & 32. of this booke.

Numbers 16:29

If these men] Moses ingageth the truth and honour of his office upon a miracle to be wrought for the ruine of presumptuous Rebels, and that presently to come to passe, vers. 5. in the sight and view of many hundred thousands of people; an undoubted evidence of Gods concurrence with the Ministery of Moses, and therewithall an undoubted assurance of the Divine truth of Moses his writings.

Numbers 16:31

as he had made] Moses had no sooner spoken the word but God made it good by his deed; at once avowing Moses and Aarons authoritie and integritie, and avenging his owne, and their cause, in the just and miraculous punishment of the conspirators impiety.

Numbers 16:32

their houses] That is, their families, or housholds, for they had no houses in the wildernesse, but onely Tents; or their Tents and what was in them; see Joshua 7:15. 24.

Numbers 16:33

all that pertained] Little infants not excepted; who though not guilty of their sinne, were taken in their snare; their parents being punished in them, in whom their memorie might have flourished, after a well-led life, and naturall death: and though they were little, they had sinne enough in their nature to deserve the shortening of their lives; yet God, while in justice he killed their bodies, might in mercy save their soules.

Numbers 16:35

that offered incense] Usurping the Priests office, they are punished by fire wherein they offended; See Annot. on Leviticus 10:2. by the fire of the Lords Altar, whence they kindled the incense of their Censers.

Numbers 16:37

scatter thou the fire] That is, the fire of their censers, as shewing that the Lord rejected it.

hallowed] That is, separated from common use; the reason is rendered in the next verse, because they were offered before the Lord.

Numbers 16:38

a signe] Or memoriall of Gods judgement against the presumptuous conspirators; and of his vindication and clearing of the innocencie of his most faithfull servants.

Numbers 16:40

no stranger] All the Levites (except the sonnes of Aaron) were strangers in respect of the Priests office, or service and in respect of the Levites office, all the other: See Annot. upon Chap. 1. vers. 51.

as Korah] In usurping an office, or service without the warrant of a lawfull calling unto it, and doing it in other manner then the Lord allowed.

Numbers 16:41

But on the morrow] In this murmuring of the people so soone after a miraculous judgement, both by destroying fire from above, and a devouring vengeance from the earth below; the Devil may be thought to set himselfe against God, as the Inchanters of Egypt did against Moses, to make the contumacie and rebellion of the people a miracle, as well as Gods judgement upon the rebellious.

Numbers 16:45

consume them] There were two deadly plagues before; the swallowing up of Korah and that which appertained to him, vers. 33. and the burning of those conspirators which offered incense, vers. 35. and now a third is threatned, and in part executed, vers. 45, 46. for murmuring against Moses and Aaron, and charging them with murdering the people of the Lord, vers. 41.

Numbers 16:46

from off the Altar] For it was not lawfull for that purpose to take of any other fire, but that on the Altar of burntofferings; see Levit. 10. 1, 2.

Numbers 16:47

put on incense] Incense was to be offered onely upon the Altar of incense in the Tabernacle; but this was done as upon an extraordinarie occasion, so by extraordinary warrant of Divine inspiration.

Numbers 16:48

betweene the dead and] The Plague seemeth to have beene a present and speedy pestilence, which went along among the company as fire in a field of Corne; so Aaron standing betwixt those that were already dead, and those who yet alive were in greatest danger of present death, by his Mediation (wherein as High-priest he representeth Christ) pacified Gods wrath, and stayed the Plague that it proceeded no further.