Topical Encyclopedia The account of the censers of Korah being made into plates to cover the altar is found in the Book of Numbers, specifically in Numbers 16:36-40. This event follows the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron, which resulted in a dramatic demonstration of God's judgment.Background of the Rebellion Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben, challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron. They accused them of exalting themselves above the assembly of the Lord (Numbers 16:3). This rebellion was not merely against human leadership but was seen as a direct challenge to God's appointed order. In response, Moses proposed a test to determine whom the Lord had chosen. Each of the 250 rebellious leaders was to take a censer, put fire and incense in it, and present it before the Lord. The Lord would then show whom He had chosen (Numbers 16:5-7). Divine Judgment The outcome was swift and severe. The earth opened up and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with their households, while fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering incense (Numbers 16:31-35). This act of divine judgment underscored the seriousness of their rebellion against God's established order. The Censers Made into Plates Following this judgment, the Lord instructed Moses to have Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, collect the censers from the smoldering remains. These censers, having been used to offer incense before the Lord, were considered holy. The Lord commanded that they be hammered into plates to cover the altar as a sign to the Israelites (Numbers 16:36-38). The Berean Standard Bible records this instruction: "Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the censers from the flames, for they are holy, and scatter the coals far away. As for the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their lives, make them into hammered sheets to overlay the altar, for they presented them before the LORD, and they have become holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites" (Numbers 16:37-38). Significance and Symbolism The transformation of the censers into plates for the altar served multiple purposes. Firstly, it was a tangible reminder of the consequences of rebellion against God's chosen leaders. The plates were a perpetual sign to the Israelites of the sanctity of God's commands and the seriousness of approaching Him in unauthorized ways. Secondly, the use of the censers as a covering for the altar symbolized the holiness required in worship. The censers, once instruments of rebellion, were repurposed to serve a holy function, emphasizing God's ability to redeem and sanctify even that which was once profane. Lastly, this event reinforced the unique role of the Aaronic priesthood. By using the censers of the rebels to cover the altar, God reaffirmed the legitimacy of Aaron's line as the rightful priests, chosen to mediate between God and the people. In summary, the censers of Korah being made into plates to cover the altar is a powerful narrative that highlights themes of holiness, divine judgment, and the importance of adhering to God's established order. It serves as a lasting reminder of the consequences of rebellion and the sanctity of worship. Torrey's Topical Textbook Numbers 16:18,39And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Solomon's Temple Spiritualized Resources Who was Dathan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Eleazar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who were Nadab and Abihu? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus |
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