Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Numbers 16

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Korah

Exo 6:21; Jude 1:11.

Num 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

who is holy

2Ti 2:19.

Num 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD

Num 3:41, 45; 8:14; Deu 10:8.

Num 16:10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

seek ye the priesthood

The "gainsaying of Korah" was intrusion into the priest's office ("no man taketh this honour unto himself," Hebrews 5:4). It was an attempt to create a priestly order without the divine authority (Hebrews 5:10). The modern analogue is Nicolaitanism (Revelation 2:6, 15), the division of an equal brotherhood (Matthew 23:8) into "clergy" and "laity"; a vastly different thing from the due recognition of ministry-gifts (1 Corinthians 12:4-31; Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12), or of elders and deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9).

Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

Separate

Separation. vs. 20-26; Deu 22:10. (Gen 12:1; 2 Cor 6:14-17.)

Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

pit [See also Num 16:33.]

Hebrew sheol.

Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

the ground clave asunder

Miracles (O.T.). vs. 31-35; Num 17:8. (Gen 5:24; Jon 2:1-10.)

Num 16:37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

hallowed

Lev 27:28.

Num 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD

Cf. 1Sa 13:9; Heb 5:4; Jude 1:11.

Num 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

atonement [See also Num 16:47.]

See Scofield Exodus 29:33, note.

Num 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

beside them that died about the matter of Korah

Num 16:35.