Numbers 16:43 kjv
And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Numbers 16:43 nkjv
Then Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of meeting.
Numbers 16:43 niv
Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting,
Numbers 16:43 esv
And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting,
Numbers 16:43 nlt
Moses and Aaron came and stood in front of the Tabernacle,
Numbers 16 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exo 25:8 | Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. | Tabernacle as God's dwelling place among His people. |
| Exo 29:42-43 | There I will meet you, to speak to you...consecrated by My glory. | God appoints meetings at the Tent, sanctified by His presence. |
| Exo 33:11 | Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. | Highlights Moses' unique access and intimacy with God. |
| Exo 40:34-38 | The cloud covered the tent of meeting...the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. | The Glory of the Lord signifies God's tangible presence. |
| Lev 1:1 | The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. | The Tent as the primary place for divine communication to leaders. |
| Lev 10:17 | God gave it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement. | Priests’ role in bearing sin and making atonement for the people. |
| Lev 16 | Detailed laws of Day of Atonement rituals performed by Aaron. | Aaron's supreme priestly role in atonement. |
| Num 14:10 | All the congregation threatened to stone them. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent. | God's Glory manifesting at the Tent in times of crisis and rebellion. |
| Num 16:19 | Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the tent of meeting; and the glory of the LORD appeared. | Repeated appearance of God's glory at the Tent during rebellion. |
| Num 16:42 | The glory of the LORD appeared...the glory of the LORD appeared. | Direct context, immediate divine presence before Moses & Aaron act. |
| Num 16:46-48 | Aaron quickly intercedes with incense and the plague stopped. | Immediate result of their action, priestly mediation. |
| Num 17:7 | Moses placed them in the tent of meeting before the LORD. | Tent of Meeting as a storage place for God's directives and witness. |
| Psa 106:23 | Then he said he would destroy them, had not Moses, His chosen one, stood in the breach. | Moses' intercessory role on behalf of Israel. |
| Psa 106:30 | Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed. | Priestly intercession stopping divine plague, parallels Aaron here. |
| Isa 59:16 | He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede. | Highlights the necessity and importance of a mediator. |
| Ezek 22:30 | I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap. | God seeks those who will stand in prayer for a nation. |
| Jud 1:11 | Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves...by Korah's rebellion. | Condemnation of challenging divine authority, connecting to Korah. |
| Heb 3:5 | Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony. | Moses’ faithful stewardship in God's household. |
| Heb 4:14-16 | Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy. | New Testament application: believers' access to God through Christ. |
| Heb 7:25 | He always lives to make intercession for them. | Christ's eternal role as the ultimate high priest and intercessor. |
| Heb 9:24 | For Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands...but into heaven itself. | Earthly tabernacle foreshadowing Christ's heavenly ministry. |
| Heb 13:17 | Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls. | Call to obey God-appointed leadership. |
| 1 Tim 2:5 | For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. | Emphasizes the need for and uniqueness of mediation. |
| 1 Jn 2:1 | We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. | Christ as the Christian's advocate and intercessor. |
| Rev 21:3 | Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them. | Final fulfillment of the Tent of Meeting concept, God dwelling with His people. |
Numbers 16 verses
Numbers 16 43 Meaning
Numbers 16:43 describes Moses and Aaron’s immediate and purposeful action to approach God's presence at the Tent of Meeting following the escalating rebellion of Korah and his company, the subsequent divine judgment upon them, and the rapid outbreak of a plague among the grumbling Israelite congregation. This verse signifies their rapid, authorized movement toward the source of divine authority and a locus of atonement in a time of severe national crisis and divine wrath. Their movement "before the tent of meeting" indicates a posture of humility and readiness for revelation or intercession, acknowledging that solution and redemption could only come from God.
Numbers 16 43 Context
Numbers chapter 16 records the most severe internal rebellion against God's appointed leadership during Israel's wilderness journey. Korah, a Levite, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, Reubenites, and 250 prominent Israelite leaders, challenged the authority of Moses and the exclusive priesthood of Aaron. They accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the congregation, asserting that all Israelites were holy and could approach God directly. In response, God demonstrated His immediate and terrifying judgment: the earth swallowed Korah's family and associates, and fire consumed the 250 men offering unauthorized incense. Despite this, the very next day (Num 16:41), the entire congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of being responsible for the Lord's people dying. In Numbers 16:42, the Glory of the Lord, signaling divine presence and imminent judgment, appeared before them at the Tent of Meeting. Verse 43 immediately follows, detailing Moses and Aaron's crucial, obedient, and swift response to approach the very presence of God to receive further instructions or to make intercession. The looming threat of the plague (Num 16:45) underscores the urgency of their action.
Numbers 16 43 Word analysis
So (וַיָּבֹאוּ - wayyāvō'ū, "And they came"): This conjunction often indicates immediate consequence or sequence. It highlights the direct and swift reaction of Moses and Aaron to the appearance of the Lord's glory and the growing crisis. It shows their readiness to obey God's directives.
Moses (מֹשֶׁה - Mosheh): The divinely appointed leader of Israel, uniquely called to receive God's law and communicate His will to the people. His presence signifies legitimate prophetic authority. He acts as God's representative to Israel.
and Aaron (אַהֲרֹן - Aharon): Moses' brother, divinely chosen and consecrated as the first High Priest of Israel. His presence emphasizes legitimate priestly authority, the only means through which atonement and reconciliation with God could be made according to the Mosaic covenant.
came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - wayyāvō'ū, "And they came"): A verb of direct movement. It denotes their purposeful, obedient, and immediate response to God's manifesting presence, moving towards Him rather than away.
before (אֶל־ פְּנֵי - 'el-pəney, "to the face of" or "in the presence of"): This phrase signifies direct, unhindered access and approach. It suggests reverence and a seeking of the Lord's immediate presence. Unlike others, Moses and Aaron had privileged, authorized access to God's holy dwelling place.
the tent of meeting (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - 'ōhel môʿēḏ, "tent of appointment" or "tent of meeting"): The Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary where God covenanted to "meet" with Israel and reveal His will. It was the physical center of Israelite worship, the dwelling place of God's presence (Shekinah), and the location where sacrificial atonement was performed. Its sanctity and significance are paramount; unauthorized approach brought death.
Moses and Aaron came: This phrase emphasizes their unified, decisive leadership. In the face of widespread rebellion and divine wrath, the true leaders designated by God respond with obedience, seeking God's will and intervention, contrasting sharply with those who rebelled. Their authorized movement stands in stark opposition to Korah's illicit attempt to approach the divine presence (Num 16:35).
came before the tent of meeting: This specific action underscores their designated role as mediators between God and Israel. They are the ones uniquely positioned and permitted to approach the immediate presence of the Lord, highlighting the necessary channel for atonement and reconciliation required by God's holiness. It confirms their legitimacy in their offices.
Numbers 16 43 Bonus section
The seemingly simple act of "coming before the tent of meeting" by Moses and Aaron in this moment foreshadows the greater mediation to come. It implicitly teaches that while access to God's presence is precious, it must be on His terms. Unauthorized access leads to destruction (as seen with Korah and the 250). This divine principle highlights the vital role of a designated mediator, one who can bridge the gap between sinful humanity and a holy God. Their actions here anticipate the ultimate and perfect mediation of Jesus Christ, who, unlike the perishable Tent of Meeting or the flawed Levitical priests, perpetually offers access to God's true presence through His once-for-all sacrifice and ongoing intercession (Heb 9:24, Heb 7:25). Just as Moses and Aaron represented the people before God in a moment of crisis, Christ represents believers eternally, enabling them to "draw near with confidence to the throne of grace" (Heb 4:16).
Numbers 16 43 Commentary
Numbers 16:43 serves as a pivotal point in the escalating drama of Korah's rebellion and its aftermath. The appearance of the Glory of the Lord (Num 16:42) signals divine wrath and imminent judgment for the congregation's renewed grumbling, making Moses and Aaron's immediate action crucial. Their act of "coming before the Tent of Meeting" is not merely movement but a theological statement. It demonstrates their unyielding obedience to God even amidst extreme popular rejection, their profound understanding of the sacredness of God's dwelling, and their awareness that any solution to divine wrath must originate from God Himself. They do not consult the people or panic; they turn immediately to the legitimate place of divine communication and presence. This humble and decisive act highlights the necessity of approaching a holy God through His ordained channels and underscores Moses' prophetic and Aaron's priestly roles as the divinely appointed mediators who could intercede on Israel's behalf, distinguishing them sharply from Korah's unauthorized usurpation of spiritual authority.