Numbers 16:1-6 New English Translation
The Rebellion of Korah
16 [a] Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites,[b] took men[c] 2 and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders[d] of the community, chosen from the assembly,[e] famous men.[f] 3 And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “You take too much upon yourselves,[g] seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?”
4 When Moses heard it he fell down with his face to the ground.[h] 5 Then he said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning the Lord will make known who are his, and who is holy. He will cause that person[i] to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him. 6 Do this, Korah, you and all your company:[j] Take censers,
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- Numbers 16:1 sn There are three main movements in the story of ch. 16. The first is the rebellion itself (vv. 1-19). The second is the judgment (vv. 20-35). Third is the atonement for the rebels (vv. 36-50). The whole chapter is a marvelous account of a massive rebellion against the leaders that concludes with reconciliation. For further study see G. Hort, “The Death of Qorah,” ABR 7 (1959): 2-26; and J. Liver, “Korah, Dathan and Abiram,” Studies in the Bible (ScrHier 8), 189-217.
- Numbers 16:1 tc The MT reading is plural (“the sons of Reuben”); the Smr and LXX have the singular (“the son of Reuben”).
- Numbers 16:1 tn In the Hebrew text there is no object for the verb “took.” The translation presented above supplies the word “men.” However, it is possible that the MT has suffered damage here. The LXX has “and he spoke.” The Syriac and Targum have “and he was divided.” The editor of BHS suggests that perhaps the MT should be emended to “and he arose.”
- Numbers 16:2 tn Heb “princes” (so KJV, ASV).
- Numbers 16:2 tn These men must have been counselors or judges of some kind.
- Numbers 16:2 tn Heb “men of name,” or “men of renown.”
- Numbers 16:3 tn The meaning of רַב־לָכֶם (rav lakhem) is something like “you have assumed far too much authority.” It simply means “much to you,” perhaps “you have gone to far,” or “you are overreaching yourselves” (M. Noth, Numbers [OTL], 123). He is objecting to the exclusiveness of the system that Moses has been introducing.
- Numbers 16:4 tn Heb “fell on his face.”
- Numbers 16:5 tn Heb “him.”
- Numbers 16:6 tn Heb “his congregation” or “his community.” The expression is unusual, but what it signifies is that Korah had set up a rival “Israel” with himself as leader.
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