Numbers 16:22 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Of the spirits, i.e. of souls, as the word spirit in Scripture is oft used, as Psalms 31:5, Psalms 77:3 Proverbs 17:22 Ecclesiastes 12:7 Luke 23:46 Acts 7:59. And this is no empty title here, but very emphatical and argmmentative, thus, Thou art the Maker of spirits, Malachi 12:1, destroy not thy own workmanship, Isaiah 64:8. O thou who art the preserver of men, and of their spirits; the Lord of spirits, Job 12:10; who as thou mayst justly destroy this people, so thou canst preserve whom thou pleasest: the Father of spirits, Hebrews 12:9; O deal mercifully with thy own children: the Searcher of spirits, thou canst distinguish between those who have maliciously raised this tumult, and those whose ignorance and simple credulity hath made them a prey to crafty seducers. Of all flesh, i.e. of all mankind: the word flesh is put for men, as Genesis 6:13 Job 12:10 Isaiah 40:5,6 Eze 20:48 21:4,5. One man, to wit, Korah, the ringleader of this sedition.