BETWEEN THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

Passage: Numbers 16:36-50

Key verse: 48

NIV

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar(A) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers(B) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.(C) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,(D) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign(E) to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest(F) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,(G) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense(H) before the Lord,(I) or he would become like Korah and his followers.(J)

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition(K) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord(L) appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end(M) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer(N) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly(O) to make atonement(P) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;(Q) the plague(R) has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,(S) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.(T) 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.(U) 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.[a]

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Numbers 16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

36 [a] Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy. 38 As for the censers of (A)these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. (B)Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar, 40 to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so (C)that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company—as the Lord said to him through Moses.

41 But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel (D)grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.” 42 And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, (E)the cloud covered it, and (F)the glory of the Lord appeared. 43 And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 (G)“Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” (H)And they fell on their faces. 46 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for (I)wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun.” 47 So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living, and (J)the plague was stopped. 49 Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, (K)besides those who died in the affair of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Numbers 16:36 Ch 17:1 in Hebrew
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

God dealt with the rebels and spared the whole assembly after Moses’ and Aaron’s intercession (22). God used the cleansed censers as an object lesson with two points: First, God’s holiness. The holy God provided a way to dwell with them through sacrifices on the altar. The layered bronze pointed to it. Second, God is sovereign. God chose Aaron’s family for the priesthood on the basis of God’s sovereignty alone; not popular opinion, human ability, or other criteria. By these God provided both the means and method to dwell with his people in covenant relationship.

But the people still did not pay attention to God. The next day, focusing only on Moses and Aaron, the people grumbled and accused them of murder. God appeared again at the tent of meeting. His holy presence brought a plague among the rebellious people. Moses instructed Aaron to carry out his priestly duty and make atonement for the people. As he did so, standing between the living and the dead, the plague stopped. Aaron’s priesthood was limited by his own weakness and eventual death. Jesus, our great high priest and mediator, always lives to intercede for us (Heb 7:25). Jesus became the once-for-all atoning sacrifice for us (Heb 1

:14).

Prayer: Father, you are holy and sovereign, and we are sinful rebels. Thank you for making a way for us to live with you through our high priest Jesus. Help me come to him humbly today.

One Word: Jesus is our great high priest forever