the soules of all flesh; Chazkuni saith, which knowest the spirit of every one of them. The Greeke transla∣teth, God of the Fathers, and of all flesh; understand∣ing (as it seemeth) by spirits, such as the Apostle calleth the spirits of just men made perfect, Heb. 12. 23. the spirits of the Fathers which were returned to God who gave them; as Eccles. 12. 7. shall one man sinne] in Greeke, if one man hath sinned: as if they should say, All have not sinned, why wilt thou be wroth with all? Vpon this intercession, the Lord spareth the people, that would depart from the rebells, verse. 24.
Verse 24. the tabernacle] this seemeth to bee put for tabernacles, or dwellings; the Greeke trans∣lateth [unspec 24] it, the congregation: so in vers. 27. where the Greeke also keepeth the word Tabernacle, which in vers. 26. is called Tents.
Vers. 25. the elders] the Greeke addeth, all the elders. went after him] in Greeke, went with [unspec 25] him, that is, accompanied him.
Verse 26. these wicked men] in Greeke, these [unspec 26] hard men: the originall word properly signifieth restlesse, turbulent, and such as for their sinnes are worthy to be condemned: see the notes on Psal. 1. 1. touch not any thing] because as they themselves, so all things of theirs were uncleane and execrable, and therefore to perish with them, vers. 32.
Verse 27. came out and stood] Heb. came out standing; which the Greeke explaineth, came out [unspec 27] and stood: and these two phrases are one; as where it is said that Iesus blessed, and breaking gave to the disciples, Mat. 14. 19. the other Evangelists ex∣plaine it, he blessed, and brake, and gave, Luke 9. 16. Mark. 6. 41. so, Saying unto them, Matth. 21. 2. is, And saith unto them, Mark. 11. 2. This their standing up, argueth their boldnesse in so bad a cause: for standing up is a gesture denoting courage, Iob 33. 5. and 41. 10. 1 Sam. 17. 8. 16. Thus Pride went before destruction, and an haughty spirit be∣fore a fall; as Prov. 16. 18.
Verse 28. all these workes] both the former, in appointing Aaron to the Priest-hood, and the Le∣vites [unspec 28] in stead of the first-borne; and these latter, in appointing Korah and his company to bring their censers with incense, &c. of mine owne heart] which the Chaldee explaineth, of mine owne will; the Greeke, of my selfe. For things devised of ones owne heart, are noted for evill, 1 King. 12. 33. Ezek. 13. 17.
Vers. 29. as all men die] their ordinarie naturall death; which the Greeke translateth, after the [unspec 29] death of all men.
Verse 30. create a new thing] Hebr. create a [unspec 30] creature, that is, doe a new and wonderfull worke, to kill them with such a death as never man died before them. Of this word create, see the notes on Gen. 1. 1. it is applied here to a strange and extra∣ordinarie worke of judgment, as in Esai. 45. 7. God is said to create evill; and in Exod. 34. 10. to create marvels; and in Esai. 48. 6. 7. new and ••idden things God would create. And as evill, so good things which are new and strange, are said to be created of God, Esa. 65. 18. alive] living, haile and sound; not consumed with sicknesse, as ordi∣narily men are before death and buriall. unto hell] into the grave, or state of death: see the notes on Gen. 37. 35. To this iudgement the Prophet hath reference, praying against his enemies, L••t them goe downe alive to hell, Psal. 55. 16.
Verse 32. swallowed up them] to wit, Dathan [unspec 32] and Abiram, as in Psal. 106. 17. The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered over the con∣gregation of Abiram. So David prayed against his enemies, swallow them up o Lord, Psal. 55. 10. their houses] that is, housholds; as the Chaldee expoundeth it, the men of their houses. apper∣tained unto Korah] The Greeke translateth, and all the men that were with Kore: and the Chaldee, the men that pertained to Korah. But the sonnes of Korah are to be excepted, for they, either not par∣taking with, or forsaking their Fathers sinne, died not: see Num. 26. 21. And whereas mention was made of On, the sonne of Reuben, in verse 1. but not here nor any where of his death, neither in verse 12. of his calling, or refusall to come up; it is to be thought, that either he repented upon Moses reproofe, and so was spared from destruction; or if not so, he is implied among the rest, though not named in particular. their substance] or, their goods; which the Greeke translateth, their cattell; and so the originall word implieth, as in 1 Chron. 27. 31. 2 Chron. 31. 3. and 35. 7. See the notes on Gen. 12. 5. And not their cattell onely, but all their other goods, even their tents, were swallowed into the earth, Deut. 11. 6. Here wee may behold the truth of that Proverbe, Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but iustice delivereth from death; Prov. 11. 4.
Vers. 33. closed upon them] or, covered over [unspec 33] them: so there was no hope left for their recoverie. Against such judgement David prayeth, Let not the gulse swallow me, neither let the pit shut her mouth upon me, Psal. 69. 16.
Vers. 34. at the voice of them] at their crie or [unspec 34] noise, which they made when they perished. So in Ier. 49. 21. At the voice (or noise) of their fall, the earth is moved, &c. and, I made the nations to shake, at the noise of his fall, Ezek. 31. 16. Lest the earth swallow us] an unperfect speech, through feare: such as is often used in dangers; as in Psal. 38. 17. Rom. 11. 21. Thus the present judgement terrified them; and, When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise, Prov. 21. 11.
Vers. 35. devoured] or, did eat the 250. men. [unspec 35] They sinned in burning incense, which belonged to the Priests onely; and with burning they were punished, like the judgement on Aarons sonnes, that transgressed also therein, Levit. 10. 1, 2. Of this, David singeth, A fire burned in their congre∣gation, a flame burnt up the wicked, Psal. 106. 18.
Vers. 37. unto Eleazar] Chazkuni here obser∣veth, [unspec 37] that God would not have Aaron to bee defiled (by going among the dead,) because he was one of them that offered, vers. 17. out of the burning] that is, as the Greeke well explaineth it, from among those that are burnt. So in Num. 21. 1. cap∣tivitie, is for a company of captives; and in 2 King. 24. 14. Povertie, for a company of poore people;