It is not unlikely, that the people persuaded themselves that Moses and Aaron had used some cunning in this business and that the earthquake and fire were artificial; for, had they discerned the hand of God in this punishment, they would scarcely have dared the anger of the Lord in the very face of his justice. And while they thus absurdly imputed this judgement to Moses and Aaron, they impiously called the persons, thus perishing in their rebellion, "the people of the Lord!"

community <05712> [all the.]

1-7 14:2 Ps 106:13,23,25-48 Isa 26:11 [All]

killed <04191> [Ye have.]

3 2Sa 16:7,8 1Ki 18:17 Jer 37:13,14 38:4 43:3 Am 7:10 Mt 5:11 Ac 5:28 21:28 2Co 6:8 [All]

Numbers 16:1

16:1

Korah <07141> [Korah.]

26:9,10 27:3 Ex 6:18,21 Jude 1:11 [All]

son ..... son ..... son ......... sons ...... son ...... Reubenites <01121 07205> [sons of Reuben.]

Ge 49:3,4 1Ch 5:1,2 [All]

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.