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.

And take {H3947} every man {H376} his censer {H4289}, and put {H5414} incense {H7004} in them, and bring {H7126} ye before {H6440} the LORD {H3068} every man {H376} his censer {H4289}, two hundred {H3967} and fifty {H2572} censers {H4289}; thou also, and Aaron {H175}, each {H376} of you his censer {H4289}.

Each of you take his fire pan and put incense in it; every one of you, bring before ADONAI his fire pan, 250 fire pans, you too, and Aharon - each one his fire pan."

Each man is to take his censer, place incense in it, and present it before the LORD—250 censers. You and Aaron are to present your censers as well.”

and take ye every man his censer, and put incense upon them, and bring ye before Jehovah every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each his censer.

Commentary

Numbers 16:17 is a pivotal verse in the dramatic account of Korah’s rebellion, a significant challenge to the divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness.

Context

This verse immediately follows Moses’ challenge to Korah and his 250 followers, who had accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the congregation (Numbers 16:3). The issue at stake was the exclusive right to the priesthood and direct access to God. Moses proposes a divine test: each challenger, along with Moses and Aaron, was to bring a censer with incense before the LORD. This act, normally reserved for consecrated priests, would reveal whom the LORD had truly chosen.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Leadership: The passage underscores God's sovereignty in choosing and appointing leaders, specifically the priesthood. The challenge by Korah's company was not just against Moses and Aaron, but ultimately against God's established order.
  • The Sacredness of the Priesthood: Offering incense was a highly sacred act, intricately linked to the unique role of the Aaronic priesthood. For unauthorized individuals to perform this ritual was a profound act of disrespect and usurpation of a holy office.
  • Testing and Revelation: The bringing of the censers served as a direct test to reveal God's will and judgment concerning who was truly holy and authorized to approach Him in this manner.

Linguistic Insights

The term "censer" (Hebrew: machtah or miqteret) refers to a firepan used for burning incense. "Incense" (Hebrew: qetoreth) was a specific blend of fragrant spices, burned in the Tabernacle as an offering to the LORD (see Exodus 30:7-8). This act symbolized prayers ascending to God, but it was also a potent symbol of the priest's mediatorial role. For ordinary men to bring incense was to usurp the very essence of the Aaronic priesthood, which God Himself had instituted.

Practical Application

Numbers 16:17 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of respecting God-given authority and the dangers of spiritual arrogance. While the specific context of the Aaronic priesthood is unique to ancient Israel, the principle of divine order and the consequences of rebellion against it remain relevant. It highlights that true access to God is not by self-appointment or popular vote, but by His gracious provision. For believers today, access to God is through Jesus Christ, our Great High Priest, who has opened the way for all who believe.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 12:7

    Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers.
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