Wesley Corpus

Chapter XVI Korah, Dathan and Abiram, rise up against Moses, ver. 1 - 4. Moses reasons with them, ver. 5 - 11. Sends for Dathan and Abiram, who refuse to come, ver. 12 - 14. His proposal to Korah, ver. 15 - 19. The punishment of the rebels, ver. 20 - 35. Their censers preserved for a memorial, ver. 36 - 40. A new insurrection stopped by a plague, ver. 41 - 45. Aaron stays the plague, ver. 46 - 50. The son of Izhar - Amram's brother, Exo 6:18, therefore Moses and he were cousin germans. Moreover, Izhar was the second son of Kohath, whereas Elizaphan, whom Moses had preferred before him, and made prince or ruler of the Kohathites, Num 3:30, was the son of Uzziel, the fourth son of Kohath. This, the Jewish writers say, made him malcontent, which at last broke forth into sedition. Sons of Reuben - These are drawn into confederacy with Korah, partly because they were his next neighbours, both being encamped on the south - side, partly in hopes to recover their rights of primogeniture, in which the priesthood was comprehended, which was given away from their father. Rose up - That is, conspired together, and put their design in execution. Before Moses - Not obscurely, but openly and boldly, not fearing nor regarding the presence of Moses. They - Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and the rest, who were all together when Moses spake those words, Nu 16:5 - 7, but after that, Dathan and Abiram retired to their tents, and then Moses sent for Korah and the Levites, who had more colourable pretences to the priesthood, and treats with them apart, and speaks what is mentioned, Nu 16:8 - 11. Having dispatched them, he sends for Dathan and Abiram, Nu 16:12, that he might reason the case with them also apart. Against Aaron - To whom the priesthood was confined, and against Moses, both because this was done by his order, and because before Aaron's consecration Moses appropriated it to himself. For whatever they intended, they seem not now directly to strike at Moses for his supreme civil government, but only for his influence in the disposal of the priesthood. Ye take too much - By perpetuating the priesthood in yourselves and family, with the exclusion of all others from it.