If the Lord make a new thing— The Hebrew, as rendered in the margin of our Bibles, expresses their Lord's doing something which was never done or heard of in the world before; create a new creation. Our translation of pit,—they go down quick into the pit, is certainly right in this place: the original word שׁאל sheol, signifying a grave, or receptacle for the dead, and so any pit or cavity of the earth; and, consequently, gives no countenance to the absurd ideas of the Catholic writers, who understand it here to mean hell, and thence conclude that hell to be in the centre of the earth. But, were there no other absurdity in this opinion, we may be well assured that a just and good God would never condemn little innocent children to the torments of hell for the sins of their fathers. Compare Numbers 16:27; Numbers 16:33. Thus, too, Dr. Beaumont observes, that the word שׁאל cannot be properly taken for hell. What, says he, should their houses and substance do there? Neither will it be easily proved, that they all perish for ever; and that their bodies did now go to Gehenna [hell] cannot be held.
REFLECTIONS.—Moses, at God's command, is enjoined to give the people warning. Some distinguished tent had been reared, perhaps, for the consultation of the rebel prince, and the people had gathered around them, either as partisans of their cause, or spectators of the issue, 1. Moses immediately proceeds to execute his commission; he seeks first to prevail on Dathan and Abiram themselves to repent of their sins, that they might prevent the approaching ruin: at least, if they refused, to call upon those who were about their tents to flee for their lives. The elders of Israel accompany him to countenance his authority, and to enforce, by their presence, the mandate that he brought. Note; (1.) It becomes us to use every endearing method to save our bitterest enemies from ruin. (2.) We must hear the voice of God calling us to flee from the wrath to come, and save ourselves from this untoward generation. 2. The people with haste obeyed; gat themselves up on every side, and removed their tents to a distance: fear of ruin is often the first step to safety. 3. The rebels, incorrigibly audacious, with their families at their tent doors, seem to brave the divine threatening: they who thus refuse to fear will surely fall into mischief. 4. The sentence is pronounced, and Moses appeals to its certain execution for the proof of his own divine mission. If these men should die of natural diseases, or age, or any death common to men, he would admit every accusation as true; but if the earth should open and swallow them up alive, the evidence of his innocence and their guilt must be uncontroverted. 5. No sooner is the word spoken than the thing is done: a new unprecedented judgment overtakes them; the ground cleaves asunder; alive they descend into the pit; their shrieks and cries are fruitless; the earth closes upon them, as groaning under their guilt, and weary of their blasphemies. Note; (1.) It is owing to God's mercy that we are not all consumed, and that the earth does not swallow up such sinners as we are. (2.) If men continue impenitent, the jaws of hell stand open to devour them; and if that pit shut its mouth upon them, then they perish for ever. 6. Shocked at the fearful sight, and terrified by their cries, the people fly still farther from the dreadful scene, not without apprehensions of sharing, as they deserved, the like fate. Note; We should do well to look down into the everlasting burnings, and open our ears to the shrieks which fill the horrid caverns of Tophet, that, warned by others' suffering, we come not into their place of torment.