God is the God not of people’s flesh but of their spirit (cf. Heb. 12:9).

These rebels were eloquent and very stubborn.

Lit., his.

Although Moses was humble in falling on his face (v. 4), he did not give up his God-given position as God’s deputy authority (vv. 5-11, 16-18). Moses did not fight back; rather, he brought the rebels and the ones against whom they rebelled to God. As God’s deputy, or delegated, authority, Moses referred this case to God as the highest authority, for His speaking, exposing, and judging. In a struggle for power the only One who can judge and expose the real situation is God Himself.

This word and Moses’ word in vv. 9-10 show that the root of this rebellion was ambition, the struggle for power and for a higher position. Ambition undermines God’s plan and damages His people. Throughout the centuries many problems among Christians have been caused by ambition (cf. Matt. 20:20-28; 3 John 1:9-11).

The rebellion in this chapter was a widespread, universal rebellion among God’s people (v. 19a).

See note Matt. 11:23^1d.

Korah and the others went down to Sheol alive. They went there directly; they did not need to die first (cf. Rev. 19:20). This was something new that Jehovah brought about (vv. 29-30).

According to Num. 26:11, the sons of Korah did not die with Korah and his company. Apparently, they did not join the rebellion but departed from it. In God’s sparing Korah’s descendants, we can see God’s unlimited mercy and grace. One of Korah’s descendants was Samuel (1 Chron. 6:33-37), who became a great prophet and a Nazarite priest. Another was Heman, a grandson of Samuel, who was not only a psalmist (Psa. 88, title) but also a singer in the temple under David’s arrangement (1 Chron. 6:31-33).

God’s judgment of these 250 men signifies the judgment of the cross on all of man’s service to God that is according to man’s opinions, by his flesh, and in rivalry with others.

See note Exo. 27:2².

The murmuring of the people against Moses and Aaron proves that their rebellious nature had not been subdued. See note Num. 17:12¹.

See note Lev. 16:1¹.