Numbers 16:28-34 - Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Reader Related Verse
Bible Comments

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me. The awful catastrophe of the earthquake which, as predicted by Moses, swallowed up those impious rebels in a living tomb, gave the divine attestation to the mission of Moses, and struck the spectators with solemn awe.

Verse 30. They go down quick into the pit. "Quick" is an old English word, which has lost the meaning attached to it at the time our translation was made. The import of the clause in which it stands here is, 'they go down alive into the pit' х Shª'olaah (H7585), to Sheol, rendered "pit" here; also in Job 17:16; but most commonly in our version, 'the grave,' or 'hell;' Septuagint, katabeesontai zoontes eis hadou (cf. Psalms 106:16-18)].

Related Commentaries of Numbers 16:28

Numbers 16:28-34

28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.

29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.

30 But if the LORD makea a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.

33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.