Numbers 16:35-40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Numbers 16:35-40

We must now look back to the door of the tabernacle, where we left the pretenders to the priesthood with their censers in their hands ready to offer incense; and here we find, I. Vengeance taken on them, Num. 16:35. It is probable that when the earth opened in the camp to swallow up Dathan and Abiram a fire went out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men that offered incense, while Aaron that stood with them was preserved alive. This punishment was not indeed so new a thing as the former, for... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:35

And there came out a fire from the Lord ,.... Flashes of lightning from the cloud in which he was: and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense ; not that it reduced them to ashes, but took away their lives, struck them dead at once, in like manner as Nadab and Abihu were, who though said to be devoured by the fire, yet their bodies remained, Leviticus 10:2 ; and is often the case of persons killed by lightning; though Josephus F1 Antiq. l. 4. c. 3. sect. 4. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:36

And the Lord spake unto Moses ,.... Immediately after these men were consumed by fire from him; out of the same cloud from whence that proceeded, he spoke: saying : as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:37

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest ,.... His eldest son, that was to succeed him as high priest, and who perhaps was upon the spot to see the issue of things; and who, rather than Aaron, is bid to do what follows, partly because Aaron was now officiating, burning incense, and that he might not be defiled with the dead bodies; and partly because it was more proper and decent for the son to do it than the father; and it may be also because it was for the further confirmation of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:38

The censers of these sinners against their own souls ,.... Who by burning incense in them sinned, and by sinning hurt and ruined their souls: let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar ; the altar of burnt offering, which, though it had a covering of brass, another made of these were to be over it, for the further security of it, being of from the fire continually burning on it; these censers were to be beaten into broad plates, by the workmen who understood how to do... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:39

And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers ,.... The metal of which these censers were made is particularly observed, to show that they were fit for the use they were ordered to be put unto, namely, for a covering of the altar of burnt offering, which was covered with brass, that being very suitable, since fire was continually burning on it; and by this it appears that these censers were different from those of Aaron and his sons, for theirs were silver ones; the high priest on the day... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 16:40

To be a memorial unto the children of Israel ,.... The whole body of them; this explains what is meant by sign, Numbers 16:38 ; that it was to put or keep in mind what follows: that no stranger which is not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the Lord ; not only any Gentile but any Israelite, and not any Israelite only, but any Levite; none but those of the family of Aaron might offer incense before the Lord: that he be not as Korah and as his company ; this... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:37

The censers - are hallowed - קדשו kadeshu , are consecrated, i. e., to the service of God though in this instance improperly employed. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:35

Verse 35 35.And there came out a fire from the Lord. The diver-sky of the punishments had the effect of awakening more astonishment in the people, than as if all had been destroyed in the same manner, although God’s anger raged more fiercely against the original authors of the evil, so as to make it manifest that each received a recompense according to the measure of his iniquity. He says that a fire went forth from Jehovah, because it was not kindled naturally, nor accidentally, but was... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Numbers 16:37

Verse 37 37.Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron. Since there is no manifestation of God’s wrath so conspicuous as not to be forgotten too often by man’s stupidity, God was willing to anticipate this evil, and set up a monument for posterity, lest the recollection of this memorable judgment should ever be obscured. He commands, therefore, that a covering for the altar should be made of the censers, in order that none should rashly intrude himself to make the sacred offerings. When He calls them... read more

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