Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
10. and they became a sign ] This is a reference to Num 16:38; but there it is not the offenders but their fire-pans, beaten into plates for the altar, that are a sign.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Together with Korah – i. e., they were engulfed at the same time that Korah perished, for Korah himself appears to bare died among the two hundred and fifty incense offerers at the door of the tabernacle, not with Dathan and Abiram (compare Num 16:32 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 10. Together with Korah] The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, but that he was burnt, as appears in fact to have been the case. And the earth swallowed them up, what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the two hundred and fifty men, who became a sign.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Swallowed them up together with Korah: according to this translation Korah was not consumed by fire with his two hundred and fifty men, Num 16, but swallowed up by the earth. But others rather think he was devoured by the fire, of which see on Num 16:32,35, and render these words, and the things of Korah, or belonging to Korah, to wit, his tent, and goods, and family, children excepted, as here follows; which interpretation receives strength by comparing this place with Num 16:32,
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them (to wit, Dathan and Abiram, as is manifest from Num 26:24,25,27) up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah; which variation of the phrase plainly shows that Korah himself was not swallowed up with them, but only his men and his tabernacle, which is mentioned there together with the tabernacles of Dathan and Abiram, Num 26:24,27, but his person is not there mentioned with their persons. Nor is it unusual both in sacred and profane authors, by the name of a man who is the head and master, to understand only his house and family, though himself be not included. But this difficulty may be cleared another way. The Hebrew particle eth may? be here the note of a nominative case, as it is 2Ki 6:5; Neh 9:19; Jer 38:16; Eze 39:14; 43:7, and there may be a defect of a verb, which is most frequent; and so the place may be rendered thus,
and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, to wit, Dathan and Abiram, Num 26:9, and Korah, or, and as for Korah, he died (which verb is easily understood out of the following noun, of which ellipsis there are many instances in Scripture, some whereof have been given before, and more will follow in their places) in the death of that company, or when that company died, what time the fire devoured the two hundred and fifty men. And so this place, and Num 16:35, explain one another; and whereas there. is mention only of two hundred and fifty men consumed by that fire, Korah is here added to the number.
They became a sign, i.e. God made them a monument or example, to warn others not to rebel against God nor against magistracy, nor to usurp the priestly office.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
10. the earth opened her mouth, andswallowed them up together with Korahrather, “the thingsof Korah.” (See on Nu 16:35;compare Ps 106:17).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,…. Not only Dathan and Abiram, but their wives and children, their houses and tents, and all their goods, see Nu 16:32 together with Korah; the words being thus rendered, and standing in such close connection with the preceding, some have concluded from hence that Korah was swallowed up with them in the earth; whereas he seems rather to have been at that time with the two hundred and fifty men that had censers at the door of the tabernacle, and was consumed by fire with them, see
Nu 16:16 and, indeed, it is suggested here, for the phrase may be rendered, “and the things of Korah” m; what appertained unto him, his men, tents, goods, and substance, which agrees with Nu 16:32 or, “and as for Korah” n; with respect to him: “when that company died”: he was at the head of, he died also, the same death they died, by fire, as follows:
what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; which was the number his company consisted of, who took censers, and offered incense, and were consumed by fire, Nu 16:2, and with whom, in all probability, he perished:
and they became a sign, were made an example of, to deter others from the like practices, and particularly usurping any part of the priest’s office: some connect the words with the following, and take the sense to be, that this was the sign or miracle, that when they perished, Korah’s sons died not, but were preserved; which sense is countenanced by the Vulgate Latin, but the other sense is best.
m “et quae erant, Korachi”, Junius Tremellius. n So Pool, Patrick “deinde et Corah (qui periit) in morte congregationis”, Tigurine version.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(10) And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah . . . Hebrew, and Korah. It would appear from this verse that Korah perished in the earthquake with Dathan and Abiram. The Samaritan Pentateuch, however, has a different reading here. It transposes the words and Korah, and combines them with the wordsand the two hundred and fifty men: thuswhen the fire devoured Korah and the two hundred and fifty men. (See Notes on Num. 16:32; Num. 16:35.) It is possible that there may have been an omission here of the words which are found in Num. 16:32, all the men that appertained unto, or of words denoting all the goods belonging to.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
10. Together with Korah The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, but that he was burned. See Num 16:25, note; Psa 106:17. This view is sustained by Graves, Boothroyd, Bush, Geddes, Hervey, and Josephus. But Ewald, Keil, Kurtz, and Knobel, think that Korah was engulfed. They argue that he left the two hundred and fifty burning incense at the tabernacle and followed Moses, with the purpose of strengthening Dathan and Abiram in their contumacy; and, standing with them by their tents, was swallowed up. It is clear that he was not in his own tent, which must have been at some little distance, and seems not to have been destroyed.
Became a sign A warning.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Num 26:10. And the earth opened her mouth, &c. All this respecting Dathan, &c. is most probably inserted to give a reason for the great decrease of the tribe of Reuben; it being supposed by some, that Korah was not swallowed up, but consumed by the fire of God with those who offered unbidden incense. They would render the words thus: the earth swallowed them up, i.e. Dathan and Abiram; and as for Korah, he died with a company, what time the fire devoured, &c.; accordingly, the Samaritan renders it, and the earth swallowed them up, what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah, with the two hundred and fifty men, who became a sign; i.e. a monument of divine vengeance against rebellious sinners. The French version renders it in the same manner.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“They became a sign.” Num 26:10
So even the worst actions may be turned to public utility. Let the word “sign” be considered equal to the word “example,” and then every drunkard, liar, thief, becomes a sign. A sign was attached to Cain, and that sign is attached to all his progeny. In the language of the prophet, “the shew of their countenance doth witness against them,” A very solemn purpose is thus served, by all persons who have been faithless or wicked. “Remember Lot’s wife.” New periods are dated from the commission of great crimes. Some names cannot be mentioned without sending a shudder through the hearers. We may well say of such names that they have become “signs.” Whole histories may be summed up in a name. All present examples of evil may be traced to a definite source. There is a family or kinship of evil, the very household of Satan. The other side of this text is happily true, for good men are examples stimulating in noble directions. “Ye have heard of the patience of Job.” The eleventh, chapter of Hebrews vividly illustrates the power of brilliant examples. One of two things is certain, men either leave a name that degrades or a name that elevates. It is in our power to say which name we shall leave.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
Num 26:10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Ver. 10. And they became a sign. ] An example of that rule, that great sins bring great plagues, as Herodotus hath it, speaking of the destruction of Troy. Aliorum perditio, tua sit cautio, Enjoy other men’s madness, &c. Discite iustitiam moniti, &c. Let all that behold me beware; this was written upon the statue of Sennacherib, saith Herodotus.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
And the earth. This tenth verse is a Parenthesis. See App-6.
sign: i.e. a warning.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
earth opened: Num 16:2, Num 16:31-35, Num 16:38, Num 27:3, Exo 16:35, Psa 106:17, Psa 106:18
together: The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up, but that he was burnt, as appears to have been the fact; and the Psalmist also – Psa 106:17, only mentions Dathan and Abiram as having been swallowed up. “And the earth swallowed them up, what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the 250 men, who became a sign.”
they became a sign: Num 16:38, 1Sa 2:34, Jer 29:22, Eze 14:8, 1Co 10:6-10, 2Pe 2:6, Jud 1:7
Reciprocal: Exo 6:21 – Korah Num 16:1 – Korah Num 16:35 – And there Deu 11:6 – he did unto 2Sa 20:19 – swallow 1Ch 6:37 – Korah Pro 1:12 – whole
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Num 26:10. Together with Korah These words seem to import that Korah was swallowed up with Dathan and Abiram. But it being more probable, as was observed on Num 16:32, that Korah was consumed by the fire of God with those who offered incense, the words may be otherwise translated thus: The earth swallowed them up; namely, Dathan and Abiram; and as for Korah, he died with that company, what time the fire devoured, &c. To the same purpose speak the Samaritan text and Josephus. Also we have the testimony of the apostolical constitutions, and in effect of Clement of Rome, of Ignatius and Eusebius, that the Septuagint version originally gave the same account. Whiston. Junius and Tremellius render the passage, The earth swallowed them up, and what things belonged to Korah; namely, his tent, and goods, and family, his children excepted, as they are here. The psalmist seems to confirm the opinion that Korah was burned with his Levites, mentioning only Dathan and Abiram as being swallowed up, Psa 106:17. They became a sign A monument of divine vengeance against daring sinners, warning them not to rebel against God, or magistrates, his deputies, nor to usurp the priestly office.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
26:10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they {d} became a sign.
(d) That is, as an example that others should not complain and rebel against God’s ministers.