Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 16:5
And he spoke unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the LORD will show who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
5. the Lord will shew who are his ] LXX. (‘God knoweth those who are his’) is quoted in 2Ti 2:19, with the substitution of for .
and will cause him &c.] R.V. marg. is less probable.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. The Lord will show who are his] It is supposed that St. Paul refers to this place, 2Ti 2:19: The foundation of God – the whole sacrificial system, referring to Christ Jesus, the foundation of the salvation of men; standeth sure, notwithstanding the rebellions, intrusions, and false doctrines of men; having this seal – this stamp of its Divine authenticity, The Lord knoweth them that are his; , a literal translation of veyoda Yehovah eth asher lo; and both signifying, The Lord approveth of his own; or, will own that which is of his own appointment. And let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity, alluding to the exhortation of Moses, Nu 16:26: Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To-morrow, Heb. in the morning, the time appointed by men for administering justice, Psa 101:8; Jer 21:12; and chosen by God for that work, Psa 73:14; Isa 47:11; Zep 3:5. Some time is allowed, partly that Korah and his company might prepare themselves and their censers; and partly to give them space for consideration and repentance.
And will cause him, or, and whom he will cause. To come near unto him, i.e. he will by some evident and miraculous token declare his approbation of him and his ministry.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5-11. he spake unto Korah and untoall his companyThey were first addressed, not only becausethey were a party headed by his own cousin and Moses might hope tohave more influence in that quarter, but because they were stationednear the tabernacle; and especially because an expostulation was themore weighty coming from him who was a Levite himself, and who wasexcluded along with his family from the priesthood. But to bring thematter to an issue, he proposed a test which would afford a decisiveevidence of the divine appointment.
Even to-morrowliterally,”in the morning,” the usual time of meeting in the East forthe settlement of public affairs.
the Lord will show who arehis, . . . even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come nearunto himthat is, will bear attestation to his ministry by somevisible or miraculous token of His approval.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And he spake unto Korah, and unto all his company,…. The two hundred fifty princes that were with him; what follows was said to them apart from Dathan and Abiram, who seem not to be present at this time; and this was after Moses had finished his prayer to God, and had received instructions from him, by an impulse on his mind, what he should say unto them, and was now risen up from the earth he fell upon:
saying, even tomorrow the Lord will show who [are] his; his priests, whom he had chosen, and put into that office; this he would make known so clearly and plainly, that there would be no room left to doubt of it, and which was revealed to Moses while upon his face in prayer to God:
and [who is] holy; or whom he has separated to such an holy office and service:
and will cause [him] to come near unto him; and do his work as a priest, without fear of danger, and without any hurt, which is suggested would befall others; and they may expect it, who intrude themselves into such an office, and engage their hearts in a bold audacious manner, to draw nigh to God in it:
even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him: meaning Aaron with his sons, whom the Lord would make to appear that he had chosen, and put into the office of priesthood, and that it was not what Moses did of himself.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
5. And he spoke unto Korah. Moses did not inconsiderately choose this mode of divination, but by the dictation of the Spirit maintained the priesthood of his brother by this token and testimony; for we know how, in matters of doubt and obscurity, he was accustomed to inquire what God’s pleasure was. He did not, therefore, at this time make this proposal hastily and at random, but by the inspiration of the Spirit had recourse to the sure judgment of God. The effect of his prayer was that God suggested an easy and expeditious mode of conquest.
He bids them take their censers, that by their incense-offering it might be manifested whether their oblation was acceptable to God. By deferring it to the morrow he con-suited their own safety, if any of them might still be not incurable; for he saw that they were carried away headlong by blind fury, and that they could not be recalled to their senses in a moment. He, therefore, grants them some space of time for repentance, that they might be led to consideration during the night; or perhaps his object was that, the tumult being appeased, he might render them all attentive to the decision of God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(5) And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company.The words seem to have been addressed only to Korah and his company, not to Dathan and Abiram, who do not appear to have been present on this occasion. (See Num. 16:12, where Moses is represented as sending for Dathan and Abiram.)
Even to-morrow.Literally, In the morning. It may be that On and also the sons of Korah profited by this suspension of the judgment which was about to overtake those who persisted in their rebellion.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. The Lord will show who are his This calm appeal to the decision of Jehovah strikingly contrasts with the ambition of the insurgents. The rendering of the Septuagint is, “The Lord knoweth who are his.” See 2Ti 2:19, note.
To come near unto him In the discharge of the priestly office.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
It should seem that there is somewhat more of doctrine in this subject, than at first view might be supposed. If the congregation be everyone of them holy they need no Mediator. And if they need no Mediator then might each approach in his own righteousness. Moses therefore refers this decision to the LORD, and calls upon Korah and his company to do the same. It is as if he had said, Make the experiment and do you take the censers of your own righteousness, instead of that appointed by the LORD your GOD. Pause, my soul, over this state of the case. Ask yourself whether you would venture to draw nigh in this manner. What a beautiful view doth the subject at once seem to open to us of the preciousness of JESUS, whom Aaron typified? For, let it never be once forgotten through the whole of the Levitical dispensation, Aaron, in all he did and all he represented, was called of GOD to the service; and it was this appointment which alone gave efficacy to his ministration. Heb 5:4 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Num 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
Ver. 5. And he spake unto Korah. ] By the instinct of the Spirit, who had given into his heart a present answer to his prayer, and furnished him with this answer.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
the Lord: Mal 3:18, 2Ti 2:19
who is holy: Num 16:3, Lev 21:6-8, Lev 21:12-15, Isa 61:5, Isa 61:6, 1Pe 2:5-9, Rev 1:6, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:10
will cause: Exo 28:43, Lev 10:3, Psa 65:4, Eze 40:46, Eze 44:15, Eze 44:16, Eph 2:13, Heb 10:19-22, Heb 12:14
even him: Num 17:5, Exo 28:1, Lev 8:2, 1Sa 2:28, Psa 105:26, Joh 15:16, Act 1:2, Act 1:24, Act 13:2, Act 15:7, Act 22:14, 2Ti 2:3, 2Ti 2:4
Reciprocal: Exo 9:5 – a set time Exo 24:2 – General Exo 29:33 – they are holy Lev 21:17 – let him Num 16:7 – that the man Num 18:7 – as a service Num 26:11 – General Deu 18:5 – General Deu 33:8 – with thy Jdg 17:12 – his priest Psa 106:23 – his chosen Psa 115:10 – General Jer 30:21 – and I Eze 42:13 – approach Eze 43:19 – which approach Eze 45:4 – which Heb 5:4 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 16:5. To-morrow Hebrew, In the morning; the time appointed by men for administering justice, and chosen by God for that work. Some time is allowed, partly that Korah and his company might prepare themselves and their censers; and partly to give them space for consideration and repentance. He will cause him He will, by some evident token, declare his approbation of him and his ministry.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath {c} chosen will he cause to come near unto him.
(c) To be the priest and to offer.