Numbers 26 10

Numbers 26:10 kjv

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

Numbers 26:10 nkjv

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died, when the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men; and they became a sign.

Numbers 26:10 niv

The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.

Numbers 26:10 esv

and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.

Numbers 26:10 nlt

But the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them with Korah, and fire devoured 250 of their followers. This served as a warning to the entire nation of Israel.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 10 Meaning

Numbers 26:10 reiterates God's decisive judgment against the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, emphasizing the immediate and distinct methods of divine wrath. The earth's swallowing of the rebels, specifically noting Korah, and the consuming fire that befell the two hundred and fifty men, served as a powerful and enduring sign, a perpetual warning against challenging God's chosen authority and sacred ordinances within the community of Israel. This recounting occurs during the second census, highlighting God's faithfulness in purifying His people and reminding the new generation of the severe consequences of disobedience as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.

Numbers 26 10 Context

Numbers chapter 26 is primarily a record of the second census of the Israelites in the wilderness. This census, taken nearly 40 years after the first one (recorded in Numbers 1) and after the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, counts the new generation, those who are now of military age and who will enter the Promised Land. The recounting of Korah's rebellion in verse 10 is not just a historical note but serves as a vital reminder to this new generation. Their parents' generation perished in the wilderness due to various acts of disobedience, including this significant challenge to God's divinely established order and leadership. The inclusion of this judgment explicitly ensures that the new generation understands the severe consequences of rebellion against Yahweh and His appointed representatives. It legitimizes the Mosaic leadership and Aaronic priesthood, emphasizing the need for obedience and respect for sacred institutions as they prepare for settlement and organization in Canaan.

Numbers 26 10 Word analysis

• And the earth opened her mouth:
  • Original: וַתִּפְצַע הָאָרֶץ אֶת־פִּיהָ (va'tiftza ha'aretz et-piha)
  • "earth" (הָאָרֶץ - ha'aretz): Refers to the ground beneath them. This specific phrasing denotes the earth as an active agent, given personification. It portrays God's power through creation. The earth itself responds to divine command. It shows the very ground they stood on turned against them. This is an immediate, localized, and unique judgment.
  • "opened her mouth" (וַתִּפְצַע... אֶת־פִּיהָ - va'tiftza... et-piha): Anthropomorphic language. The earth is depicted as a living entity, consuming them. It signifies a dramatic, public, and inescapable act. This was an unprecedented judgment, reversing the natural order where the earth typically supports life. It underscores God's absolute sovereignty over creation.
• and swallowed them up:
  • Original: וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם (va'tivla otam)
  • "swallowed" (וַתִּבְלַע - va'tivla): Implies total, complete consumption and disappearance. They were utterly erased from the surface. No remnants remained. It suggests a definitive, irreversible judgment. This act removes them from the living.
  • "them" (אֹתָם - otam): Refers primarily to Dathan, Abiram, and their families and possessions, as detailed in Num 16:32-33. It indicates a judgment on a specific group.
• together with Korah:
  • Original: וְאֶת־קֹרַח (v'et Korah)
  • "Korah" (קֹרַח - Korah): The primary instigator and ringleader of the rebellion from the Levitical tribe. This phrase places special emphasis on his fate, though Nu 16 details Dathan and Abiram being swallowed. While Nu 16 also describes the 250 men being consumed by fire, this verse specifically links Korah to the swallowing. This highlights Korah's direct accountability and leadership in the overall rebellion. Some scholars interpret this as emphasizing his leading role in the entire event rather than specifying the exact manner of his death. The fact his sons did not die (v. 11) is important for lineage.
• when that company died:
  • Original: בְּמוּת הָעֵדָה (b'mut ha'edah)
  • "company" (הָעֵדָה - ha'edah): Refers to the larger "congregation" or "assembly" of rebels who gathered against Moses and Aaron. It indicates the collective demise of this rebellious group. It distinguishes this segment of the judgment.
• what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men:
  • Original: בֶּאֱכֹל הָאֵשׁ אֵת חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ (b'ekol ha'esh et chamishim u'matayim ish)
  • "fire" (הָאֵשׁ - ha'esh): Specifically "fire from the LORD" (Num 16:35), divine in origin. This contrasts with the earth swallowing. It showcases another manifestation of God's wrath. This was supernatural fire.
  • "devoured" (בֶּאֱכֹל - b'ekol): Similar to "swallowed," implying total consumption. They were completely consumed, turned to ash.
  • "two hundred and fifty men" (חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ - chamishim u'matayim ish): These were chiefs or princes, specific leaders from the congregation (Num 16:2). Their public death by fire served a specific deterrent purpose, reinforcing the sanctity of the priesthood. They were challenging the incense offering, a sacred priestly duty.
• and they became a sign:
  • Original: וַתִּהְיֶינָה לְנֵס (va'tiheiyinah l'nes)
  • "sign" (לְנֵס - l'nes): More than just a memorial or warning; it's a banner, a standard, a monument. It implies a lasting, visible lesson for all generations. It serves as a deterrent against similar rebellion. This sign validated Aaron's priesthood and the authority of Moses, marking out those who had tried to usurp it.

Words-group analysis:

• "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah": This phrase emphasizes the unique, targeted nature of the judgment against the instigators and their immediate followers. It is an extraordinary, unprecedented act of divine wrath that demonstrated God's direct intervention and ultimate authority over creation and life itself. The inclusion of Korah here highlights his central role in the rebellion and connects him decisively to the most dramatic display of God's judgment against the rebels.
• "when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men": This clarifies that two distinct but concurrent judgments occurred, targeting different facets of the rebellion. "That company" dying links the swallowed group with the burned group. The "fire devoured" portion specifies the fate of the 250 men who offered unauthorized incense. This two-pronged judgment underscored the different offenses within the single rebellion (challenging civil authority and challenging priestly authority) and God's severe response to both.
• "and they became a sign": This final clause articulates the enduring purpose and impact of the entire event. It elevates the horrific deaths from mere historical facts to a perpetual divine warning and instruction. The judgment was not just punishment for the offenders but a visible, unforgettable "sign" for all subsequent generations, teaching them about the sanctity of God's chosen order and the terrifying consequences of challenging His authority. It solidified the legitimacy of the Levitical priesthood and Mosaic leadership.

Numbers 26 10 Bonus section

• The precise fate of Korah himself has been a point of scholarly discussion. Numbers 16:32 explicitly states that the earth swallowed Dathan, Abiram, their households, and all their possessions. Numbers 16:35 says the fire consumed the 250 men who were offering incense. Korah was associated with both groups in the initial rebellion, standing with the 250 men at the tent of meeting (Num 16:19). Numbers 26:10, by stating "swallowed them up together with Korah," often leads interpreters to conclude Korah was among those swallowed by the earth, as he was a primary leader of those who "departed from Moses, Aaron, and God's ordinances." The significance here is not merely how he died, but that he died a divine death for his unparalleled challenge.
• The word nes (sign) can also mean a banner or a standard, something lifted up to be seen and to serve as a rallying point or a warning. In this context, the deaths of Korah and his company served as a perpetual banner of warning, a visible, gruesome monument against similar future acts of defiance. This "sign" served to teach subsequent generations the fear of the Lord and the grave seriousness of sin against His divine order.
• The dual nature of the judgment (earth swallowing vs. fire consuming) emphasizes God's comprehensive power to execute justice through various means, precisely tailored to the specific offenses (earth for general rebellion and challenging authority, fire for unauthorized trespass into priestly sacred duties like offering incense).

Numbers 26 10 Commentary

Numbers 26:10 provides a stark and concise retrospective of one of the most significant and severe judgments in Israel's wilderness journey. It summarizes the cataclysmic events detailed in Numbers 16, underscoring that God's justice is precise, encompassing various forms of judgment—the earth opening and consuming some, while divine fire devoured others. This dual judgment serves as an unparalleled testament to God's holiness and His unyielding stance against rebellion, especially when it targets His divinely instituted authority and the sacred boundaries He has set. By reiterating this event during the second census, as a new generation stands on the brink of inheriting the Promised Land, the verse functions as a powerful, enduring "sign." It reminds Israel of the grave consequences of challenging God’s order and the importance of revering His appointed leaders. The warning extends to all generations, affirming the principle that challenging divine authority ultimately means challenging God Himself. It reinforces the sanctity of God’s established order within His covenant people and stands as a perpetual deterrent against presumption and insubordination in spiritual matters.