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Numbers 16:16

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And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

And Moses {H4872} said {H559} unto Korah {H7141}, Be thou and all thy company {H5712} before {H6440} the LORD {H3068}, thou, and they, and Aaron {H175}, to morrow {H4279}:

Moshe said to Korach, "You and your group, be there before ADONAI tomorrow -you, they and Aharon.

And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.

And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before Jehovah, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow:

Commentary

Numbers 16:16 captures a pivotal moment in the dramatic confrontation between Moses and Korah during the Israelite wilderness journey. Here, Moses issues a direct challenge to Korah and his rebellious company, calling them to appear before the LORD the following day to determine who truly has divine sanction.

Context

This verse is part of the infamous rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, detailed in Numbers chapter 16. Korah, a Levite, along with 250 prominent men, challenged Moses' leadership and Aaron's exclusive priestly authority, asserting that "all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them." (See Numbers 16:3). Moses, deeply distressed by this challenge to God's chosen leaders, proposes a test of incense offering, a sacred act reserved for priests, to allow the LORD Himself to reveal whom He has chosen for service.

Key Themes

  • Divine Authority and Leadership: The core issue at stake is the source of authority. Korah and his company believed they had an equal right to spiritual leadership, challenging the unique roles established by God for Moses and Aaron. This challenge was not merely against human leaders but against God's direct appointment.
  • Testing God's Will: Moses' command sets up a divine arbitration. By instructing Korah and his company to come "before the LORD" with censers, Moses is essentially deferring the judgment to God, trusting that He will clearly identify His chosen servants. This sets the stage for a dramatic divine intervention and judgment.
  • The Sacredness of the Priesthood: The inclusion of Aaron in this gathering highlights the unique and sacred nature of the Aaronic priesthood, which Korah and his followers sought to usurp. The upcoming test would decisively affirm or deny Aaron's divinely appointed role, emphasizing that no one takes this honor to himself unless called by God, just as Aaron was.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "before the LORD" (Hebrew: liphnē YHWH) is significant. It signifies a solemn, direct encounter with God's presence or His judgment. It implies a divine tribunal where the truth will be revealed and justice dispensed, underscoring the gravity of the impending confrontation and the seriousness of challenging God's established order.

Practical Application

Numbers 16:16 reminds us of the importance of respecting God-ordained authority and the dangers of challenging divine appointments. While healthy questioning and accountability are vital in any community, this passage warns against rebellion driven by envy or a desire for power that seeks to undermine God's established order. It encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate wisdom in choosing His servants and to recognize that true spiritual authority comes from Him, not from human ambition or popular sentiment. We are called to humility and submission to God's will, understanding that He alone determines who is qualified for specific roles in His service and that He will ultimately judge all actions and intentions.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 12:3 (3 votes)

    Behold, here I [am]: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received [any] bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

  • 1 Samuel 12:7 (3 votes)

    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.

  • 2 Timothy 2:14 (2 votes)

    ¶ Of these things put [them] in remembrance, charging [them] before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, [but] to the subverting of the hearers.

  • Numbers 16:6 (2 votes)

    This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

  • Numbers 16:7 (2 votes)

    And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be [that] the man whom the LORD doth choose, he [shall be] holy: [ye take] too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.