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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/numbers/16.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/numbers/16.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/numbers/16.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He had hardly finished speaking the words when the ground suddenly split open beneath them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/numbers/16.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/numbers/16.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/numbers/16.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that <i>was</i> under them:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/numbers/16.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now it came to pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apart under them,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/numbers/16.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />And as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/numbers/16.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/numbers/16.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/numbers/16.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And it happened that as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/numbers/16.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />As soon as Moses finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split open;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/numbers/16.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/numbers/16.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/numbers/16.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/numbers/16.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />As soon as Moses said this, the ground under the men opened up <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/numbers/16.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/numbers/16.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />As soon as he had finished saying all this, the ground under them split,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/numbers/16.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />As soon as he had finished speaking, the ground under Dathan and Abiram split open <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/numbers/16.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Just as he finished saying all these things, the ground under them split open. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/numbers/16.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/numbers/16.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />When he had finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/numbers/16.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />It happened, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split apart that was under them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/numbers/16.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground cleaved asunder that was under them:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/numbers/16.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/numbers/16.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass at his finishing speaking all these words, that the ground which [is] under them cleaves,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/numbers/16.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And it cometh to pass at his finishing speaking all these words, that the ground which is under them cleaveth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/numbers/16.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it shall be as he finished to speak all these words, the earth shall cleave asunder which is under them:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/numbers/16.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And immediately as he had made an end of speaking, the earth broke asunder under their feet: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/numbers/16.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, as soon as he had ceased to speak, the earth broke open under their feet.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/numbers/16.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />No sooner had he finished saying all this than the ground beneath them split open,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/numbers/16.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground under them was split apart.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/numbers/16.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And when Moses had finished speaking these words, the ground split asunder under them;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/numbers/16.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And when Moshe had finished saying all of these words, the Earth was opened under them.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/numbers/16.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground did cleave asunder that was under them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/numbers/16.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And when he ceased speaking all these words, the ground clave asunder beneath them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/numbers/16-31.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yauBFvKLNNo?start=5333" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/numbers/16.htm">The Earth Swallows Korah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">30</span>But if the LORD brings about something unprecedented, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have treated the LORD with contempt.” <span class="reftext">31</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3615.htm" title="3615: kə·ḵal·lō·ṯōw (Prep-k:: V-Piel-Inf:: 3ms) -- To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent. A primitive root; to end, whether intransitive or transitived.">As soon as Moses had finished</a> <a href="/hebrew/1696.htm" title="1696: lə·ḏab·bêr (Prep-l:: V-Piel-Inf) -- To speak. A primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively, to speak; rarely to subdue.">saying</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’êṯ (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3605.htm" title="3605: kāl- (N-msc) -- The whole, all. Or kowl; from kalal; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every.">all</a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those.">this,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·də·ḇā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/127.htm" title="127: hā·’ă·ḏā·māh (Art:: N-fs) -- Ground, land. From 'adam; soil.">the ground</a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc."></a> <a href="/hebrew/8478.htm" title="8478: taḥ·tê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- Underneath, below, instead of. From the same as Towach; the bottom; only adverbially, below, in lieu of, etc.">beneath them</a> <a href="/hebrew/1234.htm" title="1234: wat·tib·bā·qa‘ (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConsecImperf-3fs) -- To cleave, break open or through. A primitive root; to cleave; generally, to rend, break, rip or open.">split open,</a> </span><span class="reftext">32</span>and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/11-6.htm">Deuteronomy 11:6</a></span><br />and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/106-17.htm">Psalm 106:17</a></span><br />The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jude/1-11.htm">Jude 1:11</a></span><br />Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/12-25.htm">Hebrews 12:25-29</a></span><br />See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns us from heaven? / At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.” / The words “Once more” signify the removal of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that the unshakable may remain. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/24-19.htm">Isaiah 24:19-20</a></span><br />The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. / The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/27-51.htm">Matthew 27:51-54</a></span><br />At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split. / The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. / After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/5-1.htm">Acts 5:1-11</a></span><br />Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. / With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. / Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/10-10.htm">1 Corinthians 10:10</a></span><br />And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/12-16.htm">Revelation 12:16</a></span><br />But the earth helped the woman and opened its mouth to swallow up the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/15-12.htm">Exodus 15:12</a></span><br />You stretched out Your right hand, and the earth swallowed them up.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_peter/2-4.htm">2 Peter 2:4-6</a></span><br />For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but cast them deep into hell, placing them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; / if He did not spare the ancient world when He brought the flood on its ungodly people, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, among the eight; / if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/job/31-40.htm">Job 31:40</a></span><br />then let briers grow instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.” Thus conclude the words of Job.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/5-14.htm">Isaiah 5:14</a></span><br />Therefore Sheol enlarges its throat and opens wide its enormous jaws, and down go Zion’s nobles and masses, her revelers and carousers!<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/26-19.htm">Ezekiel 26:19-21</a></span><br />For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘When I make you a desolate city like other deserted cities, and when I raise up the deep against you so that the mighty waters cover you, / then I will bring you down with those who descend to the Pit, to the people of antiquity. I will make you dwell in the earth below like the ancient ruins, with those who descend to the Pit, so that you will no longer be inhabited or set in splendor in the land of the living. / I will make you an object of horror, and you will be no more. You will be sought, but will never be found,’ declares the Lord GOD.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/amos/9-2.htm">Amos 9:2-3</a></span><br />Though they dig down to Sheol, from there My hand will take them; and though they climb up to heaven, from there I will pull them down. / Though they hide themselves atop Carmel, there I will track them and seize them; and though they hide from Me at the bottom of the sea, there I will command the serpent to bite them.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split asunder that was under them:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/26-10.htm">Numbers 26:10,1</a></b></br> 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… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/27-3.htm">Numbers 27:3</a></b></br> Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/11-6.htm">Deuteronomy 11:6</a></b></br> And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that <i>was</i> in their possession, in the midst of all Israel:</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/numbers/15-20.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-8.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/genesis/34-3.htm">Clave</a> <a href="/leviticus/1-17.htm">Cleave</a> <a href="/genesis/34-8.htm">Cleaved</a> <a href="/genesis/48-10.htm">Cleaveth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-30.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-21.htm">End</a> <a href="/numbers/6-13.htm">Ended</a> <a href="/leviticus/5-4.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/numbers/16-30.htm">Open</a> <a href="/leviticus/22-13.htm">Parted</a> <a href="/exodus/32-19.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/numbers/11-1.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/leviticus/11-26.htm">Split</a> <a href="/numbers/14-39.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/numbers/16-49.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/judges/14-6.htm">Asunder</a> <a href="/judges/15-19.htm">Clave</a> <a href="/numbers/36-7.htm">Cleave</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-60.htm">Cleaved</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-6.htm">Cleaveth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-33.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/numbers/16-40.htm">End</a> <a href="/numbers/28-26.htm">Ended</a> <a href="/numbers/30-6.htm">Lips</a> <a href="/numbers/19-15.htm">Open</a> <a href="/ruth/1-14.htm">Parted</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/4-26.htm">Soon</a> <a href="/numbers/27-7.htm">Speaking</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/14-6.htm">Split</a> <a href="/numbers/16-47.htm">Words</a><div class="vheading2">Numbers 16</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-1.htm">The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-23.htm">Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents</a></span><br><span class="reftext">31. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-31.htm">The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-36.htm">The censers are reserved to holy use</a></span><br><span class="reftext">41. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-41.htm">14,700 are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron</a></span><br><span class="reftext">46. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/numbers/16-46.htm">Aaron by incense stays the plague</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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Moses had just declared that if the rebels died a natural death, then the Lord had not sent him. This highlights the authority and prophetic role of Moses as God's chosen leader. The immediacy also underscores the seriousness of the rebellion against God's appointed leadership. In the broader biblical context, this reflects the pattern of God confirming His messengers through signs and wonders, as seen with Elijah and Elisha.<p><b>the ground beneath them</b><br>The ground is often symbolic in Scripture, representing stability and foundation. In this context, it becomes an instrument of divine judgment. The earth itself responds to God's command, demonstrating His sovereignty over creation. This event is reminiscent of other instances where God uses natural elements to execute judgment, such as the plagues in Egypt. It also foreshadows the ultimate judgment where creation will again play a role, as seen in Revelation.<p><b>split open</b><br>The splitting of the ground is a miraculous event, signifying a direct act of God. This act of judgment is unique in its execution, emphasizing the severity of the rebellion. It serves as a warning to the Israelites and future generations about the consequences of opposing God's ordained leadership. The imagery of the earth opening is also found in prophetic literature, symbolizing destruction and divine wrath. This event can be seen as a type of final judgment, where those who oppose God face ultimate separation from His presence.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/m/moses.htm">Moses</a></b><br>The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. In this passage, Moses is speaking to the congregation regarding the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/k/korah.htm">Korah</a></b><br>A Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, challenging their leadership and the priesthood established by God.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/d/dathan_and_abiram.htm">Dathan and Abiram</a></b><br>Sons of Eliab, from the tribe of Reuben, who joined Korah in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_ground.htm">The Ground</a></b><br>The earth itself plays a significant role in this event, as it miraculously opens up to swallow the rebels, serving as a divine judgment from God.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_congregation_of_israel.htm">The Congregation of Israel</a></b><br>The people of Israel who witnessed the rebellion and the subsequent judgment, serving as a lesson for them and future generations.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/d/divine_authority_and_leadership.htm">Divine Authority and Leadership</a></b><br>God establishes leaders for His purposes. Challenging divinely appointed leadership is ultimately challenging God Himself. Believers should respect and support their spiritual leaders, recognizing God's sovereignty in their appointment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_consequences_of_rebellion.htm">The Consequences of Rebellion</a></b><br>Rebellion against God and His order leads to severe consequences. This passage serves as a warning to remain humble and obedient to God's commands and structures.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_justice_and_mercy.htm">God's Justice and Mercy</a></b><br>While God is just and punishes sin, His actions also serve as a call to repentance for others. Witnessing God's judgment should lead us to examine our own hearts and align with His will.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_power_of_god's_word.htm">The Power of God's Word</a></b><br>The immediate response of the earth to Moses' words demonstrates the power of God's word spoken through His prophets. Believers should trust in the authority and power of Scripture in their lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_numbers_16.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Numbers 16</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_did_the_earth_swallow_people.htm">How could the earth physically open and swallow people as described in Numbers 16:31–33? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/psalm_106_17_lacks_archaeological_proof_why.htm">Psalm 106:17 says the earth swallowed Dathan and his followers—how do we reconcile this with a lack of archaeological confirmation of such an event? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_god's_mercy_inconsistent_in_num_16.htm">Why does God’s response in Numbers 16:44–45 seem inconsistent with His mercy in other parts of the Bible? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_nadab_and_abihu's_death.htm">How do we reconcile the sudden supernatural death of Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10:1–2) with natural law and scientific understanding? </a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/numbers/16.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 31.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">The ground clave asunder that was under them.</span> As it sometimes does during an earthquake. In this case, however, the event was predicted, and wholly supernatural. The sequence of the narrative would lead us to suppose that the earth opened beneath the tents of Dathan and Abiram in the camp of Reuben. It is difficult to think of the gulf as extending so far as to involve the tent of Korah in the Kohathite lines in the same destruction, while there is nothing to suggest the idea that the earth opened in more than one place. It is true that the camps of the Reubenites and of the Kohathites were more or less contiguous; but when it is remembered that there were 46,500 adult males in the former, and 8600 males in the latter, and that a broad space must have been left between the two lines of encampment, it is obviously improbable that Korah's tent was in a practical sense "near" to those of Dathan and Abiram, unless indeed he had purposely removed it in order to be under the protection of his Reubenite partisans. It is very observable that not a word is said here as to the fate of Korah himself. It is implied in verse 40 that he had perished, and it is apparently asserted in <a href="/numbers/26-10.htm">Numbers 26:10</a> that he was swallowed up with Dathan and Abiram (see the note there). On the other hand, <a href="/deuteronomy/11-6.htm">Deuteronomy 11:6</a>; <a href="/psalms/106-17.htm">Psalm 106:17</a> speak of the engulfing of the other two without any mention of Korah himself sharing their fate; and while "all the men that appertained unto Korah" perished, his own sons did not (<a href="/numbers/26-11.htm">Numbers 26:11</a>). On these grounds it is held by most commentators that Korah died by fire among those who offered incense (verse 35). This, however, is untenable, because "the two hundred and fifty men who offered incense" are distinctly mentioned as having been his partisans (verse 2), and are always counted exclusive of Korah himself. On the whole, while it is certain that the narrative is very obscure, and the question very doubtful, it seems most agreeable to all the testimonies of Holy Scripture to conclude - <p><span class="Text_Heading">1.</span> That Korah had left his own place, and had some sort of dwelling (mischan) either in common with Dathan and Abiram, or hard by their tents. <p><span class="Text_Heading">2.</span> That the earth opened and swallowed up the <span class="accented">mishcan</span>, of Korah, and the tents of Dathan and Abiram. <p><span class="Text_Heading">3.</span> That Korah's men (see next verse) and their property were swallowed up with his <span class="accented">mishcan</span>, and (as far as we can tell) Korah himself also. If this be correct, then the much disputed heading of the chapter in the A.V. will be right after all. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/numbers/16-31.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">As soon as [Moses] had finished</span><br /><span class="heb">כְּכַלֹּת֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(kə·ḵal·lō·ṯōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-k | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3615.htm">Strong's 3615: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent</span><br /><br /><span class="word">saying</span><br /><span class="heb">לְדַבֵּ֕ר</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḏab·bêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1696.htm">Strong's 1696: </a> </span><span class="str2">To arrange, to speak, to subdue</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּל־</span> <span class="translit">(kāl-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3605.htm">Strong's 3605: </a> </span><span class="str2">The whole, all, any, every</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֵ֑לֶּה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’êl·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_428.htm">Strong's 428: </a> </span><span class="str2">These, those</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the ground</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאֲדָמָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ă·ḏā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_127.htm">Strong's 127: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ground, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">beneath them</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(taḥ·tê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8478.htm">Strong's 8478: </a> </span><span class="str2">The bottom, below, in lieu of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">split open,</span><br /><span class="heb">וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע</span> <span class="translit">(wat·tib·bā·qa‘)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1234.htm">Strong's 1234: </a> </span><span class="str2">To cleave, to rend, break, rip, open</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/numbers/16-31.htm">Numbers 16:31 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/numbers/16-31.htm">OT Law: Numbers 16:31 It happened as he made an end (Nu Num.) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/numbers/16-30.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Numbers 16:30"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Numbers 16:30" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/numbers/16-32.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Numbers 16:32"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Numbers 16:32" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>