Read Numbers 16 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
16:1-19 {s} Rebellion of Korah/ Dathan and Abirim/ 250 leaders
16:20-22 {s} Intercession of Moses and Aaron
16:23-35 {s} Ground swallows the tents of Korah, Dathan, Abiram
16:36-40 {p} Burned censors a covering for the incense altar as a warning
16:41-43 {s} Rebellion of all the congregation of Israel
16:44-50 {p} Aaron between the dead and living with his censor; plague stopped
Scripture has set up a Repeating Pattern with Moses and the children of Israel since departing Egypt, which culminates in this chapter. Moses has consistently acted as the intercessor between God and man, foreshadowing Messiah Yeshua.
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Exo 20:18-19
“… Turn from Your fierce wrath …” Exo 32:11-14
“… Yet now, if You will forgive their sin …” Exo 32:30-32
“… If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up …” Exo 33:12-16
“… Pardon our Law-lessness and our sin …” Exo 34:8-9
… When Moses prayed unto YHVH, the fire was quenched. Num 11:2
… Moses cried unto YHVH, saying, “Heal her now, O God, I beseech You!” Num 12:13
“… Pardon, I beseech You, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your mercy …” Num 14:19
Then they fell [Moses and Aaron] upon their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will You be angry with all the congregation?” Num 16:22
And YHVH spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they [Moses and Aaron] fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, “Take a censer, and put fire in it from off the altar, put incense on it, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from YHVH. The plague has begun.” And Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, already the plague had begun among the people. And he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped. Num 16:44-48
Moses sought to atone for Israel’s sin before YHVH even as they were trying to replace him as leader over them; even as they were trying to stone him to death with stones. So also in the life of Yeshua, even as He is suffering on the cross.
Then Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luk 23:34a
This self-sacrificial intercession to turn away the just wrath of God from the willful rebellion and sin of the people, is a prophetic picture of Messiah who is to come.
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Finding Messiah in Torah – Christine Miller
Moses Wrote About Messiah – Christine’s Bible Study @ A Little Perspective
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