Numbers 16:39

KJV

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:

KJV (with Strong's)

And Eleazar {H499} the priest {H3548} took {H3947} the brasen {H5178} censers {H4289}, wherewith they that were burnt {H8313} had offered {H7126}; and they were made broad {H7554} plates for a covering {H6826} of the altar {H4196}:

Complete Jewish Bible

El'azar the cohen took the brass fire pans which the men who had been burned to death had offered, and they hammered them into a covering for the altar,

Berean Standard Bible

So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,

American Standard Version

And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 16:39 describes the divinely ordained action of Eleazar the priest, who collected the bronze censers from the 250 rebellious men consumed by fire. These censers, though used in an act of unauthorized worship, were declared holy by their proximity to the Lord. As a perpetual sign and solemn warning to the Israelites, Eleazar was commanded to hammer them into broad, thin plates to serve as a sacred covering for the brazen altar, thereby memorializing the severe consequences of defying God's appointed authority and the inviolable sanctity of His worship.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 16:39 serves as a critical coda to the dramatic and devastating rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron's divinely sanctioned leadership. The preceding verses vividly recount God's swift and terrifying judgment: the earth opening to swallow Dathan and Abiram and their households ([Numbers 16:31-33](/numbers/16-31-33 "Numbers 16:31-33 - The Earth Swallows Dathan and Abiram")) and a consuming fire from the Lord that devoured the 250 men who presumed to offer incense ([Numbers 16:35](/numbers/16-35 "Numbers 16:35 - Fire Consumes the 250 Men")). This verse, therefore, moves beyond the immediate act of divine wrath to establish a lasting, tangible memorial. It transforms the very instruments of rebellion—the censers—into a permanent pedagogical warning, ensuring that the profound lessons of the rebellion concerning divine authority, holiness, and obedience would be indelibly etched into the collective memory and worship practices of the Israelite community.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this event is the Israelite wilderness journey, a period consistently marked by challenges to God's authority and Moses' leadership, as extensively documented throughout [the book of Numbers](/numbers/1 "The Book of Numbers - Wilderness Wanderings"). The Tabernacle, with its meticulously prescribed rituals and divinely appointed personnel, stood as the central locus of Israelite worship and the manifest presence of God. Bronze, or "brasen," was a prominent and symbolically significant metal in Tabernacle construction, utilized for foundational elements such as the [altar of burnt offering](/exodus/27-1 "Exodus 27:1 - The Altar of Burnt Offering") and its associated implements, signifying strength, durability, and a capacity to withstand divine fire. Censers were sacred vessels specifically designated for burning incense, a highly symbolic act representing the prayers and worship of God's people ascending to Him ([Psalm 141:2](/psalm/141-2 "Psalm 141:2 - Prayer as Incense") and [Revelation 8:3-4](/revelation/8-3 "Revelation 8:3-4 - Incense and Prayers of the Saints")). The metallurgical technique of hammering metal into thin plates (Hebrew: *râqa‘*) was a known craft for creating coverings or decorative elements, but here it is repurposed for a solemn, sacred function, transforming instruments of rebellion into a permanent, visible testament to divine judgment.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully reinforces several core theological and narrative themes prevalent throughout [the book of Numbers](/numbers/1 "The Book of Numbers - Wilderness Wanderings"). Firstly, it underscores the **absolute holiness and unapproachable sovereignty of God**, demonstrating His fierce intolerance for unauthorized approaches to His sacred presence and His swift, decisive judgment against defiance. Secondly, it highlights the **sanctity and exclusive nature of the Aaronic priesthood**, emphasizing that only those divinely chosen and consecrated could mediate between God and Israel, particularly in the sacred act of offering incense ([Hebrews 5:4](/hebrews/5-4 "Hebrews 5:4 - No One Takes This Honor Upon Himself")). Thirdly, the transformation of the censers into a covering for the altar serves as a **perpetual memorial and warning**, ensuring that the profound lessons of Korah's rebellion—the dire dangers of presumption and the absolute necessity of obedience to God's appointed leadership—would be perpetually remembered by all future generations. Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **consecration**, where even objects defiled by egregious sin, having been brought into God's immediate presence, are paradoxically rendered holy and must be repurposed for sacred, albeit transformed, use, demonstrating God's sovereign claim over all things.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Brasen (Hebrew, _nᵉchôsheth'_):** This term refers to copper or bronze, a metal extensively utilized for sacred implements within the Tabernacle, such as the altar of burnt offering and the laver. Its presence here emphasizes the inherent material value and durability of the censers, which were not common domestic vessels but consecrated instruments. Despite their misuse in an unauthorized offering, their proximity to the Lord's holy presence rendered them sacred, making them unsuitable for common use and necessitating their repurposing for a holy function.
* **Burnt (Hebrew, _sâraph_):** This verb describes the fiery judgment emanating directly from the Lord that utterly consumed the 250 men who had presumptuously offered unauthorized incense. It signifies a complete, decisive, and divinely executed destruction, serving as an act of purification and judgment against those who dared to approach God's holiness without proper authorization or mediation. The censers were specifically taken from "them that were burnt," directly linking these objects to the severe and immediate consequence of their profound sin.
* **Made broad plates (Hebrew, _râqaʻ_):** This word denotes the specific metallurgical process of hammering metal into thin sheets or flattened plates. It signifies a radical transformation from the censers' original three-dimensional form to a new, flattened state. This was not merely a decorative act but a purposeful, permanent repurposing, turning instruments of rebellion into a lasting, visible memorial and warning. The act of hammering also implies a forceful, irreversible change, mirroring the irreversible judgment that had already occurred.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers":** Eleazar, as the son of Aaron and the designated successor to the high priesthood, was the divinely appointed and appropriate figure to handle these sacred, yet defiled, objects. His action underscores the inherent sanctity of the Aaronic priesthood and the absolute necessity of proper, consecrated mediation when dealing with holy things, especially in the aftermath of a severe act of divine judgment. The "brasen censers" were the precise vessels used by the 250 rebellious men, now confiscated and designated for a new, profoundly symbolic purpose.
* **"wherewith they that were burnt had offered":** This crucial phrase explicitly connects the censers directly to the men who had been consumed by divine fire, unequivocally identifying them as the instruments of unauthorized worship. It serves as a stark and immediate reminder of the swift and severe divine judgment against those who dared to usurp the exclusive priestly function and presumptuously approach God's holiness, thereby reinforcing the profound gravity of their sin and the unyielding holiness of God Himself.
* **"and they were made broad [plates for] a covering of the altar":** This clause describes the radical transformation and new, solemn purpose of the censers. They were hammered into thin sheets, effectively destroying their original form as censers, symbolizing the definitive and irreversible end of unauthorized worship. These newly formed plates were then used as a "covering" for the brazen altar of burnt offering, the central place of atonement and sacrifice within the Tabernacle. This placement was profoundly symbolic: the very instruments of rebellion were now permanently affixed to the altar, serving as a perpetual visual warning against future acts of presumption and emphatically emphasizing that access to God is granted solely through His prescribed means of atonement and through the legitimate, divinely appointed priesthood.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative in Numbers 16:39 employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message with lasting impact. **Symbolism** is paramount, as the "brasen censers" themselves become powerful, multi-layered symbols. Initially instruments of legitimate worship, they transform into symbols of rebellion and divine judgment, and then, through their repurposing, into a permanent symbol of warning and the inviolable sanctity of the priesthood. The act of being "made broad plates" for the altar is a form of **Metonymy**, where the instruments of the rebels (the censers) stand in for the rebels themselves and their ultimate fate, permanently marking the altar with the indelible memory of their sin and its dire consequence. The entire event functions as an **Etiological Narrative**, explaining the origin of a specific physical feature within the Tabernacle (the bronze covering on the altar) that serves a vital didactic purpose for all future generations. Furthermore, the stark contrast between the intended sacred use of the censers (legitimate worship) and their actual misuse in rebellion, followed by their transformation into a memorial, creates a powerful **Irony** that profoundly underscores the futility, danger, and ultimate judgment associated with defying God's ordained order.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 16:39 profoundly illustrates the unyielding holiness of God and the severe, non-negotiable consequences of encroaching upon His sacred boundaries without proper authorization. It underscores the foundational principle that access to God is granted solely on His terms, mediated through His chosen representatives and meticulously according to His prescribed rituals. The transformation of the censers into a permanent covering for the altar of burnt offering directly links the judgment of unauthorized worship to the very means of atonement, emphasizing that rebellion against God's established order is a grave sin requiring divine intervention and a perpetual reminder of the absolute necessity for proper reconciliation. This incident serves as a foundational Old Testament example of the inherent dangers of presumption, the inviolable sanctity of divine appointment, and the enduring power of God's justice and His sovereign mercy.

* [Leviticus 10:1-2](/leviticus/10-1-2 "Leviticus 10:1-2 - Nadab and Abihu's Unauthorized Fire")
* [Hebrews 5:4](/hebrews/5-4 "Hebrews 5:4 - Divine Calling to Priesthood")
* [1 Corinthians 10:11](/1_corinthians/10-11 "1 Corinthians 10:11 - Old Testament Examples as Warnings")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account in Numbers 16:39, while deeply rooted in the specific context of the Old Covenant Tabernacle and its priesthood, offers timeless and profound principles for believers today. It calls us to cultivate a deep and abiding reverence for God's holiness, recognizing that our approach to Him must always be marked by profound humility, unwavering obedience, and complete reliance on His established means of grace. Just as the bronze plates served as a constant visual sermon for ancient Israel, this passage powerfully reminds us that God takes our worship with utmost seriousness, and that genuine spirituality is never about self-assertion, personal preference, or presumption, but rather about humble submission to His revealed will. It encourages us to diligently learn from the warnings of Scripture, understanding that past judgments serve as powerful, instructive lessons to guide our present conduct and profoundly shape our understanding of God's unchanging character. In an age where authority is frequently questioned and personal preference often elevated above divine mandate, this text reasserts God's sovereign prerogative in establishing order and the necessity of respecting those He has placed in leadership, both within the church and in broader society, always discerning their alignment with God's infallible Word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the severity of God's judgment in Numbers 16 shape your understanding of His holiness and justice in a contemporary context?**
* **In what specific ways might we, in a New Covenant context, be tempted to approach God presumptuously or disregard His established spiritual order?**
* **What enduring lessons can we draw from the "perpetual memorial" of the censers regarding the profound importance of learning from biblical history and its warnings?**
* **How does this passage inform your perspective on the appropriate respect for spiritual authority within the church today, and how do we balance that with discernment?**

### FAQ
**Why were the censers considered holy even though they were used in rebellion?**

Answer: The censers were deemed holy not because of the intent or righteousness of those who used them, but because they had been brought into the immediate and sacred presence of the Lord. According to Mosaic law, anything that touched or was presented before the Lord became consecrated or set apart for Him. Numbers 16:38 explicitly states, "The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed." This principle underscores God's absolute and transcendent holiness, which consecrates even defiled objects by their mere proximity to His presence, rendering them unsuitable for common use and requiring their repurposing for a sacred, albeit transformed, function. This is a powerful demonstration that God's holiness is not diminished by human sin, but rather, human sin is exposed, judged, and ultimately transformed by His holiness.

**What is the profound significance of placing the hammered censers on the brazen altar?**

Answer: Placing the hammered censers as a covering on the [brazen altar of burnt offering](/exodus/27-1 "Exodus 27:1 - The Altar of Burnt Offering") was profoundly symbolic and didactic. The altar was the primary place of sacrifice and atonement, where sins were covered through the shedding of blood. By affixing the transformed censers to this central altar, God created a perpetual visual reminder of the severe judgment against unauthorized worship and rebellion. It powerfully linked the consequence of sin (divine fire, death) directly to the means of reconciliation (the altar), emphasizing that access to God's presence and forgiveness is granted solely through His divinely appointed means and through consecrated personnel. It served as a constant, tangible warning against future presumption, ensuring that the devastating lesson of Korah's rebellion would be indelibly etched into the very fabric of Israel's worship life for generations to come.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 16:39, with its stark portrayal of divine judgment against unauthorized worship and its profound emphasis on consecrated mediation, finds its ultimate fulfillment and glorious transformation in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The brazen censers, repurposed as a permanent warning affixed to the altar, pointed to the absolute and non-negotiable necessity of approaching a holy God strictly on His terms. In the New Covenant, Christ Himself becomes the perfect, eternal, and final High Priest, who, unlike the Aaronic priests, offered Himself as the [one perfect sacrifice](/hebrews/9-26 "Hebrews 9:26 - Christ's One Sacrifice") for sins, once for all time. The severe judgment meted out in Numbers 16 against those who presumed to offer incense without divine authorization powerfully highlights the infinite chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity, a chasm that only Christ could bridge. He is the [true altar](/hebrews/13-10 "Hebrews 13:10 - We Have an Altar"), the [perfect mediator](/1_timothy/2-5 "1 Timothy 2:5 - One Mediator, Christ Jesus") between God and humanity, and the [Lamb of God](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God") whose precious blood truly atones for sin, not merely covers it temporarily. Through saving faith in Him, believers are graciously granted direct, yet reverent, access to God's holy presence, not through human merit, unauthorized acts, or ritualistic performance, but solely by virtue of Christ's finished work on the cross. The solemn warning of Numbers 16:39 thus transforms into an glorious invitation to approach God with confidence, not in our own fleeting righteousness, but in the [imputed righteousness provided by Christ](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Made Righteous in Christ"), recognizing that He has perfectly fulfilled all the requirements for holy worship and eternal access to the Father.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.