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Numbers 16:40

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 16:40 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Jehovah spake unto him by Moses.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Jehovah spake unto him by Moses.
Numbers 16:40 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
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.
39And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,
40to be a memorial unto the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, that is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to burn incense before Jehovah; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as Jehovah spake unto him by Moses.
41But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of Jehovah.
42And it came to pass, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Jehovah appeared.
43And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.
← Numbers 16:39Numbers 16:41 →
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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
“[To be] a memorial unto the children of Israel, etc.] The whole body of them; this explains what is meant by sign, (<041638>Numbers 16:38); that it was to put or keep in mind what follows: that no stranger which [is] not of the seed of Aaron come near to offer incense before the Lord; not only any Gentile but any Israelite, and not any Israelite only, but any Levite; none but those of the family of Aaron might offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah and as his company; this makes it clear that Korah perished at this time, though it is nowhere expressed; and it seems pretty plain from hence that he perished by fire, as his company, the two hundred fifty men with censers, did:…”
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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
“To him - To Eleazer. These words belong to Num 16:38, the meaning is, that Eleazer did as God bade him. Numbers 16:41”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“that no: Num 3:10, Num 3:38, Num 18:4-7; Lev 22:10; Ch2 26:18-20; Jde 1:11 come near: Kg1 13:1-3; Ch2 26:16-21 Numbers 16:41”
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Related study paths

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

Sources and verification