Numbers 16

Numbers 16:1

KOhath] So that Korah came to be Moses his cosen german, Exodus 6:18; Exodus 6:20-21.Tooke men] The Italian addeth, Tooke other men with them] namely the two hundred and fifty men spoken of, v. 2.

Numbers 16:2

In the Congregation] The great councell or supreme ordinary Senat was but of seventy, Numbers 11:16 but besides that, when they were to treate of any busines that was very general, wherein the advice and consent of the whole people was required, or whose execution was to be committed to the inferior magistrats there were gathered together the other heads of the people, divided into heads of thousands, and of hundreds, &c. Exodus 18:25. and this was the Congregation which is spoken of in this place, Numbers chapter 〈◊〉 v. 16.

Numbers 16:3

Ye take too much upon you] The Italian hath it, Let it suffice you] That is to say, content your selves with what you have been suffered to do hitherto, and seek not to usurpe perpetuall domination upon Gods people: Words of ambition, jealousie and sedition; against the order of government established by God himselfe; as if Gods ordinary gifts of grace, did free them from all manner of subjection, and did confound all manner of order, by an equall popularity.

Numbers 16:4

He fell] See upon Numbers, cha. 14. v. 5. and 20. 6.

Numbers 16:5

Who are his] Whom he accepteth of for his particular servant, as me: And whom he hath consecrated by his gifts, and calling, as he hath done Aaron: and not by the gift of common grace, as he hath done the rest of the people: v. 3 And will cause him] will confirme his vocation, by some miraculous and extraordinary signe.

Numbers 16:6

This do] All this is ordained by Moses, through divine inspiration.

Numbers 16:7

Doth chuse] Approveth of, by accepting of his Incense, see upon Genesis 4:4.Ye take too much upon you] The Italian, Let it suffice you] You undertake too much, stay: Or content your selves with the honor ye have received from God, to be his inferiour Ministers.

Numbers 16:9

To minister unto them] To do in the Congregations name and stead, that which they were bound to do themselves about the service of God: See Numbers 3:1-51. v. 7.

Numbers 16:10

And he hath] He hath not only appointed you for this sacred function, but hath already installed you in it, and put you in possession and execution of the same: The Priesthood also] Which as it may here appeare Korah did purpose to make common to all the Levites, as it seemeth also that his followers, which were not Levites, purposed to do the like with Moses his politick power, and with the councels power, which God had appointed.

Numbers 16:14

Into a land] According to thy promise, Exodus 3:17. Leviticus 20:24 Put out] The Italian hath it, dazle] to dazle the peoples eyes by thy authority, that they may not finde, thy cunning and ambition of raigning.

Numbers 16:15

Respect not] Be not thou propitious unto them, when they shall present their prayers, and sacrifices unto thee, Psal. 109. 7. Or by the refusall of the solemn proof of their incenses: shew that thou doest disallow of their rebellion, See Genesis chapter 4. v. 4.

Numbers 16:17

Before the Lord] Before his Tabernacle.

Numbers 16:18

Fire] From the Altar, which was the only fire that was acceptable in all offerings, Leviticus 10:1.

Numbers 16:19

All the Congregation] The whole body of the people, or their governors, as it appeareth by v. 22. and it seemeth that they inclined to Korah his side, but did forbeare to declare themselvs openly, untill such time as they had heard Gods determination: The glory] the ordinary signes of his approach, and presence, which appeared by the comming down lower of the cloud, and by the brightnesse of it: See Exodus 16:1-36; Exodus 7:1-25; Exodus 10:1-29. Leviticus 9:6; Leviticus 9:23. Numbers 14. 10. and 20. 6.

Numbers 16:22

Of the spirits] Creator and preserver of the soules, who knowest the hearts; wouldest thou destroy thy divine work, for a sin which thou knowest to be of malice in Korah, but of ignorance and seduction in the rest?

Numbers 16:25

The Elders] The councell of seventy.

Numbers 16:26

And touch nothing] As being condemned to a curse, and anathema, in which case it was altogether forbidden to touch or come neere any such thing, Deuteronomy 13:16.

Numbers 16:27

And stood] For it was no more lawfull for them to come amongst the people.

Numbers 16:28

All these works] To have brought the people out of Egypt, to have conducted and guided them, and done all other things which belonged to mine office, verse 13.

Numbers 16:29

Be visited] By a naturall and ordinary death, which neverthelesse is always a punishment for sin, Romans 6:23.

Numbers 16:30

Go down] Go die under ground, contrary to the ordinary course of dying, which is to die above ground, and afterwards to be buried under ground.

Numbers 16:32

All the men] Numbers 26:11. it is said that Korahs children did not die in this execution, whereby it may be gathered that here are meant, some slaves or women, and finally all them which did stay with him, and were yet within his houshold, from which some were already severed by marriage or otherwise. As for Korah he died in the Tabernacle, with all the two hundred and fifty Levites which followed him, v. 35. 40. Numbers 26:10.

Numbers 16:35

Came out] It was created by him, and darted, either out of the cloud, or out of the Sanctuary.

Numbers 16:37

Of the burning] Of those dead bodies, which were fired and consumed to ashes, which were yet burning hot: hallowed] these censers, having been presented before God by his commandement, and besides that, belonging to persons which perished by a curse, ought now to belong unto God, and not be prophaned by any common use, or left at randome, see Leviticus 27:28.

Numbers 16:38

Of these sinners] Who through their sin, have been the causers of their own deaths: Of the Altar] of burnt offerings, which was of wood, Exodus, cha. 27. 1

Numbers 16:45

They fell] To beseech the Lord, and make intercession for the people, as Numbers 20:6.

Numbers 16:46

Take] A signe of intercession, by a prayer of charity, and publick office, see Revelation 8:3. is a figure of the only intercession of Christ by merits: The plague] that is to say, the mortality, which happened suddainly and by miracle.