Numbers 16:35

ยถ And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

And there came out {H3318} a fire {H784} from the LORD {H3068}, and consumed {H398} the two hundred {H3967} and fifty {H2572} men {H376} that offered {H7126} incense {H7004}.

Then fire came out from ADONAI and destroyed the 250 men who had offered the incense.

And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.

Commentary

Numbers 16:35 describes a dramatic moment of divine judgment during the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron's leadership in the wilderness.

Context

This verse immediately follows the catastrophic event where the earth opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their families and possessions, as a direct consequence of their defiance against the authority God had vested in Moses and Aaron (see Numbers 16:32-34). The two hundred and fifty men mentioned in verse 35 were prominent leaders from the congregation who had joined Korah in challenging Aaron's exclusive right to the priesthood, presumptuously attempting to offer incense before the Lord (as noted in Numbers 16:16-17). This act was a serious violation, as only the consecrated priests from the line of Aaron were authorized to perform such sacred duties.

Key Themes

  • Divine Holiness and Authority: This event powerfully underscores God's absolute holiness and His defense of the order He establishes. The immediate and severe judgment demonstrates that God takes rebellion against His appointed leadership very seriously, especially when it involves desecration of sacred duties.
  • Consequences of Presumption: The 250 men died because they presumed to take on a role (offering incense) that was not theirs, defying God's explicit commands regarding the Aaronic priesthood. This parallels the judgment on Nadab and Abihu for offering "strange fire" (Leviticus 10:1-2), emphasizing the gravity of unauthorized worship.
  • Sanctity of the Priesthood: The incident reinforces the sanctity and exclusivity of the priesthood established by God. It was not a role anyone could simply claim; it required divine appointment and adherence to specific protocols. The Apostle Paul later alludes to this principle, noting that no one takes this honor upon himself unless called by God (Hebrews 5:4).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "fire from the LORD" (Hebrew: ืึตืฉื ืžึตืึตืช ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื”, esh me'et Yahweh) clearly indicates that the fire was not accidental or natural, but a direct, supernatural act of divine judgment. This emphasizes God's direct involvement in upholding His covenant and His laws.

Practical Application

While we no longer live under the Old Testament ceremonial law, the principles embedded in this verse remain relevant. It teaches us about the importance of approaching God with reverence and according to His revealed will, not our own preferences or presumptions. It also serves as a reminder to respect spiritual authority and order, understanding that God establishes roles and responsibilities within His community. Ultimately, it points to the perfect High Priest, Jesus Christ, who holds His priesthood by an unchangeable right, having offered the one perfect sacrifice for sin.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Numbers 26:10

    And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

  • Leviticus 10:2

    And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

  • Psalms 106:18

    And a fire was kindled in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.

  • Numbers 11:1

    ยถ And [when] the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard [it]; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed [them that were] in the uttermost parts of the camp.

  • Numbers 11:3

    And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

  • Numbers 16:2

    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:

  • 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.
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