Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 16:42
And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
They looked, i.e. Moses and Aaron, who in all their distresses made God their refuge.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron,…. To kill them, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; who, perhaps, upon uttering their murmurs, made up to them, and by their gestures showed an intention to murder them:
that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation; either the people did, to see whether they could observe any appearance of the displeasure of God against them; or rather Moses and Aaron looked that way for help and deliverance in this extreme danger, knowing there was no salvation for them but of the Lord, Jer 3:23;
and, behold, the cloud covered it; as when it was first erected, and which was a token of the divine Presence, Nu 9:15; perhaps it had dispersed immediately upon the death of the rebels, and now returned again in favour of the servants of the Lord:
and the glory of the Lord appeared; in the cloud, as in Nu 16:19; to encourage Moses and Aaron, and to deliver them out of the hands of the people, and to the terror of them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
42. And it came to pass when the congregation. From the fact that Moses and Aaron were protected by the covering of the cloud, we gather how uncontrollable was the rage of the people. For, although the glory of God only stood over the tabernacle, so that Moses and Aaron were still exposed to stoning, and any other acts of violence, yet it so dazzled the eyes of these wicked men, that they could not touch the holy persons. Nor can we doubt but that they betook themselves to the sanctuary, because, in the extremity of their danger, the only hope that remained to them was in the help of God. When, therefore, they had fled to this sacred asylum, God received them under the shadow of His wings. Thus did He testify, that the prayers and hopes of His people are never in vain, but that He succors them whenever they call upon Him. For although, now-a-days, He does not appear in a visible abode, still He is nigh unto all those who cast their cares upon Him. It might, indeed, have been the case that the sign of God’s glory was seen by none but Moses and Aaron, in order that they might be fully assured that God was near to help them; but, since the expression is indefinite, it is probable that God threatened also the frantic multitude, lest they should proceed to any further acts of violence, although the light was presented in vain to them in their blindness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(42) And, behold, the cloud covered it.The cloud had probably been removed on the preceding day when the rebels were consumed, and was now again restored in order to encourage Moses and Aaron.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
42, 43. Again a formidable rebellion lifts its head, and again the glory of the Lord shines forth as on the day before.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Observe, the LORD waits not for any longer appeal. Vengeance is mine, JEHOVAH saith, I will recompense. Rom 12:19 . Compared with Deu 32:35 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Ver. 42. And behold the cloud. ] Deus . God, as out of an engine, appears for his distressed servants.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
tabernacle = tent. Hebrew. ‘ohel. App-40.
behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
when the: Num 16:19
the glory: Num 16:19, Num 14:10, Num 20:6, Exo 16:7, Exo 16:10, Exo 24:16, Exo 40:34, Exo 40:35, Lev 9:23
Reciprocal: Num 20:2 – gathered Eze 3:23 – the glory Eze 44:4 – and I fell Act 7:38 – in the church