Read Numbers 16:1-50 at Bible Gateway.
The Teaching Tools of Scripture
Genesis 1:1-2:3, The Teaching Tools of Scripture, part one and part two
Genesis 6, And the Strong Themes Teaching Tool
Genesis 1:1-6:8, Finding the Topic Themes of Scripture
Hebrew paragraph divisions
16:1-19 {s} Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abirim, and 250 leaders
16:20-22 {s} Intercession of Moses and Aaron
16:23-35 {s} Ground swallows the tents of Korah, Dathan, and 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 the living so that the plague ceased
Strong themes of the parashah
16:1-40 {sx3+p} Rebellion of the leaders/ intercession, judgment, covering
16:41-50 {s+p} Rebellion of congregation/ intercession, judgment, atonement
Numbers 16:1-50 Chiastic Structure
Download the fully expanded Numbers 16:1-50 Triennial Korach chiasm pdf (Coming …).
Theme of the parashah
Rebellion calls forth the intercession, judgment for sin, and atonement of Messiah (Moses as type).
Finding Messiah in Triennial Korach
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.
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to 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 great wrath …” Exo 32:11-14
“… Yet now, if You will forgive their sin …” Exo 32:30-32
“… If Your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up …” Exo 33:12-16
“… Pardon our iniquity and our sin …” Exo 34:8-9
… When Moses prayed to YHVH, the fire was quenched. Num 11:2
… Moses cried out to YHVH, saying, “Please heal her, O God, I pray!” Num 12:13
“… Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of Your mercy …” Num 14:19
Then they fell [Moses and Aaron] on their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and 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 fell [Moses and Aaron] on their faces. So Moses said to Aaron, “Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from YHVH. The plague has begun.” Then Aaron took it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and already the plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; so the plague was stopped. Num 16:44-48
Moses seeks to atone for Israel’s sin before YHVH even as they are trying to replace him as leader over them; even as they are trying to stone him to death with stones! These details are repeated in the life of Yeshua as well, even as He is suffering on the cross:
Then Yeshua said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. Luk 23:34
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.
Additional readings for this parashah
No Psalm this week | 1 Sam 11 (my notes) | Jude 1 (my notes)
Studies in Triennial Korach
Numbers 16, Bible for Beginners
Numbers 16:1-18:32, Messianic significance of Korach
Numbers 16:1-18:32, Korach Chiastic structure
Numbers 16:1-18:32, Korach paragraph divisions and chiastic structures
Off-site Studies
Links …
SCRIPTURE REVEALED SERIES by CHRISTINE MILLER:
THE LAW of LOVE | FINDING MESSIAH in TORAH | NUMBERS in CHIASTIC STRUCTURE
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