Numbers 16 15

Numbers 16:15 kjv

And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

Numbers 16:15 nkjv

Then Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them."

Numbers 16:15 niv

Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."

Numbers 16:15 esv

And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."

Numbers 16:15 nlt

Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Do not accept their grain offerings! I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, and I have never hurt a single one of them."

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 15 Meaning

Numbers 16:15 captures Moses' profound anguish and righteous indignation in the face of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram's rebellion. It reveals his earnest plea to the LORD to reject the offering (the incense and self-appointed service) of these rebels. Moses defends his own blameless leadership by emphatically stating that he has neither oppressed the people by taking their property (symbolized by a donkey) nor caused them any harm, thereby refuting any implicit or explicit accusations of exploitation or mistreatment. This verse is a powerful declaration of Moses' integrity and a solemn appeal for divine judgment against those who wickedly defy God's ordained authority.

Numbers 16 15 Context

Numbers chapter 16 details one of the most significant rebellions against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. It is spearheaded by Korah, a Levite (Moses' cousin), joined by Dathan and Abiram, two Reubenite leaders. Their primary grievance, stated in Num 16:3, is the accusation that Moses and Aaron have "exalted yourselves above the assembly of the LORD." They challenge the divinely appointed leadership and priestly roles, claiming that "all the congregation are holy, every one of them."

Moses' reaction in verse 15 comes after he has heard Dathan and Abiram's particularly defiant response (Num 16:12-14), where they refuse to come to him, slander his leadership, and accuse him of failing to bring them to the promised land while also attempting to "gouge out their eyes" (deceive them). It's a deep affront to his character and God's chosen authority. Moses' anger here is not a personal tantrum but a holy indignation at the magnitude of the sin—challenging God Himself by challenging His appointed leaders. His prayer is an appeal to God's justice, trusting that God will expose and deal with the unrighteousness.

Historically, this event underscores the dangers of challenging divinely established authority in the Mosaic covenant and emphasizes the holiness and distinctiveness required for priestly service, ordained by God alone. It serves as a stark warning against pride, envy, and the desire for illicit power or status.

Numbers 16 15 Word analysis

• And Moses was very angry (וַיִּ֤חַר לְמֹשֶׁה֙ מְאֹד֙ - vayyichar l'Mosheh m'od):
  • vayyichar: A Piel verb form, literally "it burned hot (to) Moses." This idiomatic expression denotes intense, often righteous, anger or indignation, indicating Moses' profound emotional response to the rebellion and false accusations.
  • l'Mosheh: "to Moses," indicating the subject of the anger.
  • m'od: "very" or "greatly," emphasizing the extreme nature of his anger.
  • Significance: This wasn't merely annoyance but a deep, burning conviction fueled by the gravity of the rebellion against God's appointed order, demonstrating the holiness of his leadership and the seriousness of the people's sin.
• and said to the LORD:
  • Moses directly appeals to God, bypassing the rebels. This signifies his reliance on divine judgment and his position as mediator between God and Israel. His prayer reflects profound spiritual leadership.
• 'Do not respect their offering. (אַל־תֵּפֶן מִנְחָתָם - al-tefen minḥatam):
  • al-tefen: Negative imperative, "do not turn," "do not regard," "do not look upon favorably." It implies a complete rejection.
  • minḥatam: "their offering" or "their tribute." This typically refers to a grain offering or a gift. In this context, it denotes their self-appointed attempt to draw near to God in a priestly function with incense censers, challenging the divinely appointed Aaronic priesthood. It’s an illegitimate act of worship/approach.
  • Significance: Moses prays that God would expose the illegitimacy and spiritual impurity of their presumptuous "offering" and reject their rebellious act of approaching Him outside His appointed way. This echoes God's rejection of Cain's offering due to the heart condition of the offerer (Gen 4:5).
• I have not taken one donkey from them, (חֲמוֹר אֶחָד לֹא־נָשָׂאתִי - ḥamor eḥad lo nasa'ti):
  • ḥamor eḥad: "one donkey." A donkey was a vital asset, a beast of burden and a symbol of basic property and livelihood for an ordinary Israelite.
  • lo nasa'ti: "I have not taken." Implies not seizing property or imposing oppressive taxes/burdens.
  • Significance: Moses asserts his blameless leadership, explicitly denying any form of exploitation or personal gain. This directly contrasts with the oppressive practices of earthly rulers (e.g., 1 Sam 8:11-17) and serves as a direct rebuttal to any implied accusations from the rebels that he was enriching himself at their expense or burdening them unfairly.
• nor have I harmed one of them.' (אִישׁ מֵהֶם לֹא הֵרַעְתִּי - ish mehem lo hera'ti):
  • ish mehem: "a man from them," i.e., "one of them."
  • lo hera'ti: "I have not harmed" or "I have not done evil to/treated ill." This is a denial of any unjust or malicious treatment.
  • Significance: This affirms Moses' integrity and his benevolent leadership, dispelling any notion that he exercised his authority tyrannically or caused undue suffering. He highlights that his judgments and actions were always according to God's will and for the people's ultimate good, never for personal malice or oppression. This denial likely responds to the rebels' specific accusation that he "puts out their eyes" (Num 16:14), suggesting he deceived or manipulated them.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD": This highlights the source of Moses' ultimate appeal and the sacred nature of his leadership—he turned to God, not to earthly courts or personal revenge. His anger was channeled through prayer and an appeal to divine justice.
• "'Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I harmed one of them.'": This passage is Moses' direct plea for divine intervention and self-vindication. By requesting God's rejection of their offering, Moses aligns his will with God's. The following declarations of his blameless conduct serve as foundational reasons for God to act against the rebels, validating Moses' moral and ethical leadership as a faithful steward of God's people. This statement contrasts his integrity with the corrupt accusations and intentions of the rebels, laying bare their rebellion as an attack against divine order, not merely against Moses.

Numbers 16 15 Bonus section

• The phrase "Do not respect their offering" contains the Hebrew verb פָּנָה (panah), meaning "to turn the face," or "to turn toward." When applied to God, "turning His face toward" someone often signifies favor or acceptance (Num 6:25-26), while "turning away" or "not turning toward" signifies rejection. Thus, Moses' prayer is an invocation for God's clear and public rejection of their rebellious act, rather than passive non-acknowledgment.
• Moses’ detailed denial of personal gain and harm stands in stark contrast to the accusations against Samuel’s sons in 1 Samuel 8:3 and also with typical accusations against false prophets (Mic 3:11). This highlights Moses' exceptional integrity as a prophet and leader of God's people.
• The severity of Moses' anger here sets the stage for the severe judgment that follows (the earth opening up and swallowing the rebels). His righteous wrath anticipates God's own immediate and conclusive judgment against direct rebellion.
• This verse provides a powerful example of how faithful leaders, when slandered or falsely accused, should appeal to God for vindication rather than engaging in self-defense through human means, trusting God to reveal the truth and enact justice.

Numbers 16 15 Commentary

Numbers 16:15 offers profound insight into the character of Moses, the nature of leadership, and divine justice. Moses' "very angry" response stems not from wounded pride, but from a righteous indignation rooted in God's honor being affronted by the rebellion. It signifies the spiritual gravity of their sin. His appeal to the LORD ("Do not respect their offering") is a plea for God to vindicate His own name and authority, not simply Moses'. The rebels’ offering was an audacious usurpation of the priesthood, an affront to God’s holy distinction and appointed order. God's rejection of their "offering" means He refuses their unauthorized access and impious actions.

Moses' subsequent self-vindication ("I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I harmed one of them") serves multiple purposes. It is a defense against actual or perceived charges of tyranny, exploitation, or mistreatment, often leveled against ancient rulers. It underscores Moses' selfless and devoted leadership, contrasting starkly with the corrupt practices common among leaders of his era. By appealing to his blameless conduct in financial matters (the donkey) and personal harm, Moses presents himself as an innocent party before the ultimate Judge, further demonstrating the baselessness and wickedness of the rebellion. This passage establishes Moses as a faithful steward who sought no personal gain but tirelessly served God's people, foreshadowing the perfect, selfless servant leadership exemplified by Christ (Matt 20:28; Phil 2:7).