Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 16:20
And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
20 24. Jehovah threatens to destroy the whole congregation; but at Moses’ intercession He relents, and commands them to depart from the Tabernacle, leaving Korah and his company to be destroyed.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
20, 21. the Lord spake unto Mosesand Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among thiscongregationCuriosity to witness the exciting spectacleattracted a vast concourse of the people, and it would seem that thepopular mind had been incited to evil by the clamors of the mutineersagainst Moses and Aaron. There was something in their behavior veryoffensive to God; for after His glory had appearedas at theinstallation of Aaron (Le 9:23),so now for his confirmation in the sacred officeHe bade Moses andAaron withdraw from the assembly “that He might consume them ina moment.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord spake unto Moses, and unto Aaron,…. Out of the cloud:
saying; as follows.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Moses and Aaron to Separate Themselves From the Congregation of Israel ( Num 16:20-21 ).
Num 16:20
‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,’
But then Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, and His words revealed His anger at the disobedience of the Levites and the concurrence of the people. Here the phrase is not, as often, a general statement indicating a new section containing the words of Moses, but is simply a part of the narrative.
Num 16:21
“ Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
He told Moses and Aaron that they must remove themselves from among the people, for He intended to destroy them all. He knew their hearts, and that instead of blaming themselves for the consequence of their unbelief which had barred them from the land, they were blaming Yahweh Himself and His true servants. Not one of them was worthy to remain alive.
These words conclude the first part of the narrative, but lead on immediately into the second part. They are pregnant with significance. At this point Yahweh brings out not only the rebellion of those in open conflict with Moses and Aaron, but also the rebellion in the hearts of all the people, which will manifest itself openly later.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Though the LORD knoweth them that are his, and can and will hide them in the day of the visitation of the ungodly, yet the precept is, come out from among them and separate yourselves. See 2Co 6:17-18 ; Rev 18:4 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
spake. See note on Num 1:1.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Divine Judgment upon the Rebels
Num 16:20-35
It was wise of Moses not to attempt to vindicate himself, but to leave God to maintain His cause. He is not slow to undertake the vindication of those who entrust their reputation with Him. To take the sword is to perish by the sword. Wait on the Lord and keep His way, and He will exalt thee to inherit the land.
The doom of Korah and his fellow-conspirators was very terrible; but if they had been spared, the whole camp would have been infected, and Gods purposes frustrated. Those who suffer from the bubonic plague must be instantly separated from their fellows, for the sake of society! Remember, as Jude says, that the pit still devours, Jud 1:11. In these last days of the present age, and in view of the terrible records of this chapter, we may well ponder the summons of Rev 18:4. The congregation was spared, because of the divine compassion of which Moses had a true conception. His prayer only reflected the divine thought, Num 16:22.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Reciprocal: Eze 20:13 – I said