Numbers 16:1-35
Korah <07141> [Korah.]
son ..... son ..... son ......... sons ...... son ...... Reubenites <01121 07205> [sons of Reuben.]
took <03947> [took men.]
As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders {yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt,} "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb {wyyikkach,} "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some MSS., the Samaritan, and Septuagint, {ben,} son, instead of {beney,} sons.
chosen <07148> [famous.]
assembled <06950> [gathered.]
too much ........ community <07227 05712> [Ye take too much upon you. Heb. It is much for you. all the.]
Lord ................ Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
holy <06918> [who is holy.]
approach ............ approach <07126> [will cause.]
chosen <0977> [even him.]
man <0376> [that the man.]
too much <07227> [too much.]
seem <04592> [Seemeth it but.]
separated <0914> [separated.]
seek <01245> [and seek.]
Lord <03068> [against.]
Aaron <0175> [what is Aaron.]
small <04592> [a small.]
land <0776> [out of a.]
kill <04191> [to kill.]
us ..... Now do ... want ... make yourself ... prince over us <08323> [thou make.]
Moreover <0637> [Moreover.]
blind <05365> [put out. Heb. bore out.]
very angry <02734 03966> [very wroth.]
respect <06437> [Respect.]
taken <05375> [I have not.]
Though Moses was their ruler, under God, yet, so far from oppressing them, he had not imposed the smallest tax, nor taken, as a present, so much as an ass from one of them. The common present that is now made to the great, in these countries, is a horse; but there is reason to believe, that an ass might formerly have answered the same purpose. "If it is a visit of ceremony from a {bashaw,}" says Dr. Russell, "or other person in power, a fine horse, sometimes with furniture, or some such valuable present, is made to him at his departure." As asses were esteemed no dishonourable beasts for the saddle, Sir. J. Chardin, in his MS., supposes, that when Samuel disclaimed having taken the ass of any one, (1 Sa 12:3,) he is to be understood of not having taken any ass for his riding. In the same light, he considers this similar declaration of Moses. His reason is "asses being then esteemed very honourable creatures for riding on, (ch. 22:21, 30. Jud 5:10. 2 Sa 16:2,) as they are at this very time in Persia, being rode with saddles."
company <05712> [Be thou.]
before <06440> [before.]
Korah <07141> [Korah.]
glory <03519> [and the glory.]
Separate <0914> [Separate.]
consume <03615> [that I may.]
threw <05307> [they fell.]
God <0430> [the God.]
one man sins <0376 02398 0259> [one man sin.]
It should seem that Dathan and Abiram had set up a spacious tabernacle in the midst of the tents of their families, where they kept court, met in council, and hung out their flag of defiance against Moses; it is here called the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. There, as in the place of rendezvous, Dathan and Abiram stayed, when Korah and his friends went up to the tabernacle of the Lord, waiting the issue of their trial; but here we are told how they had their business done, before that trial was over. God will take what method he pleases in his judgments.
Move ..... tents <05493 0168> [Depart, I pray you.]
The rebels, with all that belonged to them, were, as an accursed thing, devoted to utter destruction. (Le 27:28, 29. Jos 7:13-15, 23-26.) The people therefore were forbidden to touch anything belonging to them; that they might enter a solemn protest against their wickedness, acknowledge the justice of their punishment, and express their fear of being involved in it.
stationed <05324> [and stood.]
know <03045> [Hereby.]
<03820> [for I have.]
{Kee lo millibbee,} "and that not out of my heart." It was not of my own device or contrivance. It was not out of an ambitious desire to be great myself that I took upon me the government, nor out of private affection to my brother, that I appointed him and his family to the priesthood.
<03820> [of mine.]
death <04194> [the common, etc. Heb. as every man dieth. visited.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
something entirely new <01254 01278> [make a new thing.]
Heb. create a creature; {w‰im beriah yivra Yehowah,} "And if Jehovah should create a creation," i.e., do such a thing as was never done before.
down <03381> [and they.]
earth <0776> [the earth.]
men <0120> [all the.]
pit <07585> [into the.]
perished <06> [they perished.]
fled <05127> [fled.]
earth <0776> [Lest.]
out <03318> [And there.]
250 <03967> [two hundred.]
Numbers 26:10-11
earth opened <06605 0776> [earth opened.]
Korah <07141> [together.]
The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, but that he was burnt, as appears to have been the fact; and the Psalmist also, (Ps 106:17,) only mentions Dathan and Abiram as having been swallowed up. "And the earth swallowed them up, what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the 250 men, who became a sign."
warning <05251> [they became a sign.]
It seems to be intimated in ch. 16:27, 31-33, that the sons and the little ones of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, were swallowed up; but the text here expressly affirms, that the children of Korah "died not;" and their descendants were famous even in David's time. On a close inspection, however, of ver. 27, we shall find, that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned.
Psalms 42:1
[A.M. 2983. B.C. 1021. (Title.)]
{Maschil,} or a Psalm giving instruction, of the sons, etc. Or, "An instructive Psalm," or didactic ode, "for the sons of Korah." It is generally supposed to have been written by David when driven from Jerusalem and beyond Jordan, by Absalom's rebellion.
Korahites <01121> [the sons.]
longs ........ long <06165> [panteth. Heb. brayeth. so panteth.]
Psalms 44:1
Korahites <01121> [A.M. 3294. B.C. 710. (Title.) for the sons.]
clearly heard <08085> [have heard.]
days .... times <03117> [in the times.]
Psalms 45:1
music director <05329> [(Title.) To the chief.]
Or, rather, "To the chief musician upon the hexachords, a didactic ode for the sons of Korah, and a song of loves." {Shoshannim} most probably denotes hexachords, or six-stringed instruments, from {shesh,} "six:" hence the Persian {shasta,} a six-stringed lute. This Psalm is supposed by some to be an epithalamium, or nuptial song, on the marriage of Solomon with Pharaoh's daughter; but with what propriety could Solomon be described as fairer than the children of men, a mighty warrior, a victorious conqueror, and a prince whose throne is for ever and ever? A greater than Solomon is here; and the person described is no other than the Messiah, as is acknowledged by many Jewish writers. The Targum on ver. 3 says, "Thy beauty, {malka meshecha,} O King Messiah, is greater than the children of men;" and the Apostle expressly quotes it as such Heb 1:8, 9. It was probably written by David after Nathan's prophetic address 1 Ch 17:27.
Lilies <07799> [Shoshannim.]
well-written poem <04905> [Maschil. or, of instruction. A song.]
stirred <07370> [is inditing. Heb. boileth, or, bubbleth up.]
beautiful <02896> [a good.]
king <04428> [touching.]
tongue <03956> [tongue.]
Psalms 49:1
psalm <04210> [A.M. cir. 3464. B.C. cir. 540. (Title.) A Psalm.]
This Psalm was probably written by one of the descendants of the sons of Korah, during the Babylonian captivity.
Korahites <01121> [for. or, of.]
Listen <08085> [Hear.]
inhabitants <03427> [inhabitants.]
Psalms 84:1
gittith style <01665> [A.M. 3469. B.C. 535. (Title.) Gittith.]
psalm <04210> [A Psalm.]
Some suppose this Psalm was composed by David when driven from Jerusalem by Absalom's rebellion: but it is more probable that it was written at the foundation of the second temple.
Korahites <01121> [for. or, of.]
lovely <03039> [How.]
Lord <03068> [O Lord.]
Psalms 85:1
Korahites <01121> [A.M. 3468. B.C. 536. (Title.) for. or, of.]
Lord <03068> [Lord.]
favor .... land <07521 0776> [favourable unto. or, well pleased with.]
favor ...... restored <07521 07725> [thou hast.]
