Numbers 16:16

And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Benson Commentary

Numbers 16:16. Be thou and thy company before the Lord — Not in the tabernacle, which was not capable of containing so many persons severally offering incense, but at the door of the tabernacle, where they might offer it by Moses’s direction upon this extraordinary occasion. Indeed, this work could not be done in that place, which alone was allowed for the offering up of incense; not only for its smallness, but also because none but priests might enter to do this work. Here also the people, who were to be instructed by this experiment, might see the proof and success of it.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:16-22 The same glory of the Lord that appeared to place Aaron in his office at first, Le 9:23, now appeared to confirm him in it; and to confound those who set up against him. Nothing is more terrible to those who are conscious of guilt, than the appearance of the Divine glory. See how dangerous it is to have fellowship with sinners, and to partake with them. Though the people had treacherously deserted them, yet Moses and Aaron approved themselves faithful shepherds of Israel. If others fail in their duty to us, that does not take away the obligations we are under to seek their welfare. Their prayer was a pleading prayer, and it proved a prevailing one.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? - i. e. "blind them to the fact that you keep none of your promises;" "throw dust in their eyes."

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

16-18. Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord—that is, at "the door of the tabernacle" (Nu 16:18), that the assembled people might witness the experiment and be properly impressed by the issue.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Not in the tabernacle, which was not capable of so many persoms severally offering incense, but at the door of the tabernacle, Numbers 16:18, which place is oft said to be

before the Lord, as Exodus 29:42 Leviticus 1:11, &c.; where they might now lawfully offer it by Moses’s direction upon this extraordinary occasion and necessity, because this work could not be done in that place, which alone was allowed for the offering up of incense, not only from its smallness, but also because none but priests might enter to do this work. Here also the people, who wcrc to be instructed by this experiment, might see the proof and success of it.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Moses said unto Korah,.... Who was still with him, when the messenger returned from Dathan and Abiram, and who heard what Moses said in his own defence:

be thou and all thy company before the Lord; at the tabernacle, at the door of it; the Targum of Jonathan is, at the house of judgment, the court of judicature, where this affair was to be tried, and that was at the tabernacle, as appears by what follows:

thou, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow; the day after Moses had sent to Dathan and Abiram, on the morning of the next day; which as it was the time of sitting in judgment, so of offering incense; meaning Korah and his company, the two hundred fifty men with him, and not Dathan and Abiram; and Aaron also, he was ordered to appear, whom they opposed, and with whom the trial was to be made.

Geneva Study Bible

And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company {h} before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

(h) At the door of the tabernacle.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

16–19. Korah and his company accept Moses’ challenge.

16, 17 are a repetition of Numbers 16:6-7, and were probably inserted together with Numbers 16:8-11; Numbers 16:36-40.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 16. - And Moses said unto Korah. After the interchange of messages with the Reubenites, Moses repeats his injunctions to Korah to be ready on the morrow to put his claims to the test, adding that Aaron too should be there, that the Lord might judge between them. Numbers 16:16

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

In conclusion, he summoned Korah and his associates once more, to present themselves the following day before Jehovah with censers and incense.