Numbers 16:5

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 16:5 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.
Numbers 16:5 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 16

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
5and he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him.

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 he spake unto Korah, and unto all his company, etc.] The two hundred fifty princes that were with him; what follows was said to them apart from Dathan and Abiram, who seem not to be present at this time; and this was after Moses had finished his prayer to God, and had received instructions from him, by an impulse on his mind, what he should say unto them, and was now risen up from the earth he fell upon: saying, even tomorrow the Lord will show who [are] his; his priests, whom he had chosen, and put into that office; this he would make known so clearly and plainly, that there would be no room left to doubt of it, and which was revealed to Moses while upon his face in prayer to God: and…”
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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
“he spake unto Korah and unto all his company--They were first addressed, not only because they were a party headed by his own cousin and Moses might hope to have more influence in that quarter, but because they were stationed near the tabernacle; and especially because an expostulation was the more weighty coming from him who was a Levite himself, and who was excluded along with his family from the priesthood. But to bring the matter to an issue, he proposed a test which would afford a decisive evidence of the divine appointment. Even to-morrow--literally, "in the morning," the usual time of meeting in the East for the settlement of public affairs. the Lord will show who are his, . . . even…”
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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 - morrow - Heb. In the morning, the time appointed by men for administering justice, and chosen by God for that work. Some time is allowed, partly that Korah and his company might prepare themselves and their censers, and partly to give them space for consideration and repentance. He will cause him - He will by some evident token declare his approbation of him and his ministry. Numbers 16:8”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“the Lord: Mal 3:18; Ti2 2:19 who is holy: Num 16:3; Lev 21:6-8, Lev 21:12-15; Isa 61:5, Isa 61:6; Pe1 2:5-9; Rev 1:6, Rev 5:9, Rev 5:10 will cause: Exo 28:43; Lev 10:3; Psa 65:4; Eze 40:46, Eze 44:15, Eze 44:16; Eph 2:13; Heb 10:19-22, Heb 12:14 even him: Num 17:5; Exo 28:1; Lev 8:2; Sa1 2:28; Psa 105:26; Joh 15:16; Act 1:2, Act 1:24; Act 13:2, Act 15:7, Act 22:14; Ti2 2:3, Ti2 2:4 Numbers 16:6”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification