The Pulpit Commentary — Numbers — Section 230

,sinned against the clearer light. Yet the factR seem to show that the Reubenites were the more aggravated sinners, or at least that their families took part more entirely in their sin. Thie at least is certain, that while the families of the Reubenite rebels perished with them, the family of Korah survived. Centuries after this, the ,sons of Korah flourished in Judah, and did honourable service as psalmists (titles of Psalms xlii.-xlix., and lxx.xiv.-lxxxviii.) The story of Korab is an admonition to nations, and especially to ·churches, to " look diligently leet any root of bitterness springing up trouble them, and thereby many be defiled'' (Heh. xii. 15). When a society provokes God's displeasure, he doee not need to send against it some external foe ; there are other and more humiliating forms of chastisement at hie disposal. He may suffer some. root of bitterness to spring up from within ; be may suffer eome one of its own ch~ldren to be its scourge. A Korab will work more mischief in Israel than the Egyptians and the Amalekitee put together can effect.-B. Vere. 19-22, 41-50.-Korah's rebellion. 3. How the congregation abetted tl~ rebels, and were only saved through the intercession of Mose3 and Aaron. Bold and crafty as Korab was, be could not have done eo much mischief if elements of mischief had not been everywhere rife in the camp. Many things conspire to show that his policy was to inflame and tum to bad account discontents previously existing among the people. The existence of these discontents is not inexplicable. A crowd of bondmen are not to be transferred into a nation of reasonable free men all at once. Moreover, the circumstances of the congregation at Kadeeh Barnea were not fitted to make the task of Moses an easy one. After ·having reached the threshold of Canaan, the people had been tamed back and condemned to pass the rest of their days in the wilderness. To be sure they had no one but themselves to blame; but this did not mend the matter. The consciousness that the ditch into which a man has fallen is a ditch of hie own digging does not always move a man to take his fall meekly. Penitent hearts may be silent under God's chastisement; but impenitent hearts blaspheme him the more for what they suffer. We need not marvel, therefore, that there were many in the congregation, besides his active coadjutors, who were ready to lend their countenance to Korah in his rebellion. I. TUE SYMPATHY OF THE PEOPLE WITH KoRAH showed itself in various ways. 1. They did not rise and vindicate the government of Moses, as they ought to have ,done. 2. In the crisis of the rebellion they gathered together in front of the taber- nacle to encourage Korab and hie two hundred and fifty with their countenance. Probably enough they did this with light hearts. Individuals moving with a crowd are apt to lose the sense of personal responsibility. But we shall have to answer to -God for what we do, none the Ieee because many others are doing it along with us. In the case in hand the general countenance given to the rebels was so deeply resented by God that it had almost proved fatal to the whole nation. To swell with our voice the shouts of a popular assembly may seem a trifle; but if the shouts are directed against the maintainers of truth and righteousness, we cannot take part without sin and danger. 3. When the rebels died for their sin, the people charged Moses and Aaron with their blood (ver. 41). A fresh example of perversity which ngnin had almoetfroved fatal to the whole nation. II. It is a relie to turn from the perverse ungodliness of the people to THE MEEK- .NESS AND UNSELFISH ZEAL OF MOSES AND AARON. When the Reubenite rebels and the 250 conspirators perished, Moses did not utter a word in deprecation of their terrible -doom. A signal example had become necessary. But when the whole people was threatened1 he fell on his face and pleaded for it. This he did twice, he and Aaron. 1. When the people abetted Korah and hie company before the tabernacle (ver. 22). •Twice before Moses had been tempted to desert hie office of intercessor, and to separate his fortunes from those of hie brethren ( ci Exod. xxxii. 10-13; Numb. xiv. 12). On this third occasion, as on the two forn1er, he refuses to do so. On the con- trary, he intercedes with the energy of a man pleading for his own life. When ·sin abounds and judgments threaten, may the Lord always raise up among us inter- cessors like Moses and Aaron I 2. When the people che.rged him with the death of the rebels (ver. 41). This time his intercession took a new form. While the peopl$, 1'2 '212 THE BOOK OF NUMDEHS. [CII. XVI. 1--4:0.