Num 16:1-35, 26:10-11, Psa 42:1, 44:1, 45:1, 49:1, 84:1, 85:1 | TSK | STEP | The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others. The censers are reserved to holy use. Fourteen thousand and seven hundred are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron. Aaron by incense stays the plague. Korah. sons of Reuben. took men.As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders {yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt,} "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb {wyyikkach,} "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, {ben,} son, instead of {beney,} sons.

Numbers 16:1-35

1 The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

23 Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents.

31 The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others.

36 The censers are reserved to holy use.

41 Fourteen thousand and seven hundred are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron.

46 Aaron by incense stays the plague.

Korah.

26:9,10; 27:3; Ex 6:18,21; Jude 1:11

sons of Reuben.

Ge 49:3,4; 1Ch 5:1,2

took men.As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders {yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt,} "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb {wyyikkach,} "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, {ben,} son, instead of {beney,} sons.

famous.

26:9; Ge 6:4; 1Ch 5:24; 12:30; Eze 16:14; 23:10

gathered.

11; 12:1,2; 14:1-4; Ps 106:16; Ac 7:39,51

Ye take too much upon you. Heb. It is much for you. allthe.

Ex 19:6; Ezr 9:2; Isa 1:11-16; Jer 7:3-12; Mt 3:9,10; Ro 2:28,29

the Lord.

14:14; 35:34; Ex 29:45,46; Ps 68:17

45; 14:5; 20:6; Jos 7:6

the Lord.

Mal 3:18; 2Ti 2:19

who is holy.

3; Le 21:6-8,12-15; Isa 61:5,6; 1Pe 2:5-9; Re 1:6; 5:9,10

will cause.

Ex 28:43; Le 10:3; Ps 65:4; Eze 40:46; 44:15,16; Eph 2:13

Heb 10:19-22; 12:14

even him.

17:5; Ex 28:1; Le 8:2; 1Sa 2:28; Ps 105:26; Joh 15:16; Ac 1:2,24

Ac 13:2; 15:7; 22:14; 2Ti 2:3,4

35-40,46-48; Le 10:1; 16:12,13; 1Ki 18:21-23

that the man.

3,5; Eph 1:4; 2Th 2:13; 1Pe 2:9

too much.

3; 1Ki 18:17,18; Mt 21:23-27

Seemeth it but.

13; Ge 30:15; 1Sa 18:23; 2Sa 7:19; Isa 7:13; Eze 34:18; 1Co 4:3

separated.

1:53; 3:41-45; 8:14-16; 18:2-6; De 10:8; 2Ch 35:3; Ne 12:44

Eze 44:10,11; Ac 13:2

and seek.

Pr 13:10; Mt 20:21,22; Lu 22:24; Ro 12:10; Php 2:3; 3Jo 1:9

against.

3; 1Sa 8:7; Lu 10:16; Joh 13:20; Ro 13:2

what is Aaron.

Ex 16:7,8; 17:2; Ac 5:4; 1Co 3:5

Pr 29:9; Isa 3:5; 1Pe 2:13,14; Jude 1:8

a small.

out of a.

11:5; Ex 1:11,22; 2:23

to kill.

20:3,4; Ex 16:3; 17:3

thou make.

Ex 2:14; Ps 2:2,3; Lu 19:14; Ac 7:25-27,35

Moreover.

36:8-10; Ex 3:8,17; Le 20:24

put out. Heb. bore out.

very wroth.

12:3; Ex 32:19; Mt 5:22; Mr 3:5; Eph 4:26

Respect.

6,7; Ge 4:4,5; Isa 1:10-15

I have not.Though Moses was their ruler, under God, yet, so far from oppressing them, he had not imposed the smallest tax, nor taken, as a present, so much as an ass from one of them. The common present that is now made to the great, in these countries, is a horse; but there is reason to believe, that an ass might formerly have answered the same purpose. "If it is a visit of ceremony from a {bashaw,}" says Dr. Russell, "or other person in power, a fine horse, sometimes with furniture, or some such valuable present, is made to him at his departure." As asses were esteemed no dishonourable beasts for the saddle, Sir. J. Chardin, in his MS., supposes, that when Samuel disclaimed having taken the ass of any one, (1 Sa 12:3,) he is to be understood of not having taken any ass for his riding. In the same light, he considers this similar declaration of Moses. His reason is "asses being then esteemed very honourable creatures for riding on, (ch. 22:21, 30. Jud 5:10. 2 Sa 16:2,) as they are at this very time in Persia, being rode with saddles."

1Sa 12:3,4; Ac 20:33,34; 1Co 9:15; 2Co 1:12; 7:2; 12:14-17

Be thou.

before.

Korah.

and the glory.

42; 12:5; 14:10; Ex 16:7,10; Le 9:6,23

Separate.

Ge 19:15-22; Jer 5:16; Ac 2:40; 2Co 6:17; Eph 5:6,7; Re 18:4

that I may.

45; 14:12,15; Ex 32:10; 33:5; Ps 73:19; Isa 37:36; Heb 12:28,29

they fell.

4,45; 14:5

the God.

27:16; Job 12:10; Ec 12:7; Isa 57:16; Zec 12:1; Heb 12:9

one man sin.

Ge 18:23-25,32; Jos 7:1-26; 2Sa 24:1,17; Ro 5:18; 1Co 13:7

21It should seem that Dathan and Abiram had set up a spacious tabernacle in the midst of the tents of their families, where they kept court, met in council, and hung out their flag of defiance against Moses; it is here called the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. There, as in the place of rendezvous, Dathan and Abiram stayed, when Korah and his friends went up to the tabernacle of the Lord, waiting the issue of their trial; but here we are told how they had their business done, before that trial was over. God will take what method he pleases in his judgments.

11:16,17,25,30

Depart, I pray you.The rebels, with all that belonged to them, were, as an accursed thing, devoted to utter destruction. (Le 27:28, 29. Jos 7:13-15, 23-26.) The people therefore were forbidden to touch anything belonging to them; that they might enter a solemn protest against their wickedness, acknowledge the justice of their punishment, and express their fear of being involved in it.

21-24; Ge 19:12-14; De 13:17; Isa 52:11; Mt 10:14; Ac 8:20; 13:51

2Co 6:17; 1Ti 5:22; Re 18:4

and stood.

2Ki 9:30,31; Job 9:4; 40:10,11; Pr 16:18; 18:12; Isa 28:14

Hereby.

Ex 3:12; 4:1-9; 7:9; De 18:22; Zec 2:9; 4:9; Joh 5:36; 11:42; 14:11

for I have.{Kee lo millibbee,} "and that not out of my heart." It was not of my own device or contrivance. It was not out of an ambitious desire to be great myself that I took upon me the government, nor out of private affection to my brother, that I appointed him and his family to the priesthood.

of mine.

24:13; 1Ki 18:36; Jer 23:16; Eze 13:17; Joh 5:30; 6:38

the common, etc. Heb. as every man dieth. visited.

Ex 20:5; 32:34; Job 35:15; Isa 10:3; Jer 5:9; La 4:22

the Lord.

1Ki 22:28; 2Ch 18:27

make a new thing.Heb. create a creature; {wëim beriah yivra Yehowah,} "And if Jehovah should create a creation," i.e., do such a thing as was never done before.

Job 31:3; Isa 28:21; 43:19; 45:7,12; Jer 31:22

and they.

33; Ps 55:15

26:10,11; 27:3; De 11:6; Ps 106:17,18

the earth.

30; Ge 4:11; Isa 5:14; Re 12:16

all the.

17; 26:11; 27:3; 1Ch 6:22,37; Ps 84:1; 85:1; 88:1; *titles

into the.

Ps 9:15; 55:23; 69:15; 143:7; Isa 14:9,15; Eze 32:18,30

they perished.

Jude 1:11

fled.

Isa 33:3; Zec 14:5; Re 6:15-17

Lest.

17:12,13

And there.

11:1; 26:10; Le 10:2; Ps 106:18

two hundred.

2,17

Numbers 26:10-11

earth opened.

16:2,31-35,38; 27:3; Ex 16:35; Ps 106:17,18

together.The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, but that he was burnt, as appears to have been the fact; and the Psalmist also, (Ps 106:17,) only mentions Dathan and Abiram as having been swallowed up. "And the earth swallowed them up, what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the 250 men, who became a sign."

they became a sign.

16:38; 1Sa 2:34; Jer 29:22; Eze 14:8; 1Co 10:6-10; 2Pe 2:6; Jude 1:7 It seems to be intimated in ch. 16:27, 31-33, that the sons and the little ones of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up; but the text here expressly affirms, that the children of Korah "died not;" and their descendants were famous even in David's time. On a close inspection, however, of ver. 27, we shall find, that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned.

16:5; Ex 6:24; 1Ch 6:22-28; Ps 42:1; 44:1; 45:1; 46:1; 47:1; *titles

Ps 48:1; 49:1; 50:1; *titles

Psalms 42:1

1 David's zeal to serve God in the temple.

5 He encourages his soul to trust in God.

A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021. (Title.){Maschil,} or a Psalm giving instruction, of the sons, etc. Or, "An instructive Psalm," or didactic ode, "for the sons of Korah." It is generally supposed to have been written by David when driven from Jerusalem and beyond Jordan, by Absalom's rebellion.

the sons.

44:1; 45:1; 46:1; 47:1; 48:1; 49:1; 84:1; 85:1; *titles

Nu 16:1,32; 26:11; 1Ch 6:33-37; 25:1-5

panteth. Heb. brayeth. so panteth.

63:1,2; 84:2; 143:6,7; Isa 26:8,9

Psalms 44:1

1 The church, in memory of former favours,

7 complains of her present evils.

17 Professing her integrity,

24 she fervently prays for succour.

A.M. 3294. B.C. 710. (Title.) for the sons.

42:1; *title

have heard.

22:31; 71:18; 78:3-6; 105:1,2; Ex 12:24-27; 13:14,15; Isa 38:19

Joe 1:3

in the times.

Nu 21:14-16,27-30; Job 8:8,9; 15:17-19

Psalms 45:1

1 The majesty and grace of Christ's kingdom.

10 The duty of the church, and the benefits thereof.

(Title.) To the chief.Or, rather, "To the chief musician upon the hexachords, a didactic ode for the sons of Korah, and a song of loves." {Shoshannim} most probably denotes hexachords, or six-stringed instruments, from {shesh,} "six:" hence the Persian {shasta,} a six-stringed lute. This Psalm is supposed by some to be an epithalamium, or nuptial song, on the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter; but with what propriety could Solomon be described as fairer than the children of men, a mighty warrior, a victorious conqueror, and a prince whose throne is for ever and ever? A greater than Solomon is here; and the person described is no other than the Messiah, as is acknowledged by many Jewish writers. The Targum on ver. 3 says, "Thy beauty, {malka meshecha,} O King Messiah, is greater than the children of men;" and the Apostle expressly quotes it as such Heb 1:8, 9. It was probably written by David after Nathan's prophetic address 1 Ch 17:27.

Shoshannim.

69:1; 80:1; *titles

Maschil. or, of instruction. A song.

So 1:1,2-7; Isa 5:1; Eph 5:32

is inditing. Heb. boileth, or, bubbleth up.

Job 32:18-20; Pr 16:23; Mt 12:35

a good.

49:3; Job 33:3; 34:4; Pr 8:6-9

touching.

2:6; 24:7-10; 110:1,2; So 1:12; Isa 32:1,2; Mt 25:34; 27:37

tongue.

2Sa 23:2; 2Pe 1:21

Psalms 49:1

1 An earnest persuasion to build the faith of resurrection, not on worldly power, but on God.

16 Worldly prosperity is not to be admired.

A.M. cir. 3464. B.C. cir. 540. (Title.) A Psalm.This Psalm was probably written by one of the descendants of the sons of Korah, during the Babylonian captivity.

for. or, of.

46:1; 48:1; *titles

Hear.

34:11; 78:1; Pr 1:20-23; Mt 11:15; 13:9; Re 2:7,11,17,29

inhabitants.

50:1; Isa 49:6; Mal 1:11; Mt 28:19,20; Ro 3:29; 10:18

Psalms 84:1

1 The prophet, longing for the communion of the sanctuary,

4 shews how blessed they are that dwell therein.

8 He prays to be restored unto it.

A.M. 3469. B.C. 535. (Title.) Gittith.

8:1; 81:1; *titles

A Psalm.Some suppose this Psalm was composed by David when driven from Jerusalem by Absalom's rebellion: but it is more probable that it was written at the foundation of the second temple.

for. or, of.

How.

36:8; 27:4; 48:1,2; 87:2,3; 122:1; Heb 9:23,24; Re 21:2,3,22,23

O Lord.

103:20,21; 1Ki 22:19; Ne 9:6; Isa 6:2,3

Psalms 85:1

1 The Psalmist, out of the experience of former mercies, prays for the continuance thereof.

8 He promises to wait thereon, out of confidence of God's goodness.

A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.) for. or, of.

42:1; *title

Lord.

Le 26:42; Joe 2:18; Zec 1:16

favourable unto. or, well pleased with.

77:7

thou hast.

14:7; 126:1,2; Ezr 1:11; 2:1; Jer 30:18; 31:23; Eze 39:25; Joe 3:1