Numbers:16

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* Verse 1-11 - Pride and ambition occasion a great deal of mischief both in churches and states . The rebels quarrel with the settlement of the priesthood upon Aaron and his family . Small reason they had to boast of the people 's purity , or of God 's favour , as the people had been so often and so lately polluted with sin , and were now under the marks of God 's displeasure . They unjustly charge Moses and Aaron with taking honour to themselves ; whereas they were called of God to it . See here , 1 . What spirit levellers are of ; those who resist the powers God has set over them . 2 . What usage they have been serviceable . Moses sought instruction from God . The heart of the wise studies to answer , and asks counsel of God . Moses shows their privileges as Levites , and convicts them of the sin of undervaluing these privileges . It will help to keep us from envying those above us , duly to consider how many there are below us . * Verse 12-15 - Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram to bring their complaints ; but they would not obey . They bring very false charges against Moses . Those often fall under the heaviest censures , who in truth deserve the highest praise . Moses , though the meekest man , yet , finding God reproached in him , was very wroth ; he could not bear to see the people ruining themselves . He appeals to God as to his own integrity . He bade them appear with Aaron next morning , at the time of offering the morning incense . Korah undertook thus to appear . Proud ambitious men , while projecting their own advancement , often hurry on their own shameful fall . * Verse 16-22 - The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first , Leviticus strkjv @9:23 ,. now appeared to confirm him in it ; and to confound those who set up against him . Nothing is more terrible to those who are conscious of guilt , than the appearance of the Divine glory . See how dangerous it is to have fellowship with sinners , and to partake with them . Though the people had treacherously deserted them , yet Moses and Aaron approved themselves faithful shepherds of Israel . If others fail in their duty to us , that does not take away the obligations we are under to seek their welfare . Their prayer was a pleading prayer , and it proved a prevailing one . * Verse 23-34 - The seventy elders of Israel attend Moses . It is our duty to do what we can to countenance and support lawful authority when it is opposed . And those who would not perish with sinners , must come out from among them , and be separate . It was in answer to the prayer of Moses , that God stirred up the hearts of the congregation to remove for their own safety . Grace to separate from evil-doers is one of the things that accompany salvation . God , in justice , left the rebels to the obstinacy and hardness of their own hearts . Moses , by Divine direction , when all Israel were waiting the event , declares that if the rebels die a common death , he will be content to be called and counted an imposter . As soon as Moses had spoken the word , God caused the earth to open and swallow them all up . The children perished with their parents ; in which , though we cannot tell how bad they might be to deserve it , or how good God might be otherwise to them ; yet of this we are sure , that Infinite Justice did them no wrong . It was altogether miraculous . God has , when he pleases , strange punishments for the workers of iniquity . It was very significant . Considering how the earth is still in like manner loaded with the weight of man 's sins , we have reason to wonder that it does not now sink under its load . The ruin of others should be our warning . Could we , by faith , hear the outcries of those that are gone down to the bottomless pit , we should give more diligence than we do to escape for our lives , lest we also come into their condemnation . * Verse 35-40 - A fire went out from the Lord , and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense , while Aaron , who stood with them , was preserved alive . God is jealous of the honour of his own institutions , and will not have them invaded . The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord . The censers are devoted , and , as all devoted things , must be made serviceable to the glory of God . This covering of the altar would remind the children of Israel of this event , that others might hear and fear , and do no more presumptuously . They brought destruction on themselves both in body and soul . Thus all who break the law and neglect the gospel choose and love death . * Verse 41-50 - The gaping earth was scarcely closed , before the same sins are again committed , and all these warnings slighted . They called the rebels the people of the Lord ; and find fault with Divine justice . The obstinacy of Israel notwithstanding the terrors of God 's law , as given on mount Sinai , and the terrors of his judgments , shows how necessary the grace of God is to change men 's hearts and lives . Love will do what fear cannot . Moses and Aaron interceded with God for mercy , knowing how great the provocation was . Aaron went , and burned incense between the living and the dead , not to purify the air , but to pacify an offended God . As one tender of the life of every Israelite , Aaron made all possible speed . We must render good for evil . Observe especially , that Aaron was a type of Christ . There is an infection of sin in the world , which only the cross and intercession of Jesus Christ can stay and remove . He enters the defiled and dying camp . He stands between the dead and the living ; between the eternal Judge and the souls under condemnation . We must have redemption through His blood , even the remission of sins . We admire the ready devotion of Aaron : shall we not bless and praise the unspeakable grace and love which filled the Saviour 's heart , when he placed himself in our stead , and bought us with his life ? Greatly indeed hath God commended his love towards us , in that while we were yet sinners , Christ died for us , Romans strkjv @5:8 . **** Matthew Henry 's Commentary ****

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