Numbers 16 18

Numbers 16:18 kjv

And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16:18 nkjv

So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16:18 niv

So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

Numbers 16:18 esv

So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16:18 nlt

So each of these men prepared an incense burner, lit the fire, and placed incense on it. Then they all stood at the entrance of the Tabernacle with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16 verses

Numbers 16 18 Meaning

Numbers 16:18 describes the moment 250 men, leaders of the congregation, carried out Moses' challenge in the Korah rebellion. Each man took his firepan (censer), filled it with fire, laid incense upon it, and positioned themselves at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting alongside Moses and Aaron. This action was a direct act of defiance and a presumptuous claim to priestly authority, specifically the right to offer incense, which was reserved exclusively for Aaron and his consecrated descendants. The verse sets the scene for God's imminent judgment on this unauthorized religious activity.

Numbers 16 18 Context

Numbers chapter 16 details the rebellion of Korah, a Levite, and his associates, Dathan and Abiram, along with 250 prominent men, against the divinely appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron. Their central accusation was that Moses and Aaron had overstepped their authority, claiming that all the congregation was equally holy, thus implying a universal priesthood rather than one divinely designated to Aaron's lineage. Moses, rather than defending himself, shifted the decision to the LORD, challenging Korah and his 250 followers to come forward the next day, each with his censer filled with incense, to determine who the LORD had chosen. Offering incense was a sacred act strictly reserved for consecrated priests. Verse 18 illustrates their acceptance of this dangerous challenge, as they gathered their instruments for this unauthorized priestly function, thereby confronting both Moses and God's established order at the very threshold of His dwelling. This sets the stage for God's decisive and terrifying judgment, affirming His exclusive selection of Aaron's line for the priesthood and the severe consequences of presumptuousness.

Numbers 16 18 Word analysis

• "So they each took" (וַיִּקְחוּ... אִישׁ): This phrase emphasizes the deliberate and individual act of each of the 250 men. It signifies their conscious participation in the rebellion, asserting their perceived right to priestly functions, not out of obedience to God but out of presumption.
• "his censer" (מַחְתָּה, maḥttāh): This Hebrew term refers to a firepan, typically made of bronze (as mentioned in Num 16:39), designed to carry hot coals for incense offering. By taking their own censers, these men appropriated the very tools of the priesthood, directly mimicking the priests' duties and openly challenging their exclusive divine appointment.
• "and put fire in it" (וַיִּתְּנוּ בָהֶן אֵשׁ): The "fire" ('ēsh) placed in the censers was common, profane fire, not the sacred fire originating from the altar, which was divinely ignited and maintained by the priests (Lev 6:13, 9:24). This act of using common fire was an explicit violation of the purity requirements for temple worship, echoing the "strange fire" offered by Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1), and highlighting the unholiness of their presumptuous offering.
• "and laid incense on it" (וַיָּשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת): The "incense" (qeṭōreṯ) itself was a specially compounded, sacred substance, its recipe guarded and forbidden for common use (Exo 30:34-38). To offer this incense was a priestly privilege. The act of placing it on their censers demonstrated their full commitment to usurping the sacred role and violating God's specific prohibitions regarding its handling.
• "and stood" (וַיַּעַמְדוּ): This verb conveys a posture of readiness, an intentional standing before authority, often in preparation for judgment or to perform a duty. Here, it signifies their confrontational stance, presenting themselves for the ultimate divine test, defiant to the very end.
• "at the entrance of the tent of meeting" (בֶּפֶתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד): The "entrance" (pethaḥ) of the "Tent of Meeting" ('ohel môʿēḏ), also known as the Tabernacle of the Congregation, was the central place where God met with Israel and where divine authority was manifest through Moses and Aaron. By assembling at this specific, holy location, the rebels were directly challenging God's authority in His very dwelling place and His chosen mediators, signifying the depth of their rebellion.
• "with Moses and Aaron" (עִם־מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן): Their standing "with" (עִם) Moses and Aaron highlights the direct challenge to the human authorities God had established. They were not hiding their intentions but openly defying God's designated leaders, daring them to face God's judgment alongside their adversaries, a bold act of confrontational usurpation.

Numbers 16 18 Bonus section

• Significance of the "250 Men": These were not common individuals but "chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men" (Num 16:2). This highlights the severity of the rebellion, as it involved significant, influential leaders. Their widespread participation amplified the danger of division within the community and underscored the need for a public, decisive demonstration of divine authority.
• Bronze Censers as Memorial: After the destruction of the 250 men by divine fire, their bronze censers were salvaged and hammered into a covering for the altar (Num 16:39-40). This served as a perpetual, visible warning and a memorial to the Israelites, signifying that only descendants of Aaron were permitted to approach the altar to offer incense. It cemented the exclusive nature of the Aaronic priesthood and the permanent consequences of its usurpation.
• Testing God's Holiness: The challenge to offer incense was ultimately a test of God's holiness and His right to define sacred space and sacred roles. The rebels believed their intrinsic "holiness" as part of Israel was sufficient for direct access to priestly functions, failing to grasp God's requirement for a specific, set-apart priesthood and a particular approach to His presence. This rebellion thus becomes a profound lesson against a shallow understanding of holiness and a casual approach to the divine.

Numbers 16 18 Commentary

Numbers 16:18 crystallizes the audacity and tragic folly of Korah's rebellion. The 250 leaders, having heard Moses' divine challenge, proceed with confidence to execute the very act that God had explicitly reserved for Aaron's lineage: offering incense at the Tabernacle entrance. This seemingly simple act was profoundly sacrilegious. By bringing common fire and unauthorized incense, and presenting themselves with the proper implements but without proper divine appointment, they desecrated holy worship. Their presence "with Moses and Aaron" amplified their direct defiance, turning a priestly rite into a direct contest for divine recognition. This verse thus powerfully illustrates the dangerous consequences of presuming upon God's holiness, His chosen leadership, and His ordained order of worship, setting the stage for the swift and devastating judgment that ensued. The lesson for all believers remains potent: access to God and ministry must be through His established means, not through self-will or unauthorized ambition.