1Chóre pak syn Izarův, syna Kahat z pokolení Léví, vytrhl se z jiných, tolikéž Dátan a Abiron, synové Eliabovi, také Hon, syn Feletův, z synů Rubenových, 2A povstali proti Mojžíšovi, i jiných mužů z synů Izraelských dvě stě a padesáte, knížata shromáždění, kteříž svoláváni byli do rady, muži slovoutní. 3A sebravše se proti Mojžíšovi a proti Aronovi, řekli jim: Příliště to již na vás; všecko zajisté množství toto, všickni tito svatí jsou, a u prostřed nich jest Hospodin. Pročež se tedy vyzdvihujete nad shromážděním Hospodinovým? 4To když uslyšel Mojžíš, padl na tvář svou, 5A mluvil k Chóre a ke vší rotě jeho, řka: Ráno ukáže Hospodin, kdo jsou jeho, a kdo jest svatý, i kdo před něj předstupovati má; nebo kohožkoli vyvolil, tomu rozkáže přistoupiti k sobě. 6Toto učiňte: Vezměte sobě kadidlnice, ty Chóre i všecko shromáždění tvé, 7A naklaďte do nich uhlí, a vložte na ně kadidla před Hospodinem zítra; i stane se, že kohožkoli vyvolí Hospodin, ten bude svatý. Příliště to již na vás, synové Léví. 8I řekl Mojžíš k Chóre: Slyšte, prosím, synové Léví. 9Zdaliž málo vám to jest, že vás oddělil Bůh Izraelský ode všeho množství Izraelského, a rozkázal vám přistupovati k sobě, abyste vykonávali službu příbytku Hospodinova, a abyste stáli před shromážděním, a sloužili jim, 10A vzal tě sobě, a všecky bratří tvé syny Léví s tebou, a že ještě přes to i kněžství hledáte? 11Protož věz, že ty a všickni tvoji jste ti, kteříž se rotíte proti Hospodinu; nebo Aron co jest, že jste reptali proti němu? 12Tedy poslal Mojžíš, aby zavolali Dátana a Abirona, synů Eliabových. Kteříž odpověděli: Nepůjdem. 13Cožť se ještě málo zdá, že jsi vyvedl nás z země oplývající mlékem a strdí, abys nás zmořil na poušti, že také chceš i panovati nad námi, a rozkazovati nám? 14A ještě jsi nás neuvedl do země oplývající mlékem a strdí, aniž jsi nám dal v dědictví rolí a vinic. Zdali oči mužům těmto vyloupiti chceš? Nepůjdeme. 15I rozhněval se Mojžíš velmi, a řekl k Hospodinu: Nepatřiž na oběti jejich. Ani jednoho osla od nich jsem nevzal, aniž jsem komu z nich co zlého učinil. 16Potom řekl Mojžíš k Chóre: Ty a všickni tvoji, postavte se zítra před Hospodinem, ty i oni, též i Aron. 17A vezmouce jeden každý kadidlnici svou, dáte do nich kadidla, a postavíte se před Hospodinem, jeden každý s kadidlnicí svou; dvě stě a padesáte kadidlnic bude, ty také i Aron, každý s kadidlnicí svou. 18Tedy vzal jeden každý kadidlnici svou, a nabravše do nich uhlí, vložili na ně i kadidla, a stáli u dveří stánku úmluvy, i Mojžíš i Aron. 19Chóre pak již byl sebral proti nim všecko množství ke dveřím stánku úmluvy; i ukázala se sláva Hospodinova všemu množství. 20I mluvil Hospodin k Mojžíšovi a k Aronovi, řka: 21Oddělte se z prostředku množství tohoto, ať je v okamžení zahladím. 22Kteřížto padše na tváři své, řekli: Bože silný, Bože duchů i všelikého těla, jediný tento člověk zhřešil, a což na všecko shromáždění hněvati se budeš? 23Tedy mluvil Hospodin k Mojžíšovi, řka: 24Mluv k množství a rci: Odstupte od příbytku Chóre, Dátana a Abirona. 25A vstav Mojžíš, šel k Dátanovi a Abironovi; i šli za ním starší Izraelští. 26A mluvil k množství, řka: Odstupte, prosím, od stanů bezbožných mužů těchto, aniž se čeho dotýkejte, což jejich jest, abyste nebyli zachváceni ve všech hříších jejich. 27I odstoupili se všech stran od příbytku Chóre, Dátana a Abirona; ale Dátan a Abiron vyšedše, stáli u dveří stanů svých, i ženy jejich a synové jejich, i maličcí jejich. 28Tedy řekl Mojžíš: Po tomto poznáte, že Hospodin poslal mne, abych činil všecky skutky tyto, a že nic o své ujmě ne činím: 29Jestliže tak jako jiní lidé mrou, zemrou i tito, a navštívením obecným všechněm lidem jestliže navštíveni budou, neposlal mne Hospodin. 30Pakliť něco nového učiní Hospodin, a země, otevra ústa svá, požře je se vším, což mají, a sstoupí-li za živa do pekla, tedy poznáte, že jsou popouzeli muži ti Hospodina. 31I stalo se, když přestal mluviti slov těch, že rozstoupila se země pod nimi. 32A otevřevši země ústa svá, požřela je i domy jejich i všecky lidi, kteříž byli s Chóre, i všecken statek jejich. 33A tak sstoupili oni se vším, což měli, za živa do pekla, a přikryla je země; i zahynuli z prostředku shromáždění. 34Všickni pak Izraelští, kteříž byli vůkol nich, utíkali, slyšíce křik jejich; nebo řekli: Utecme, aby i nás nesehltila země. 35Vyšel také oheň od Hospodina, a spálil těch dvě stě a padesáte mužů, kteříž kadili. 36Tedy mluvil Hospodin k Mojžíšovi, řka: 37Rci Eleazarovi, synu Arona kněze, ať sbéře kadidlnice z toho spáleniště, a uhlí z nich pryč rozmece, nebo posvěceny jsou, 38Kadidlnice totiž těch, kteříž proti svým dušem hřešili, a ať je rozkuje na plechy k obložení oltáře; nebo kadili jimi před Hospodinem, protož posvěceny jsou, a budou na znamení synům Izraelským. 39I sebral Eleazar kněz kadidlnice měděné, jimiž kadili ti, kteříž spáleni jsou, a rozkovali je k obložení oltáře, 40Pro budoucí pamět synům Izraelským, aby nepřistupoval žádný jiný, kdož by nebyl z rodu Aronova, k kadění před Hospodinem, aby se mu nestalo jako Chóre a jako rotě jeho, jakož byl mluvil jemu Hospodin skrze Mojžíše. 41Nazejtří pak reptalo všecko množství synů Izraelských na Mojžíše a na Arona, řkouce: Vy jste příčinou smrti lidu Hospodinova. 42I stalo se, když se opět sbíral lid proti Mojžíšovi a proti Aronovi, že se ohlédli k stánku úmluvy, a aj, přikryl jej oblak, a ukázala se sláva Hospodinova. 43Přišel také Mojžíš s Aronem před stánek úmluvy. 44I mluvil Hospodin k Mojžíšovi, řka: 45Vyjděte z prostředku množství tohoto, a zahladím je v okamžení. I padli na tváři své. 46Tedy řekl Mojžíš Aronovi: Vezma kadidlnici, dej do ní uhlí z oltáře, a vlož kadidla, a běž rychle k množství a očisť je; nebo vyšla prchlivost od tváři Hospodinovy, a již rána se začala. 47I vzav Aron kadidlnici, jakž rozkázal Mojžíš, běžel do prostřed shromáždění, (a aj, rána již se byla začala v lidu,) a zakadiv, očistil lid. 48A stál mezi mrtvými a živými; i zastavena jest rána. 49Bylo pak těch, kteříž od té rány zemřeli, čtrnácte tisíců a sedm set, kromě těch, jenž zemřeli příčinou Chóre. 50I navrátil se Aron k Mojžíšovi, ke dveřím stánku úmluvy, když ta rána přetržena byla.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE REBELLION OF KORAH. (Num. 16:1-30)
Now Korah, the son of Izhar--Izhar, brother of Amram (
Exod 6:18), was the second son of Kohath, and for some reason unrecorded he had been supplanted by a descendant of the fourth son of Kohath, who was appointed prince or chief of the Kohathites (
Num 3:30). Discontent with the preferment over him of a younger relative was probably the originating cause of this seditious movement on the part of Korah.
Dathan and Abiram, . . . and On--These were confederate leaders in the rebellion, but On seems to have afterwards withdrawn from the conspiracy [compare
Num 16:12,
Num 16:24-
Num 16:25,
Num 16:27;
Num 26:9;
Deut 11:6;
Ps 106:17].
took men--The latter mentioned individuals, being all sons of Reuben, the eldest of Jacob's family, had been stimulated to this insurrection on the pretext that Moses had, by an arbitrary arrangement, taken away the right of primogeniture, which had vested the hereditary dignity of the priesthood in the first-born of every family, with a view of transferring the hereditary exercise of the sacred functions to a particular branch of his own house; and that this gross instance of partiality to his own relations, to the permanent detriment of others, was a sufficient ground for refusing allegiance to his government. In addition to this grievance, another cause of jealousy and dissatisfaction that rankled in the breasts of the Reubenites was the advancement of Judah to the leadership among the tribes. These malcontents had been incited by the artful representations of Korah (
Jude 1:11), with whom the position of their camp on the south side afforded them facilities of frequent intercourse. In addition to his feeling of personal wrongs, Korah participated in their desire (if he did not originate the attempt) to recover their lost rights of primogeniture. When the conspiracy was ripe, they openly and boldly declared its object, and at the head of two hundred fifty princes, charged Moses with an ambitious and unwarrantable usurpation of authority, especially in the appropriation of the priesthood, for they disputed the claim of Aaron also to pre-eminence [
Num 16:3].
3 they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron--The assemblage seems to have been composed of the whole band of conspirators; and they grounded their complaint on the fact that the whole people, being separated to the divine service (
Exod 19:6), were equally qualified to present offerings on the altar, and that God, being graciously, present among them by the tabernacle and the cloud, evinced His readiness to receive sacrifices from the hand of any others as well as from theirs.
4 when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face--This attitude of prostration indicated not only his humble and earnest desire that God would interpose to free him from the false and odious imputation, but also his strong sense of the daring sin involved in this proceeding. Whatever feelings may be entertained respecting Aaron, who had formerly headed a sedition himself [
Num 12:1], it is impossible not to sympathize with Moses in this difficult emergency. But he was a devout man, and the prudential course he adopted was probably the dictate of that heavenly wisdom with which, in answer to his prayers, he was endowed.
5 he spake unto Korah and unto all his company--They were first addressed, not only because they were a party headed by his own cousin and Moses might hope to have more influence in that quarter, but because they were stationed near the tabernacle; and especially because an expostulation was the more weighty coming from him who was a Levite himself, and who was excluded along with his family from the priesthood. But to bring the matter to an issue, he proposed a test which would afford a decisive evidence of the divine appointment.
Even to-morrow--literally, "in the morning," the usual time of meeting in the East for the settlement of public affairs.
the Lord will show who are his, . . . even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him--that is, will bear attestation to his ministry by some visible or miraculous token of His approval.
6 Take your censers, Korah, and all his company, &c.--that is, since you aspire to the priesthood, then go, perform the highest function of the office--that of offering incense; and if you are accepted well. How magnanimous the conduct of Moses, who was now as willing that God's people should be priests, as formerly that they should be prophets (
Num 11:29). But he warned them that they were making a perilous experiment.
12 Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram--in a separate interview, the ground of their mutiny being different; for while Korah murmured against the exclusive appropriation of the priesthood to Aaron and his family, they were opposed to the supremacy of Moses in civil power. They refused to obey the summons; and their refusal was grounded on the plausible pretext that their stay in the desert was prolonged for some secret and selfish purposes of the leader, who was conducting them like blind men wherever it suited him.
15 Moses was very wroth--Though the meekest of all men [
Num 12:3], he could not restrain his indignation at these unjust and groundless charges; and the highly excited state of his feeling was evinced by the utterance of a brief exclamation in the mixed form of a prayer and an impassioned assertion of his integrity. (Compare
1Sam 12:3).
and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering--He calls it their offering, because, though it was to be offered by Korah and his Levitical associates, it was the united appeal of all the mutineers for deciding the contested claims of Moses and Aaron.
16 Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord--that is, at "the door of the tabernacle" (
Num 16:18), that the assembled people might witness the experiment and be properly impressed by the issue.
17 two hundred fifty censers--probably the small platters, common in Egyptian families, where incense was offered to household deities and which had been among the precious things borrowed at their departure [
Exod 12:35-
Exod 12:36].
20 the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation--Curiosity to witness the exciting spectacle attracted a vast concourse of the people, and it would seem that the popular mind had been incited to evil by the clamors of the mutineers against Moses and Aaron. There was something in their behavior very offensive to God; for after His glory had appeared--as at the installation of Aaron (
Lev 9:23), so now for his confirmation in the sacred office--He bade Moses and Aaron withdraw from the assembly "that He might consume them in a moment."
22 they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh--The benevolent importunity of their prayer was the more remarkable that the intercession was made for their enemies.
24 Speak unto the congregation, . . . Get you up from about the tabernacle--Moses was attended in the execution of this mission by the elders. The united and urgent entreaties of so many dignified personages produced the desired effect of convincing the people of their crime, and of withdrawing them from the company of men who were doomed to destruction, lest, being partakers of their sins, they should perish along with them.
27 the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram--Korah being a Kohathite, his tent could not have been in the Reubenite camp, and it does not appear that he himself was on the spot where Dathan and Abiram stood with their families. Their attitude of defiance indicated their daring and impenitent character, equally regardless of God and man.
28 Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works--The awful catastrophe of the earthquake which, as predicted by Moses, swallowed up those impious rebels in a living tomb, gave the divine attestation to the mission of Moses and struck the spectators with solemn awe.
35 there came out a fire from the Lord--that is, from the cloud. This seems to describe the destruction of Korah and those Levites who with him aspired to the functions of the priesthood. (See
Num 26:11,
Num 26:58;
1Chr 6:22,
1Chr 6:37).
37 Speak unto Eleazar--He was selected lest the high priest might contract defilement from going among the dead carcasses.
39 the brazen censers . . . made broad plates to be a memorial--The altar of burnt offerings, being made of wood and covered with brass, this additional covering of broad plates not only rendered it doubly secure against the fire, but served as a warning beacon to deter all from future invasions of the priesthood.
41 the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord--What a strange exhibition of popular prejudice and passion--to blame the leaders for saving the rebels! Yet Moses and Aaron interceded for the people--the high priest perilling his own life in doing good to that perverse race.
48 he stood between the living and the dead--The plague seems to have begun in the extremities of the camp. Aaron, in this remarkable act, was a type of Christ.
