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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comTreasury Of Scripture Knowledge - Numbers 16:1 - 16:1
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Korah: Num 26:9-10, Num 27:3; Exo 6:18, Exo 6:21; Jud 1:11
sons of Reuben: Gen 49:3-4; 1Ch 5:1-2
took men: As the word men is not in the text, some read "took counsel;" and some "took courage." Houbigant renders yikkach, rebellionem fecerunt, "they rebelled;" which scarcely any rule of criticism can ever justify. Dr. Geddes' translation is, "Another insurrection was raised against Moses by Korah," etc. Others think that it may mean, "behaved with insolence." But, as Dr. A. Clarke observes, the verb wyyikkach, "and he took" which though at the end of the sentence in English, is the first word in Hebrew, is not in the plural, but the singular; and hence cannot be applied to the acts of all these chiefs. In every part of the Scripture, where this rebellion is referred to, it is attributed to Korah, therefore the verb here belongs to him; and the whole verse should be translated, "Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, he took even Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, son of Reuben, and they rose up," etc.; reading, with some manuscripts, the Samaritan, and Septuagint, ben, son, instead of beney, sons.