The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 229

Vers. 4--.35.-Korah's rebellum,. 2. Bow the rebelli?n was encountered and put down,. Moses was the meekest of men. There were circumstances of aggravation in the rebellion of Korah which would have exhausted the meekness of most men but they failed to break down that of Moses. The much-enduring patience of th~ servant of the Lori:I . never s_hone out more brightly than in the way in which he encountered the sedition of his bold, unscrupulous kinsman. I. HE CARRIED THE CAUSE BY ArPEAL TO THE MOST HrnH. A proposal to this effect was made-1. To Korah and the two hundred and fifty chiefs of the conspiracy· vers. 5-7 : q. d. "You challenge the lea-itimacy of my government and of Aaron's priesthood. You insinuate that we climbed so high by treading on the rights of our brethren. I might plead in reply that Aaron and I did not grasp at our pre- sent honours ; they were thrust on us by the Lord. But let us refer the matter to the Lord's decision. Let him show who are his, who are holy, whom he bath chosen to draw near to him in his sanctuary. Take censers and present yourselves before the Lord to-morrow ; I and Aaron will come likewise. Let the Lord answer by fire." Such is the proposal. To Moses the result is not doubtful. Yet his heart yearns over the misguided men. This comes out-(1) In his putting off the trial till next day. After a night's reflection they may perhaps repent; (2) In his remon- strance with thoso of the two hundred and fifty who were Levites (vers. 8-10). Their participation in the rebellion was peculiarly inexcusable. 2. To the Reubenites. , Moses sent for them also ; but they were not, so bold as the two hundred and fifty, and refused to come. They sent back, instead, an insolent and reproachful reply (vers. 13, 14). Nevertheless, in their case slso Moses refers the decision to the Lord (ver. 15): q. d. "They accuse me of playing the prince and tyrant over them, whereas I have never exacted from them an ordinary governor's dues. So far from. defrauding them, I have not taken from tl1em so much as an ass. The Lord judge i between them and me, and respect not their offering." IL THE APPEAL WAS HEARD AND JUDCJMENT WAS PRONOUNCED. 1. We are not told 1 bow the two hundred and fifty passed the night. Some of them must have had mis- givings. They could not fail to remember the tragic death of Nadab and Abihu when they drew near to the Lord with strange fire. But Korah suffered no flinching. He mustered them on the morrow. His emissaries too had been busy in the camp, for when the two hundred and fifty took their places they were surrounded with a vast con- gregation of eager and sympathizing spectators. This gathering it was hoped would at once confirm the resolution of the conspirators and overawe Moses and Aaron. Moses, on his part, having referred the matter to the Lord, left it in his hand ; with what result need hardly be told. First the pillar of fire appeared in a way that struck dismay ; and then, after a while, fire came forth and consumed Korah and his two hundred and fifty-" those sinners against their own souls." 2. The fate of the Reubenites presented features of a still more tragic interest (vers. : 23-34). It was resolved that they should be made a signal example of Divine 1. vengeance. But, in the first place, the congregation were charged to separate them- selves from them (ci Rev. xviii. 4). This might well have awakened fear, and led to repentance. But they were infatuated in their error. Instead of repenting and craving mercy, "they came out and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children." Oh these last wordij I What a harrowing scene they bring before the mind I Was it not enough that Dathan and Abiram and their sons should perish? Why should the women and unconscious children die? The eight is a harrowing one, but it ie one that meets us every day. When a blaspheming wretch passes us on the road with his like-minded wife, e.n~ a string of little children at their heels, ie not tbat Abiram over again, with his wife and littlo children? A sight not to be contemplated without fear and pity.-Reud the terma in which Moses referred the decision in this case to the Lord, and the nwful judgment that ensued, vers. 28-34. . . . One can hardly help commiserating the Reubenites more than the Levites, for the Levites, one would think, must ha.ve <JU. llVI. 1-40.] THE BOOK OF NUMBEilS. 211