Numbers 16:40

_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:_ The brasen censers ... made broad plates ... To be a memorial. The altar of burnt offerings being made of wood, and covered with brass, this additional covering of broad plates not only rendered it doubly secure against the fire, but served as a warning beacon to deter all from future invasions of the priesthood....

40._To be a memorial unto the children of Israel. _This passage again confirms what I have just said, that God’s judgments, which ought to remain in full remembrance in every age, straightway escape, and are blotted out front men’s minds, unless they are provided with certain aids to meditate upon them. This, however, does not happen so much from ignorance as neglect. Wherefore we ought to be the more attentive to the aids to memory, which may retain us in the path of duty....

35-40 A fire went out from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense, while Aaron, who stood with them, was preserved alive. God is jealous of the honour of his own institutions, and will not have them invaded. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The censers are devoted, and, as all devoted things, must be made serviceable to the glory of God. This covering of the altar would remind the children of Israel of this event, that others might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. They brought destruction on themselves both in body and soul. Thus all who break the law and neglect the gospel choose and love death....

VINDICATION OF THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD. EXPOSITION THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH (Numbers 16:1). NUMBERS 16:1 NOW KORAH … TOOK MEN. וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח. The word "took" stands alone at the head of the sentence in the singular number. This does not by itself confine its reference to Korah, because it may be taken as repeated after each of the other names; at the same time, the construction suggests that in its original form Korah alone was mentioned, and that the other names were afterwards added in order to include them in the same statement. The ellipsis after "took" (if it be one) may be filled up by

[TO BE] A MEMORIAL UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL,.... The whole body of them; this explains what is meant by sign, Numbers 16:38; that it was to put or keep in mind what follows: THAT NO STRANGER WHICH [IS] NOT OF THE SEED OF AARON COME NEAR TO OFFER INCENSE BEFORE THE LORD; not only any Gentile but any Israelite, and not any Israelite only, but any Levite; none but those of the family of Aaron might offer incense before the Lord; THAT HE BE NOT AS KORAH AND AS HIS COMPANY; this makes it clear that Korah perished at this time, though it is nowhere expressed; and it seems pretty plain from hence that he perished by fire, as his company, the two hundred fifty men with censers, did: AS THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM BY THE HAND OF MOSES; either to Korah, who is the immediate antecedent, and who perished as the Lord had told him by Moses he shou

6. THE REBELLION OF KORAH CHAPTER 16 _ 1. The rebellion of Korah (Numbers 16:1)_ 2. The punishment (Numbers 16:20) 3. Eleazar and his work (Numbers 16:36) 4. The murmuring of the whole congregation (Numbers 16:41) 5. The staying of the plague (Numbers 16:44) The history is now resumed and we have the worst episode of Israel's history in the wilderness before us. We have seen and followed the steps downward and toward this fearful rebellion and the terrible punishment which followed. It s

NUMBERS 16. THE REBELLION OF KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM (JE and P). The narrative fuses together accounts of distinct revolts led by different individuals and inspired by different motives. The first (from JE) had for its instigators Dathan and Abiram, who are mentioned separately in Numbers 16:12; Numbers 16:25; Numbers 16:27; Deuteronomy 11:6, and who, as Reubenites (a tribe that once possessed the primacy, Genesis 49:3), disputed the civil authority of Moses (Numb

MEMORIAL. Compare Ch. Numbers 17:10; 1 Corinthians 10:11, and see Structure,. 203. Hence history rehearsed in Deuteronomy 11:6. Note the two memorials added to the tabernacle through Korah's rebellion (see the Structure, p. 203), the plates (36-40) and Aaron's rod (Numbers 17:1). OFFER. burn. Hebrew. _katar._ App-43. AS. according as. TO HIM, or with regard thereto....

_which is not of the seed of Aaron_ i.e. a priest, and not a Levite as Korah was (see note before Numbers 16:37)....

D. REVOLT AND PUNISHMENT OF KORAH, DATHAN AND ABIRAM (NUMBERS 16:1-40) TEXT Numbers 16:1. Now Korah, the son if 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: 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; 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? 4. And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face; 5. And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, sayi