But, in fact, their rebellion was against God himself —
[This is plainly declared to them by Moses f. What mat- ter was there of complaint against Aaron? He did only what God had commanded him : and was he to be blamed for that ? Moses forbears to make the same apology for himself : but his observation was equally applicable to himself, who had done nothing but by the express command of God. The conspi- rators then were in reality fighting against God himself, by whose direction every measure of the government had been taken. Moreover there was a typical design in these divine appointments, which this conspiracy was calculated to defeat. Thus, whilst envy and ambition characterized ' the conduct of the conspirators towards man, they betrayed also the grossest impiety and presumption towards God.]
The best estimate of their conduct may be found in
the punishment inflicted for it —
[This was truly awful. Moses had obtained mercy from God for the congregation at large ; but the leaders of the rebel- lion must be punished. Accordingly, whilst Dathan and Abiram, together with their wives, and families, and adherents, stood in the door of their tents, setting God himself, as it were, at de- fiance, Moses declared by what an extraordinary judgment they should perish : and no sooner had he spoken, than the judg- ment was inflicted : " the earth opened her mouth, and swal- lowed them all up, with all that appertained unto them." As for the two hundred and fifty persons who presumed to make
e ver. 7. f ver. 11.