Rebellion of Korah's Company - Numbers 16:1-40(17:1-5) The sedition of Korah and his company, with the renewed sanction of the Aaronic priesthood on the part of God which it occasioned, is the only important occurrenc…
1Coré hijo de Izhar, hijo de Coat, hijo de Leví, y Datán y Abiram hijos de Eliab, y On hijo de Pelet, de los hijos de Rubén, tomaron gente,
2y se levantaron contra Moisés con doscientos cincuenta varones de los hijos de Israel, príncipes de la congregación, de los del consejo, varones de renombre.
3Y se juntaron contra Moisés y Aarón y les dijeron: ¡Basta ya de vosotros! Porque toda la congregación, todos ellos son santos, y en medio de ellos está Jehová; ¿por qué, pues, os levantáis vosotros sobre la congregación de Jehová?
4Cuando oyó esto Moisés, se postró sobre su rostro;
5y habló a Coré y a todo su séquito, diciendo: Mañana mostrará Jehová quién es suyo, y quién es santo, y hará que se acerque a él; al que él escogiere, él lo acercará a sí.
6Haced esto: tomaos incensarios, Coré y todo su séquito,
7y poned fuego en ellos, y poned en ellos incienso delante de Jehová mañana; y el varón a quien Jehová escogiere, aquel será el santo; esto os baste, hijos de Leví.
8Dijo más Moisés a Coré: Oíd ahora, hijos de Leví:
9¿Os es poco que el Dios de Israel os haya apartado de la congregación de Israel, acercándoos a él para que ministréis en el servicio del tabernáculo de Jehová, y estéis delante de la congregación para ministrarles,
10y que te hizo acercar a ti, y a todos tus hermanos los hijos de Leví contigo? ¿Procuráis también el sacerdocio?
11Por tanto, tú y todo tu séquito sois los que os juntáis contra Jehová; pues Aarón, ¿qué es, para que contra él murmuréis?
12Y envió Moisés a llamar a Datán y Abiram, hijos de Eliab; mas ellos respondieron: No iremos allá.
13¿Es poco que nos hayas hecho venir de una tierra que destila leche y miel, para hacernos morir en el desierto, sino que también te enseñorees de nosotros imperiosamente?
14Ni tampoco nos has metido tú en tierra que fluya leche y miel, ni nos has dado heredades de tierras y viñas. ¿Sacarás los ojos de estos hombres? No subiremos.
15Entonces Moisés se enojó en gran manera, y dijo a Jehová: No mires a su ofrenda; ni aun un asno he tomado de ellos, ni a ninguno de ellos he hecho mal.
16Después dijo Moisés a Coré: Tú y todo tu séquito, poneos mañana delante de Jehová; tú, y ellos, y Aarón;
17y tomad cada uno su incensario y poned incienso en ellos, y acercaos delante de Jehová cada uno con su incensario, doscientos cincuenta incensarios; tú también, y Aarón, cada uno con su incensario.
18Y tomó cada uno su incensario, y pusieron en ellos fuego, y echaron en ellos incienso, y se pusieron a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión con Moisés y Aarón.
19Ya Coré había hecho juntar contra ellos toda la congregación a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión; entonces la gloria de Jehová apareció a toda la congregación.
20Y Jehová habló a Moisés y a Aarón, diciendo:
21Apartaos de entre esta congregación, y los consumiré en un momento.
22Y ellos se postraron sobre sus rostros, y dijeron: Dios, Dios de los espíritus de toda carne, ¿no es un solo hombre el que pecó? ¿Por qué airarte contra toda la congregación?
23Entonces Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
24Habla a la congregación y diles: Apartaos de en derredor de la tienda de Coré, Datán y Abiram.
25Entonces Moisés se levantó y fue a Datán y a Abiram, y los ancianos de Israel fueron en pos de él.
26Y él habló a la congregación, diciendo: Apartaos ahora de las tiendas de estos hombres impíos, y no toquéis ninguna cosa suya, para que no perezcáis en todos sus pecados.
27Y se apartaron de las tiendas de Coré, de Datán y de Abiram en derredor; y Datán y Abiram salieron y se pusieron a las puertas de sus tiendas, con sus mujeres, sus hijos y sus pequeñuelos.
28Y dijo Moisés: En esto conoceréis que Jehová me ha enviado para que hiciese todas estas cosas, y que no las hice de mi propia voluntad.
29Si como mueren todos los hombres murieren estos, o si ellos al ser visitados siguen la suerte de todos los hombres, Jehová no me envió.
30Mas si Jehová hiciere algo nuevo, y la tierra abriere su boca y los tragare con todas sus cosas, y descendieren vivos al Seol, entonces conoceréis que estos hombres irritaron a Jehová.
31Y aconteció que cuando cesó él de hablar todas estas palabras, se abrió la tierra que estaba debajo de ellos.
32Abrió la tierra su boca, y los tragó a ellos, a sus casas, a todos los hombres de Coré, y a todos sus bienes.
33Y ellos, con todo lo que tenían, descendieron vivos al Seol, y los cubrió la tierra, y perecieron de en medio de la congregación.
34Y todo Israel, los que estaban en derredor de ellos, huyeron al grito de ellos; porque decían: No nos trague también la tierra.
35También salió fuego de delante de Jehová, y consumió a los doscientos cincuenta hombres que ofrecían el incienso.
36Entonces Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
37Di a Eleazar hijo del sacerdote Aarón, que tome los incensarios de en medio del incendio, y derrame más allá el fuego; porque son santificados
38los incensarios de estos que pecaron contra sus almas; y harán de ellos planchas batidas para cubrir el altar; por cuanto ofrecieron con ellos delante de Jehová, son santificados, y serán como señal a los hijos de Israel.
39Y el sacerdote Eleazar tomó los incensarios de bronce con que los quemados habían ofrecido; y los batieron para cubrir el altar,
40en recuerdo para los hijos de Israel, de que ningún extraño que no sea de la descendencia de Aarón se acerque para ofrecer incienso delante de Jehová, para que no sea como Coré y como su séquito; según se lo dijo Jehová por medio de Moisés.
41El día siguiente, toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel murmuró contra Moisés y Aarón, diciendo: Vosotros habéis dado muerte al pueblo de Jehová.
42Y aconteció que cuando se juntó la congregación contra Moisés y Aarón, miraron hacia el tabernáculo de reunión, y he aquí la nube lo había cubierto, y apareció la gloria de Jehová.
43Y vinieron Moisés y Aarón delante del tabernáculo de reunión.
44Y Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
45Apartaos de en medio de esta congregación, y los consumiré en un momento. Y ellos se postraron sobre sus rostros.
46Y dijo Moisés a Aarón: Toma el incensario, y pon en él fuego del altar, y sobre él pon incienso, y ve pronto a la congregación, y haz expiación por ellos, porque el furor ha salido de la presencia de Jehová; la mortandad ha comenzado.
47Entonces tomó Aarón el incensario, como Moisés dijo, y corrió en medio de la congregación; y he aquí que la mortandad había comenzado en el pueblo; y él puso incienso, e hizo expiación por el pueblo,
48y se puso entre los muertos y los vivos; y cesó la mortandad.
49Y los que murieron en aquella mortandad fueron catorce mil setecientos, sin los muertos por la rebelión de Coré.
50Después volvió Aarón a Moisés a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión, cuando la mortandad había cesado.
CARL FRIEDRICH KEIL AND FRANZ DELITZSCH OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
I
Versículo 1
I. Num 16:1-2
Num 16:1-2
The authors of the rebellion were Korah the Levite, a descendant of the Kohathite Izhar, who was a brother of Amram, an ancestor (not the father) of Aaron and Moses (see at Exo 6:18), and three Reubenites, viz., Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, of the Reubenitish family of Pallu (Num 26:8-9), and On, the son of Peleth, a Reubenite, not mentioned again. The last of these (On) is not referred to again in the further course of this event, either because he played altogether a subordinate part in the affair, or because he had drawn back before the conspiracy came to a head. The persons named took (יקּח), i.e., gained over to their plan, or persuaded to join them, 250 distinguished men of the other tribes, and rose up with them against Moses and Aaron. On the construction ויּקוּמוּ...ויּקּה (Num 16:1 and Num 16:2), Gesenius correctly observes in his Thesaurus (p. 760), "There is an anakolouthon rather than an ellipsis, and not merely a copyist's error, in these words, 'and Korah,...and Dathan and Abiram, took and rose up against Moses with 250 men,' for they took 250 men, and rose up with them against Moses," etc. He also points to the analogous construction in Sa2 18:18. Consequently there is no necessity either to force a meaning upon לקח, which is altogether foreign to it, or to attempt an emendation of the text. "They rose up before Moses:" this does not mean, "they stood up in front of his tent," as Knobel explains it, for the purpose of bringing Num 16:2 into contradiction with Num 16:3, but they created an uproar before his eyes; and with this the expression in Num 16:3, "and they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron," may be very simply and easily combined. The 250 men of the children of Israel who joined the rebels no doubt belonged to the other tribes, as is indirectly implied in the statement in Num 27:3, that Zelophehad the Manassite was not in the company of Korah. These men were "princes of the congregation," i.e., heads of the tribes, or of large divisions of the tribes, "called men of the congregation," i.e., members of the council of the nation which administered the affairs of the congregation (cf. Num 1:16), "men of name" (שׁם אנשׁי, see Gen 6:4). The leader was Korah; and the rebels are called in consequence "Korah's company" (Num 16:5, Num 16:6; Num 26:9; Num 27:3). He laid claim to the high-priesthood, or at least to an equality with Aaron (Num 16:17). Among his associates were the Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram, who, no doubt, were unable to get over the fact that the birthright had been taken away from their ancestor, and with it the headship of the house of Israel (i.e., of the whole nation). Apparently their present intention was to seize upon the government of the nation under a self-elected high priest, and to force Moses and Aaron out of the post assigned to them by God, - that is to say, to overthrow the constitution which God had given to His people.
Num 16:3
רב־לכם, "enough for you!" (רב, as in Gen 45:28), they said to Moses and Aaron, i.e., "let the past suffice you" (Knobel); ye have held the priesthood and the government quite long enough. It must now come to an end; "for the whole congregation, all of them (i.e., all the members of the nation), are holy, and Jehovah is in the midst of them. Wherefore lift ye yourselves above the congregation of Jehovah?" The distinction between עדה and קהל is the following: עדה signifies conventus, the congregation according to its natural organization; קהל signifies convocatio, the congregation according to its divine calling and theocratic purpose. The use of the two words in the same verse upsets the theory that יהוה עדת belongs to the style of the original work, and יהוה קהל to that of the Jehovist. The rebels appeal to the calling of all Israel to be the holy nation of Jehovah (Exo 19:5-6), and infer from this the equal right of all to hold the priesthood, "leaving entirely out of sight, as blind selfishness is accustomed to do, the transition of the universal priesthood into the special mediatorial office and priesthood of Moses and Aaron, which had their foundation in fact" (Baumgarten); or altogether overlooking the fact that God Himself had chosen Moses and Aaron, and appointed them as mediators between Himself and the congregation, to educate the sinful nation into a holy nation, and train it to the fulfilment of its proper vocation. The rebels, on the contrary, thought that they were holy already, because God had called them to be a holy nation, and in their carnal self-righteousness forgot the condition attached to their calling, "If ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant" (Exo 19:5).
II
Versículo 4
II. When Moses heard these words of the rebels, he fell upon his face, to complain of the matter to t…
When Moses heard these words of the rebels, he fell upon his face, to complain of the matter to the Lord, as in Num 14:5. He then said to Korah and his company, "To-morrow Jehovah will show who is His and holy, and will let him come near to Him, and he whom He chooseth will draw near to Him." The meaning of לו אשׁר is evident from בּו יבחר אשׁר. He is Jehovah's, whom He chooses, so that He belongs to Him with his whole life. The reference is to the priestly rank, to which God had chosen Aaron and his sons out of the whole nation, and sanctified them by a special consecration (Exo 28:1; Exo 29:1; Lev 8:12, Lev 8:30), and by which they became the persons "standing near to Him" (Lev 10:3), and were qualified to appear before Him in the sanctuary, and present to Him the sacrifices of the nation.
III
Versículo 6
III. To leave the decision of this to the Lord, Korah and his company, who laid claim to this prerogat…
To leave the decision of this to the Lord, Korah and his company, who laid claim to this prerogative, were to take censers, and bring lighted incense before Jehovah. He whom the Lord should choose was to be the sanctified one. This was to satisfy them. With the expression רב־לכם in Num 16:7, Moses gives the rebels back their own words in Num 16:3. The divine decision was connected with the offering of incense, because this was the holiest function of the priestly service, which brought the priest into the immediate presence of God, and in connection with which Jehovah had already shown to the whole congregation how He sanctified Himself, by a penal judgment on those who took this office upon themselves without a divine call (Lev 10:1-3). Num 16:8. He then set before them the wickedness of their enterprise, to lead them to search themselves, and avert the judgment which threatened them. In doing this, he made a distinction between Korah the Levite, and Dathan and Abiram the Reubenites, according to the difference in the motives which prompted their rebellion, and the claims which they asserted. He first of all (Num 16:8-11) reminded Korah the Levite of the way in which God had distinguished his tribe, by separating the Levites from the rest of the congregation, to attend to the service of the sanctuary (Num 3:5., Num 8:6.), and asked him, "Is this too little for you? The God of Israel (this epithet is used emphatically for Jehovah) has brought thee near to Himself, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee, and ye strive after the priesthood also. Therefore...thou and thy company, who have leagued themselves against Jehovah:...and Aaron, what is he, that he murmur against him?" These last words, as an expression of wrath, are elliptical, or rather an aposiopesis, and are to be filled up in the following manner: "Therefore,...as Jehovah has distinguished you in this manner,...what do ye want? Ye rebel against Jehovah! why do ye murmur against Aaron? He has not seized upon the priesthood of his own accord, but Jehovah has called him to it, and he is only a feeble servant of God" (cf. Exo 16:7). Moses then (Num 16:12-14) sent for Dathan and Abiram, who, as is tacitly assumed, had gone back to their tents during the warning given to Korah. But they replied, "We shall not come up." עלה, to go up, is used either with reference to the tabernacle, as being in a spiritual sense the culminating point of the entire camp, or with reference to appearance before Moses, the head and ruler of the nation. "Is it too little that thou hast brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey (they apply this expression in bitter irony to Egypt), to kill us in the wilderness (deliver us up to death), that thou wilt be always playing the lord over us?" The idea of continuance, which is implied in the inf. abs., השׂתּרר, from שׂרר, to exalt one's self as ruler (Ges. 131, 36), is here still further intensified by גּם. "Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us fields and vineyards for an inheritance (i.e., thou hast not kept thy promise, Exo 4:30 compared with Num 3:7.). Wilt thou put out the eyes of these people?" i.e., wilt thou blind them as to thy doings and designs?
IV
Versículo 15
IV. Moses was so disturbed by these scornful reproaches, that he entreated the Lord, with an assertio…
Moses was so disturbed by these scornful reproaches, that he entreated the Lord, with an assertion of his own unselfishness, not to have respect to their gift, i.e., not to accept the sacrifice which they should bring (cf. Gen 4:4). "I have not taken one ass from them, nor done harm to one of them," i.e., I have not treated them as a ruler, who demands tribute of his subjects, and oppresses them (cf. Sa1 12:3).
V
Versículo 16
V. In conclusion, he summoned Korah and his associates once more, to present themselves the followin…
In conclusion, he summoned Korah and his associates once more, to present themselves the following day before Jehovah with censers and incense.
VI
Versículo 18
VI. The next day the rebels presented themselves with censers before the tabernacle, along with Moses…
The next day the rebels presented themselves with censers before the tabernacle, along with Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation also assembled there at the instigation of Korah. The Lord then interposed in judgment. Appearing in His glory to the whole congregation (just as in Num 14:10), He said to Moses and Aaron, "Separate yourselves from this congregation; I will destroy them in a moment." By assembling in front of the tabernacle, the whole congregation had made common cause with the rebels. God threatened them, therefore, with sudden destruction. But the two men of God, who ere so despised by the rebellious faction, fell on their faces, interceding with God, and praying, "God, Thou God of the spirits of all flesh! this one man (i.e., Korah, the author of the conspiracy) hath sinned, and wilt Thou be wrathful with all the congregation?" i.e., let Thine anger fall upon the whole congregation. The Creator and Preserver of all beings, who has given and still gives life and breath to all flesh, is God of the spirits of all flesh. As the author of the spirit of life in all perishable flesh, God cannot destroy His own creatures in wrath; this would be opposed to His own paternal love and mercy. In this epithet, as applied to God, therefore, Moses appeals "to the universal blessing of creation. It is of little consequence whether these words are to be understood as relating to all the animal kingdom, or to the human race alone; because Moses simply prayed, that as God was the creator and architect of the world, He would not destroy the men whom He had created, but rather have mercy upon the works of His own hands" (Calvin). The intercession of the prophet Isaiah, in Isa 64:8, is similar to this, though that is founded upon the special relation in which God stood to Israel.
VII
Versículo 23
VII. Jehovah then instructed Moses, that the congregation was to remove away (עלה, to get up and away)…
Jehovah then instructed Moses, that the congregation was to remove away (עלה, to get up and away) from about the dwelling-place of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; and, as we may supply from the context, the congregation fell back from Korah's tent, whilst Dathan and Abiram, possibly at the very first appearance of the divine glory, drew back into their tents. Moses therefore betook himself to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, with the elders following him, and there also commanded the congregation to depart from the tents of these wicked men, and not touch anything they possessed, that they might not be swept away in all their sins.
VIII
Versículo 27
VIII. The congregation obeyed; but Dathan and Abiram came and placed themselves in front of the tents, …
The congregation obeyed; but Dathan and Abiram came and placed themselves in front of the tents, along with their wives and children, to see what Moses would do. Moses then announced the sentence: "By this shall he know that Jehovah hath sent me to do all these works, that not out of my own heart (i.e., that I do not act of my own accord). If these men die like all men (i.e., if these wicked men die a natural death like other men), and the oversight of all men take place over them (i.e., if the same providence watches over them as over all other men, and preserves them from sudden death), Jehovah hath not sent me. But if Jehovah create a creation (בריאה בּרא, i.e., work an extraordinary miracle), and the earth open its mouth and swallow them up, with all that belongs to them, so that they go down alive into hell, ye shall perceive that these men have despised Jehovah."
IX
Versículo 31
IX. And immediately the earth clave asunder, and swallowed them up, with their families and all their…
And immediately the earth clave asunder, and swallowed them up, with their families and all their possessions, and closed above them, so that they perished without a trace from the congregation. אתם refers to the three ringleaders. "Their houses;" i.e., their families, not their tents, as in Num 18:31; Exo 12:3. "All the men belonging to Korah" were his servants; for, according to Num 26:11, his sons did not perish with him, but perpetuated his family (Num 26:58), to which the celebrated Korahite singers of David's time belonged (Ch1 6:18-22; Ch1 9:19).
X
Versículo 34
X. This fearful destruction of the ringleaders, through which Jehovah glorified Moses afresh as His …
This fearful destruction of the ringleaders, through which Jehovah glorified Moses afresh as His servant in a miraculous way, filled all the Israelites round about with such terror, that they fled לקלם, "at their noise," i.e., at the commotion with which the wicked men went down into the abyss which opened beneath their feet, lest, as they said, the earth should swallow them up also.
XI
Versículo 35
XI. The other 250 rebels, who were probably still in front of the tabernacle, were then destroyed by …
The other 250 rebels, who were probably still in front of the tabernacle, were then destroyed by fire which proceeded from Jehovah, as Nadab and Abihu had been before (Lev 10:2).
XII
Versículo 36
XII. (Or Numbers 17:1-5). After the destruction of the sinners, the Lord commanded that Eleazar should…
(Or Numbers 17:1-5). After the destruction of the sinners, the Lord commanded that Eleazar should take up the censers "from between the burning," i.e., from the midst of the men that had been burned, and scatter the fire (the burning coals in the pans) far away, that it might not be used any more. "For they (the censers) are holy;" that is to say, they had become holy through being brought before Jehovah (Num 16:39); and therefore, when the men who brought them were slain, they fell as banned articles to the Lord (Lev 27:28). "The censers of these sinners against their souls" (i.e., the men who have forfeited their lives through their sin: cf. Pro 20:2; Hab 2:10), "let them make into broad plates for a covering to the altar" (of burnt-offering). Through this application of them they became a sign, or, according to Num 16:39, a memorial to all who drew near to the sanctuary, which was to remind them continually of this judgment of God, and warn the congregation of grasping at the priestly prerogatives. The words, יהיה ולא, in Num 16:40, introduce the predicate in the form of an apodosis to the subject, which is written absolutely, and consists of an entire sentence. היה with כּ signifies, "to experience the same fate as" another.
XIII
Versículo 41
XIII. Punishment of the Murmuring Congregation. - The judgment upon the company of Korah had filled the…
Punishment of the Murmuring Congregation. - The judgment upon the company of Korah had filled the people round about with terror and dismay, but it had produced no change of heart in the congregation that had risen up against its leaders. The next morning the whole congregation began to murmur against Moses and Aaron, and to charge them with having slain the people of Jehovah. They referred to Korah and his company, but especially to the 250 chiefs of renown, whom they regarded as the kernel of the nation, and called "the people of Jehovah." They would have made Moses and Aaron responsible for their death, because in their opinion it was they who had brought the judgment upon their leaders; whereas it was through the intercession of Moses (Num 16:22) that the whole congregation was saved from the destruction which threatened it. To such an extent does the folly of the proud heart of man proceed, and the obduracy of a race already exposed to the judgment of God.
Num 16:42
When the congregation assembled together, Moses and Aaron turned to the tabernacle, and saw how the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared. As the cloud rested continually above the tabernacle during the time of encampment (Num 9:18.; Exo 40:38), we must suppose that at this time the cloud covered it in a fuller and much more conspicuous sense, just as it had done when the tabernacle was first erected (Num 9:15; Exo 40:34), and that at the same time the glory of God burst forth from the dark cloud in a miraculous splendour.
Num 16:43-50
Thereupon they both went into the court of (פּני אל, as in Lev 9:5) the tabernacle, and God commanded them to rise up (הרמּוּ, Niphal of רמם = רוּם; see Ges. 65, Anm. 5) out of this congregation, which He would immediately destroy. But they fell upon their faces in prayer, as in Num 16:21-22. This time, however, they could not avert the bursting forth of the wrathful judgment, as they had done the day before (Num 16:22). The plague had already commenced, when Moses told Aaron to take the censer quickly into the midst of the congregation, with coals and incense (הולך, imper. Hiph.), to make expiation for it with an incense-offering. And when this was done, and Aaron placed himself between the dead and the living, the plague, which had already destroyed 14,700 men, was stayed. The plague consisted apparently of a sudden death, as in the case of a pestilence raging with extreme violence, though we cannot regard it as an actual pestilence.
The means resorted to by Moses to stay the plague showed afresh how the faithful servant of God bore the rescue of his people upon his heart. All the motives which he had hitherto pleaded, in his repeated intercession that this evil congregation might be spared, were now exhausted. He could not stake his life for the nation, as at Horeb (Exo 32:32), for the nation had rejected him. He could no longer appeal to the honour of Jehovah among the heathen, seeing that the Lord, even when sentencing the rebellious race to fall in the desert, had assured him that the whole earth should be filled with His glory (Num 14:20.). Still less could he pray to God that He would not be wrathful with all for the sake of one or a few sinners, as in Num 16:22, seeing that the whole congregation had taken part with the rebels. In this condition of things there was but one way left of averting the threatened destruction of the whole nation, namely, to adopt the means which the Lord Himself had given to His congregation, in the high-priestly office, to wipe away their sins, and recover the divine grace which they had forfeited through sin, - viz., the offering of incense which embodied the high-priestly prayer, and the strength and operation of which were not dependent upon the sincerity and earnestness of subjective faith, but had a firm and immovable foundation in the objective force of the divine appointment. This was the means adopted by the faithful servant of the Lord, and the judgment of wrath was averted in its course; the plague was averted. - The effectual operation of the incense-offering of the high priest also served to furnish the people with a practical proof of the power and operation of the true and divinely appointed priesthood. "The priesthood which the company of Korah had so wickedly usurped, had brought down death and destruction upon himself, through his offering of incense; but the divinely appointed priesthood of Aaron averted death and destruction from the whole congregation when incense was offered by him, and stayed the well-merited judgment, which had broken forth upon it" (Kurtz).
Antiguo Testamento
Numbers — Capítulo 16
Rebellion of Korah's Company - Numbers 16:1-40(17:1-5) The sedition of Korah and his company, with the renewed sanction of the Aaronic priesthood on the part of God which it occasioned, is the only important occurrenc…
Texto — Reina-Valera 1960
1Coré hijo de Izhar, hijo de Coat, hijo de Leví, y Datán y Abiram hijos de Eliab, y On hijo de Pelet, de los hijos de Rubén, tomaron gente,
2y se levantaron contra Moisés con doscientos cincuenta varones de los hijos de Israel, príncipes de la congregación, de los del consejo, varones de renombre.
3Y se juntaron contra Moisés y Aarón y les dijeron: ¡Basta ya de vosotros! Porque toda la congregación, todos ellos son santos, y en medio de ellos está Jehová; ¿por qué, pues, os levantáis vosotros sobre la congregación de Jehová?
4Cuando oyó esto Moisés, se postró sobre su rostro;
5y habló a Coré y a todo su séquito, diciendo: Mañana mostrará Jehová quién es suyo, y quién es santo, y hará que se acerque a él; al que él escogiere, él lo acercará a sí.
6Haced esto: tomaos incensarios, Coré y todo su séquito,
7y poned fuego en ellos, y poned en ellos incienso delante de Jehová mañana; y el varón a quien Jehová escogiere, aquel será el santo; esto os baste, hijos de Leví.
8Dijo más Moisés a Coré: Oíd ahora, hijos de Leví:
9¿Os es poco que el Dios de Israel os haya apartado de la congregación de Israel, acercándoos a él para que ministréis en el servicio del tabernáculo de Jehová, y estéis delante de la congregación para ministrarles,
10y que te hizo acercar a ti, y a todos tus hermanos los hijos de Leví contigo? ¿Procuráis también el sacerdocio?
11Por tanto, tú y todo tu séquito sois los que os juntáis contra Jehová; pues Aarón, ¿qué es, para que contra él murmuréis?
12Y envió Moisés a llamar a Datán y Abiram, hijos de Eliab; mas ellos respondieron: No iremos allá.
13¿Es poco que nos hayas hecho venir de una tierra que destila leche y miel, para hacernos morir en el desierto, sino que también te enseñorees de nosotros imperiosamente?
14Ni tampoco nos has metido tú en tierra que fluya leche y miel, ni nos has dado heredades de tierras y viñas. ¿Sacarás los ojos de estos hombres? No subiremos.
15Entonces Moisés se enojó en gran manera, y dijo a Jehová: No mires a su ofrenda; ni aun un asno he tomado de ellos, ni a ninguno de ellos he hecho mal.
16Después dijo Moisés a Coré: Tú y todo tu séquito, poneos mañana delante de Jehová; tú, y ellos, y Aarón;
17y tomad cada uno su incensario y poned incienso en ellos, y acercaos delante de Jehová cada uno con su incensario, doscientos cincuenta incensarios; tú también, y Aarón, cada uno con su incensario.
18Y tomó cada uno su incensario, y pusieron en ellos fuego, y echaron en ellos incienso, y se pusieron a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión con Moisés y Aarón.
19Ya Coré había hecho juntar contra ellos toda la congregación a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión; entonces la gloria de Jehová apareció a toda la congregación.
20Y Jehová habló a Moisés y a Aarón, diciendo:
21Apartaos de entre esta congregación, y los consumiré en un momento.
22Y ellos se postraron sobre sus rostros, y dijeron: Dios, Dios de los espíritus de toda carne, ¿no es un solo hombre el que pecó? ¿Por qué airarte contra toda la congregación?
23Entonces Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
24Habla a la congregación y diles: Apartaos de en derredor de la tienda de Coré, Datán y Abiram.
25Entonces Moisés se levantó y fue a Datán y a Abiram, y los ancianos de Israel fueron en pos de él.
26Y él habló a la congregación, diciendo: Apartaos ahora de las tiendas de estos hombres impíos, y no toquéis ninguna cosa suya, para que no perezcáis en todos sus pecados.
27Y se apartaron de las tiendas de Coré, de Datán y de Abiram en derredor; y Datán y Abiram salieron y se pusieron a las puertas de sus tiendas, con sus mujeres, sus hijos y sus pequeñuelos.
28Y dijo Moisés: En esto conoceréis que Jehová me ha enviado para que hiciese todas estas cosas, y que no las hice de mi propia voluntad.
29Si como mueren todos los hombres murieren estos, o si ellos al ser visitados siguen la suerte de todos los hombres, Jehová no me envió.
30Mas si Jehová hiciere algo nuevo, y la tierra abriere su boca y los tragare con todas sus cosas, y descendieren vivos al Seol, entonces conoceréis que estos hombres irritaron a Jehová.
31Y aconteció que cuando cesó él de hablar todas estas palabras, se abrió la tierra que estaba debajo de ellos.
32Abrió la tierra su boca, y los tragó a ellos, a sus casas, a todos los hombres de Coré, y a todos sus bienes.
33Y ellos, con todo lo que tenían, descendieron vivos al Seol, y los cubrió la tierra, y perecieron de en medio de la congregación.
34Y todo Israel, los que estaban en derredor de ellos, huyeron al grito de ellos; porque decían: No nos trague también la tierra.
35También salió fuego de delante de Jehová, y consumió a los doscientos cincuenta hombres que ofrecían el incienso.
36Entonces Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
37Di a Eleazar hijo del sacerdote Aarón, que tome los incensarios de en medio del incendio, y derrame más allá el fuego; porque son santificados
38los incensarios de estos que pecaron contra sus almas; y harán de ellos planchas batidas para cubrir el altar; por cuanto ofrecieron con ellos delante de Jehová, son santificados, y serán como señal a los hijos de Israel.
39Y el sacerdote Eleazar tomó los incensarios de bronce con que los quemados habían ofrecido; y los batieron para cubrir el altar,
40en recuerdo para los hijos de Israel, de que ningún extraño que no sea de la descendencia de Aarón se acerque para ofrecer incienso delante de Jehová, para que no sea como Coré y como su séquito; según se lo dijo Jehová por medio de Moisés.
41El día siguiente, toda la congregación de los hijos de Israel murmuró contra Moisés y Aarón, diciendo: Vosotros habéis dado muerte al pueblo de Jehová.
42Y aconteció que cuando se juntó la congregación contra Moisés y Aarón, miraron hacia el tabernáculo de reunión, y he aquí la nube lo había cubierto, y apareció la gloria de Jehová.
43Y vinieron Moisés y Aarón delante del tabernáculo de reunión.
44Y Jehová habló a Moisés, diciendo:
45Apartaos de en medio de esta congregación, y los consumiré en un momento. Y ellos se postraron sobre sus rostros.
46Y dijo Moisés a Aarón: Toma el incensario, y pon en él fuego del altar, y sobre él pon incienso, y ve pronto a la congregación, y haz expiación por ellos, porque el furor ha salido de la presencia de Jehová; la mortandad ha comenzado.
47Entonces tomó Aarón el incensario, como Moisés dijo, y corrió en medio de la congregación; y he aquí que la mortandad había comenzado en el pueblo; y él puso incienso, e hizo expiación por el pueblo,
48y se puso entre los muertos y los vivos; y cesó la mortandad.
49Y los que murieron en aquella mortandad fueron catorce mil setecientos, sin los muertos por la rebelión de Coré.
50Después volvió Aarón a Moisés a la puerta del tabernáculo de reunión, cuando la mortandad había cesado.
CARL FRIEDRICH KEIL AND FRANZ DELITZSCH OLD TESTAMENT COMMENTARY
Versículo 1
I. Num 16:1-2
Versículo 4
II. When Moses heard these words of the rebels, he fell upon his face, to complain of the matter to t…
Versículo 6
III. To leave the decision of this to the Lord, Korah and his company, who laid claim to this prerogat…
Versículo 15
IV. Moses was so disturbed by these scornful reproaches, that he entreated the Lord, with an assertio…
Versículo 16
V. In conclusion, he summoned Korah and his associates once more, to present themselves the followin…
Versículo 18
VI. The next day the rebels presented themselves with censers before the tabernacle, along with Moses…
Versículo 23
VII. Jehovah then instructed Moses, that the congregation was to remove away (עלה, to get up and away)…
Versículo 27
VIII. The congregation obeyed; but Dathan and Abiram came and placed themselves in front of the tents, …
Versículo 31
IX. And immediately the earth clave asunder, and swallowed them up, with their families and all their…
Versículo 34
X. This fearful destruction of the ringleaders, through which Jehovah glorified Moses afresh as His …
Versículo 35
XI. The other 250 rebels, who were probably still in front of the tabernacle, were then destroyed by …
Versículo 36
XII. (Or Numbers 17:1-5). After the destruction of the sinners, the Lord commanded that Eleazar should…
Versículo 41
XIII. Punishment of the Murmuring Congregation. - The judgment upon the company of Korah had filled the…