Num 16:37-38 | NETfull | STEP | “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pick up the censers out of the flame, for they are holy, and then scatter the coals of fire at a distance.

Numbers 16:37-38

37 “Tell ^{▼▼ Heb “say to.”} Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to pick up ^{▼▼ The verb is the jussive with a vav (ו) coming after the imperative; it may be subordinated to form a purpose clause (“that he may pick up”) or the object of the imperative.} the censers out of the flame, for they are holy, and then scatter the coals of fire ^{▼▼ The Hebrew text just has “fire,” but it would be hard to conceive of this action apart from the idea of coals of fire.} at a distance. 38 As for the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their lives, ^{▼▼ The expression is “in/by/against their life.” That they sinned against their life means that they brought ruin to themselves.} they must be made ^{▼▼ The form is the perfect tense with vav (ו) consecutive. But there is no expressed subject for “and they shall make them,” and so it may be treated as a passive (“they shall [must] be made”).} into hammered sheets for covering the altar, because they presented them before the Lord and sanctified them. They will become a sign to the Israelites.”