Numbers 15:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 15:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you,
Numbers 15:3 And will make an offering by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or in a freewill offering, or in your solemn feasts, to make a sweet savour unto the LORD, of the herd, or of the flock:
Numbers 15:4 Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the LORD bring a meat offering of a tenth deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of an hin of oil.
Numbers 15:5 And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.
This is another one of those chapters that will be hard for me as it details the different offerings for differing reasons.
The first thing that jumps out is the unequivocal preface of “when ye be come into the land.” Despite the rebellion and unbelief of the current generation, God had purposed that Israel would possess Canaan, and so it would be done.
Isaiah 14:24 “The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand:”
The LORD spoke to Moses to give him instructions to give the people regarding the offerings that they were to make once they had taken possession of Canaan. This seems to imply that the instructions were probably given a few years after the events at Kadeshbarnea since they are only pertinent to those who were nineteen years old and under when those events occurred. Point is made that they will possess the land because the LORD—the one true King of heaven and earth—is giving it to them.
When making an offering by fire—a burnt offering, or a sacrifice pertinent to a vow, or a freewill offering or as a sweet savor offering in connection with one of the solemn feasts—either of cattle or flock (sheep or goats) it is to be accompanied by a meal offering of a tenth of flour (two quarts) mixed with a fourth part of an hin (a quart) of oil. They were also to include a fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink offering in conjunction with the offering by fire. These are the instructions that were to be followed for each lamb offered as a burnt offering.
Numbers 15:6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth deals of flour mingled with the third part of an hin of oil.
Numbers 15:7 And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.
If the offering was a ram, they were to include a meal offering of a gallon of flour mixed with 2.5 pints of oil along with a drink offering of 2.5 pints of wine as a sweet savor unto the LORD.
Numbers 15:8 And when thou preparest a bullock for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace offerings unto the LORD:
Numbers 15:9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth deals of flour mingled with half an hin of oil.
Numbers 15:10 And thou shalt bring for a drink offering half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
When the offering is a bull, they were to include a meal offering of 1.5 gallons of flour mixed with two quarts of oil along with a drink offering of two quarts of wine.
Numbers 15:11 Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.
Numbers 15:12 According to the number that ye shall prepare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number.
This completes the instructions for the burnt offerings of a bull, ram, lamb or young goat. These guidelines are to be followed for each animal offering that is made.
Numbers 15:13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
Numbers 15:14 And if a stranger sojourn with you, or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD; as ye do, so he shall do.
Numbers 15:15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.
Numbers 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
Moses informs us that these guidelines for offerings applied to every natural born Israeli as well as any strangers that had become proselytes and wanted to make offerings to the LORD. Verses 15 and 16 repeat this mandate so that there could be no misunderstanding by Jew or foreigner regarding their participation.
I think this is a clear type or picture of the truth that the LORD has always intended that God’s plan of redemption was to be the same for all people—both Jew and Gentile.
JFB offers this helpful information: “The accessory sacrifices were always increased in proportion to the greater worth and magnitude of its principal.”
Guzik offers a bit more: “The grain with the drink offering of wine meant to accompany the blood sacrifice speak of thanksgiving and joy….”
Application: Every offering we give and/or sacrifice we make as we serve the LORD should be done with joy and thanksgiving!
Numbers 15:17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 15:18 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,
Numbers 15:19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land, ye shall offer up an heave offering unto the LORD.
Numbers 15:20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for an heave offering: as ye do the heave offering of the threshingfloor, so shall ye heave it.
Numbers 15:21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the LORD an heave offering in your generations.
Once again the LORD speaks to Moses with instructions for the people applicable to when they entered the land He had promised to give them. When they begin to eat of the produce of their harvests, they are to offer a heave offering to the LORD. The offering is to consist of a cake of their first dough in the same way they had been instructed to offer a heave offering of the firstfruits of grain. This instruction is to be followed by all succeeding generations of the people dwelling in the land.
Exodus 23:19 “The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the LORD thy God.”
The NIV Commentary adds the following insight: “The concept of the firstfruits symbolizes that all blessing is from the Lord and all increase belongs to him.”
Numbers 15:22 ¶ And if ye have erred, and not observed all these commandments, which the LORD hath spoken unto Moses,
Numbers 15:23 Even all that the LORD hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the LORD commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations;
Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
Numbers 15:25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them; for it is ignorance: and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD, and their sin offering before the LORD, for their ignorance:
Numbers 15:26 And it shall be forgiven all the congregation of the children of Israel, and the stranger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance.
This section of verses addresses sins of ignorance applicable to the congregation as a whole. Once the congregation realized that they had committed a sin in ignorance, they were to bring a young bull to offer as a burnt offering for a sweet savor to the LORD along with the prescribed meal and drink offerings and a young goat for a sin offering. The priest was to offer these sacrifices on behalf of the people. Point is made that they would be forgiven. This forgiveness would apply to every member of the congregation—both Jew and foreign proselyte.
Numbers 15:27 And if any soul sin through ignorance, then he shall bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering.
Numbers 15:28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the LORD, to make an atonement for him; and it shall be forgiven him.
Numbers 15:29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.
This section of verses addresses sins of ignorance committed by an individual. Upon realizing his sin, the offender was to bring a she goat of the first year for a sin offering. Once again, when the priest offers the prescribed sacrifice in accordance with God’s command, it is noted that the sinner is forgiven. As with all the other sacrifices addressed so far, this law applies to both natural born Israeli and proselyte.
It is my opinion that a female goat was specified in light of the fact that it was Eve that was deceived by the servant (sinning ignorantly so to speak) and that ultimately resulted in Adam’s willful sin against the LORD.
1 Timothy 2:14 “And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”
Guzik offers a wise observation concerning unintentional sin: “Many today think and live as if an action is unintentional, it cannot be sin. But many of the worst sins are committed with the best of intentions. Intentions matter nothing when the result is sin.” He then offers the following example: “Especially in the 20th century, all sorts of horrific atrocities and terror have been committed by those dedicated to honorable causes; Communism sought to establish a just, fair economy where each worked according to his ability and received according to his need - and became the instrument of the genocide of tens of millions of people.”
Numbers 15:30 ¶ But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.
Numbers 15:31 Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him.
These are hard verses; there is no path to forgiveness for the offender. The instruction pertains to one who willfully chooses to blaspheme the LORD showing contempt for His word and refusing to obey His commands. Such a person is to be “cut off”—the Hebrew indicates to destroy, to perish. In light of the following incident, I have no problem believing that the death sentence is the correct understanding.
Wiersbe: “To sin ‘brazenly’ or ‘presumptuously’ means to disobey God’s law deliberately and arrogantly, knowing full well the danger involved. The Hebrew literally means ‘to sin with a high hand’ as though the person were shaking his or her fist in the face of God, daring God to do something.”
Numbers 15:32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day.
Numbers 15:33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.
Numbers 15:34 And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.
Numbers 15:35 And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.
Numbers 15:36 And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.
At some point during the wilderness wanderings, a man was observed gathering sticks on the Sabbath day. I think it is important to note that this was public, blatant disregard for God’s law. Those that saw him brought him to Moses and Aaron in the sight of the people. They put him under guard until it was determined what was to be done. They knew (or should have) that he should be put to death from previous instruction.
Exodus 35:2 “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.”
They just didn’t know how. The LORD informed Moses that the man was to be put to death by stoning, and that all the congregation was to take part in his execution outside the camp. Judgment was carried out as declared by the LORD, and the man died.
My mind made a direct connection to Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5). In both instances, the LORD is making a powerful statement about the importance of honoring Him with sincere obedience. In both instances the sentence seems to be excessive for the sin committed. The wilderness wanderings had shown that God’s people needed to understand that God is holy and must be honored accordingly. Blatant disregard of His commands had to be dealt with swiftly and harshly to serve as a deterrent to others. In the early days of the church, the Christians needed to realize that very same truth; so the blatant lies of Ananias and Sapphira were dealt with swiftly to serve as a deterrent to others.
Numbers 15:37 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:
Numbers 15:39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:40 That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
Like a the wonderful Father He is, the LORD provides a way to help the people remember what He expects of them. He instructed Moses to have the people to add fringes to the borders of their garments to serve as a reminder of all His commandments. The fringes were tassels that were attached to the hem by blue twine or thread. Point is made that the reminder was intended to promote obedience. They were to seek to do God’s will—not their own. This would ensure that they remain holy before God.
Once again Guzik offers some possible insight: “Perhaps a blue thread was commanded because the ark of the covenant was covered with a blue cloth, blue curtains adorned the tabernacle, and blue was in the high priest’s garments. The color blue was full of holy reminders.”
Coffman also offers helpful information: “The garment utilized multiple knots in the fringe in order to be able to identify each thread (with the knots), and each knot with a particular commandment.
Numbers 15:41 I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.
The chapter closed with a declaration by the LORD of who He Is and His relationship to the people of Israel.
“I am the LORD” - the self-existent, eternal One.
“your God” - the supreme authority
your Deliverer – “which brought you out of the land of Egypt”
“to be your God” – acknowledged by you as your supreme authority
And then an exclamation point—“I am the LORD your God.” No matter what you do or what you choose to believe, that fact will not change. In spite of their rebellion, in spite of their unbelief, He will honor His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 17:4–8 “As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”
The same is true today. The LORD our God is the all-powerful Creator and the Supreme Authority over all the reality of creation—both the seen and the unseen. It doesn’t matter what people choose to believe in spite of all the evidence staring them in the face. He is also our one and only Deliverer—the only way to heaven and eternal life in the presence of our Savior and God the Father. That is the truth, and truth never changes. What we may think to be true may change—but truth never changes.
Numbers 16:1 ¶ Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Numbers 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Numbers 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
This chapter opens with a record of yet another rebellion against Moses with pride at its root. Korah, of the tribe of Levi, and Dathan, Abiram and On, of the tribe of Reuben gathered a coalition of 250 men that were recognized as leaders among the people to challenge the leadership of Moses. They claimed that all of the people had been set apart as holy before the LORD; therefore, why should Moses be the one in charge?
As we continue to read, it seems that they are jealous of the choice of Aaron and his sons to serve as priests. They were thinking Moses had given that privilege to Aaron because he was his brother.
JFB provided some insight as to why men from the tribe of Reuben would have been the primary coconspirators with Korah and the sons of Levi. They reasoned that the priesthood was considered to be the right of the firstborn of every family. Since Reuben was the firstborn son of Jacob, they felt like that privilege should have been given to the sons of Reuben.
Numbers 16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
Numbers 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Moses immediately fell to the ground face down. I am assuming this to be a sign of his despair at the attitude of his people; some commentators posit that he was praying. He told Korah and those who had joined him in protest that the LORD would make it clear whom He had chosen to “come near unto Him” (as priests seems to be implied). In fact, the LORD would make it clear whom He had chosen to serve as the leader of the people.
Numbers 16:6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
Numbers 16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
Moses then instructed Korah and all those with him to take their censers and bring them prepared with fire and incense to present before the LORD. This is significant because only the priests were authorized to offer incense before the LORD. The LORD would then make clear whom He had chosen. Moses had nothing to do with the choice of Aaron. He boldly told this group of Levis that they had assumed more authority than they possessed.
Numbers 16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:
Numbers 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
Numbers 16:10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
Numbers 16:11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?
Moses then basically pointed out what a privilege had been conferred upon the sons of Levi to have been chosen to serve the LORD in the tabernacle and serve His people. It is verse ten that clarifies that he understood their complaint to be that they should also be allowed to serve as priests. Considering their privileged position among the people, Moses didn’t understand why they would complain against the LORD and murmur against Aaron.
Wiersbe: The selfish desire for greatness and authority is a common theme in Scripture, yet the most important place in the Christian life is the place of God’s choice, the place He’s prepared for us and prepared us to fill. The important thing isn’t status but faithfulness, doing the work God wants us to do.”
Numbers 16:12 ¶ And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
Numbers 16:13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
Numbers 16:14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
It seems that Dathan and Abiram left while Moses was talking to Korah, so Moses sent for them; but they refused to come. They treated Moses with complete contempt and answered him with a taunting message. They declared that Moses had taken them out of a land flowing with milk and honey (referencing Egypt) and still had not brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey as he had promised—a land that was to be our inheritance from the LORD. They accused him of bringing them into the desert to kill them and acting like an overlord in the process.
“wilt thou put out the eyes of these men?” – After looking at several commentaries, this seems to be a way of implying that Moses expected the people to follow him blindly or that he thought they were blind to his faults. Coffman quotes Plaut as revealing that this is an idiom that means to "fool us, hoodwink us, throw dust in our eyes, or blind us to the true facts."
It must be noted that as the primary organizers of the rebellion made their complaints and accusations, the group of 250 leaders remain silent. We will see as we continue to read that their silence was a sign of their agreement. Not one is recorded as speaking up in defense of Moses or Aaron.
Courson: “Rebellion never has its root in principle. Rebellion has its root in pride. And because of this, the rebellious person doesn’t see things right.”
Numbers 16:15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.
Meek Moses is now very angry. Meekness is not weakness; it is strength under control. He reminds the LORD that he has not abused his authority in any way and asks the LORD not to respect the offering made by these men. I assume that Moses is speaking in reference to the presentation of the censers.
I liked Guzik’s observation on this verse: “Sometimes people are offended that a man like Moses was angry with men like Dathan and Abiram. They think a gentle, easy love is the proper response. Such thinking is understandable, but wrong. Shepherds are gentle with wayward sheep who might injure themselves, but they are passionate against wolves who would injure the flock.”
Numbers 16:16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:
Numbers 16:17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
Numbers 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
Moses instructed Korah to appear with the whole group of men that had sided with him at the door of the tabernacle the next morning. Each man was to bring a censer containing fire and incense and Aaron would do the same. Amazingly, they were so blinded with pride that they did as Moses requested. The glory of the LORD made His presence known before all that were gathered there.
Numbers 16:20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Numbers 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.
Numbers 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?
The LORD then told Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the group that had gathered there so that He could destroy them in an instant. Moses and Aaron fell prostrate before the LORD and begged Him as the giver of all life not to take the lives of the whole congregation because of the sin of one man—in reference to Korah as the primary instigator.
Courson: “We can’t learn to be humble without being humiliated, to be forgiving without being wronged, to be sweet without bitter experiences. Therefore, God uses people and situations in our lives to allow us to experience these things personally rather than just to propound them intellectually.”
Numbers 16:23 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Numbers 16:25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
Numbers 16:26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.
Numbers 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
The LORD relented and told Moses to get the people to get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. (It seems On has come to his senses.) Moses then headed to the tents of Dathan and Abiram with the elders of Israel following close behind him. (Remember the 70 elders that were chosen back in chapter 11.) Moses then instructed all the people near the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram to distance themselves from their tents and to be careful not to even touch anything belonging to them. If they did, they too would be consumed in the LORD’s judgment. The people did as Moses said. Moses notes that Dathan and Abiram came out to stand in the door of their tents along with their wives, sons and little children.
JFB notes that Korah’s tent would not have been in the camp of Reuben, but this appears to be where Moses took his stand since the challenge of Dathan and Abiram was directed at him.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Numbers 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
Numbers 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.
Moses then boldly declared that the LORD was going to affirm that Moses was acting in accordance with His command. It will be the work of the LORD—not of Moses. Moses declared that if these men died a natural death, then it would prove that the LORD had not sent him. However, if the LORD did something new and caused the earth to open up and swallow these men and all that belonged to them taking them straight to the pit, it would clearly show that they had scorned the LORD.
Numbers 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Numbers 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
Numbers 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
As soon as Moses had finished speaking, the ground opened up and swallowed the men and everything belonging to them. Moses notes that they were swallowed up alive and the earth closed back up.
Numbers 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
All the people that had witnessed this miracle began fleeing when they heard the screams of those being swallowed up in the earth. They were afraid they might be next.
Numbers 16:35 ¶ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
The LORD then dealt with the 250 men that had sided with the leaders of the conspiracy and sent fire to consume the men that had presumed to offer their incense before the LORD.
We know from a later chapter in this book that Korah and his belongings were swallowed up as well; maybe Aaron headed to that location when Moses went to confront Dathan and Abiram in the camp of Reuben. We also know that Korah was not left without descendants. I would assume these descendants were old enough to make their own decisions and had disagreed with their father and distanced themselves from their family at the time of judgment.
Numbers 26:9–11 “And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.”
This is a hard teaching. I know I cringe at the thought of the little children in particular being condemned to the fate of their wicked fathers. Personally, I believe that those children that were under the age of accountability (an age known only to the LORD and probably different for each individual) will be in heaven. As far as the others of their families that were destroyed with them, I believe it was an act that looked toward the future and preventing another rebellion by those seeking vengeance for the judgment enacted against their fathers.
This should also serve as a strong warning against associating with those who choose to reject God’s word. The more you associate with such people, the more you will become like them and will eventually find yourself out of God’s will and suffering the consequences.
Numbers 16:36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 16:37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.
Numbers 16:38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
Numbers 16:39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:
Numbers 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
Once the judgment of the LORD had been completed, He told Moses to tell Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to gather all the censers that had belonged to the men who were destroyed by fire. Because they had been used to present incense before the LORD, they were considered holy. These censers served to testify against the sin of those that had used them. Eleazar was to take these censers, hammer them flat and use them to make a covering for the altar. This covering was to serve as a reminder to the people that only those of the seed of Aaron were to be permitted to offer incense before the LORD per the command of the LORD through Moses.
Adam Clarke pointed out that Aaron is a type of Jesus Christ. He explained, “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…. 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…. 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.”
Numbers 16:41 ¶ But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.
Amazing to me, on the very next day the people of Israel began murmuring against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of killing the people of the LORD. How could they not understand that it was the hand of God in light of such amazing miraculous judgments!
Wiersbe: “What is there about the human heart that makes it so easy to follow the crowd and disobey the Lord? The one thing we learn from history is that we don’t learn from history, and that includes church history. Seeing a clear example of what to do or not to do is not a guarantee that we will do it! We need God’s help even to learn from our mistakes!”
Numbers 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Numbers 16:43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 16:44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 16:45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
As the people gathered together to complain against Moses and Aaron, they saw the cloud cover the tabernacle and the glory of the LORD reveal His presence in it. Moses and Aaron immediately went to the tabernacle. The LORD then told Moses to get away from the people because he was going to destroy all of them.
Once again Moses and Aaron prostrated themselves before the LORD.
Numbers 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
Numbers 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
Numbers 16:48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
Numbers 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.
Numbers 16:50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
I believe that Moses was led by the Holy Spirit in all of his responses to the complaints and accusations of the people. I also believe that it was through the Spirit’s guidance that he knew how to respond to the LORD each time. This time he told Aaron to go and get a censer of incense and take fire from the altar to light it and quickly circulate among the congregation to make atonement for the people. He knew that the LORD was very angry and had sent a judgment of plague among the people. Aaron obeyed immediately and the plague was stopped, but not before 14,700 people had died. This was in addition to the deaths of those associated with the rebellion of Korah. Aaron returned to join Moses at the door of the tabernacle when the plague had been stopped.
Aaron was acting in the role of intercessor. In the scripture, incense is recognized as representing the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 8:3–4 “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand.”
Prayer is the most powerful weapon at the Christian’s disposal; and, sad to say, probably the least used. There are so many beautiful prayer promises. These are some of my favorites.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
James 5:16 “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Matthew 21:22 “And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”
John 15:7 “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”
Matthew 7:7–8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”