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Numbers 16:35

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 16:35 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
Numbers 16:35 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
32and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed upon them, and they perished from among the assembly.
34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them; for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up.
35And fire came forth from Jehovah, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that offered the incense.
36And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
37Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are holy,
38even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Jehovah; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.
← Numbers 16:34Numbers 16:36 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And there came out a fire from the Lord, etc.] Flashes of lightning from the cloud in which he was: and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense; not that it reduced them to ashes, but took away their lives, struck them dead at once, in like manner as Nadab and Abihu were, who though said to be devoured by the fire, yet their bodies remained, (<031002>Leviticus 10:2,4,5); and is often the case of persons killed by lightning; though Josephus f236 thinks they were so consumed as that their bodies were no more seen, and who is express for it that Korah perished with them in this manner; which is not improbable, since he took his censer and offered incense with them, and was…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“there came out a fire from the Lord--that is, from the cloud. This seems to describe the destruction of Korah and those Levites who with him aspired to the functions of the priesthood. (See Num 26:11, Num 26:58; Ch1 6:22, Ch1 6:37).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Compare the marginal references The fire came out from the sanctuary or the altar. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“From the Lord - From the cloud, wherein the glory of the Lord appeared. Numbers 16:37”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“And there: Num 11:1, Num 26:10; Lev 10:2; Psa 106:18 two hundred: Num 16:2, Num 16:17 Numbers 16:37”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The other 250 rebels, who were probably still in front of the tabernacle, were then destroyed by fire which proceeded from Jehovah, as Nadab and Abihu had been before ( Lev 10:2). Numbers 16:36”
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Related study paths

Read Numbers 16 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification