Numbers 16:42
And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.
Original Language Analysis
וַיְהִ֗י
H1961
וַיְהִ֗י
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 17
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הָֽעֵדָה֙
And it came to pass when the congregation
H5712
הָֽעֵדָה֙
And it came to pass when the congregation
Strong's:
H5712
Word #:
3 of 17
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
4 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וְעַֽל
H5921
וְעַֽל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
6 of 17
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
וַיִּפְנוּ֙
that they looked
H6437
וַיִּפְנוּ֙
that they looked
Strong's:
H6437
Word #:
8 of 17
to turn; by implication, to face, i.e., appear, look, etc
אֹ֣הֶל
toward the tabernacle
H168
אֹ֣הֶל
toward the tabernacle
Strong's:
H168
Word #:
10 of 17
a tent (as clearly conspicuous from a distance)
מוֹעֵ֔ד
of the congregation
H4150
מוֹעֵ֔ד
of the congregation
Strong's:
H4150
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, an appointment, i.e., a fixed time or season; specifically, a festival; conventionally a year; by implication, an assembly (as convened for
כִסָּ֖הוּ
covered
H3680
כִסָּ֖הוּ
covered
Strong's:
H3680
Word #:
13 of 17
properly, to plump, i.e., fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or secrecy)
הֶֽעָנָ֑ן
and behold the cloud
H6051
הֶֽעָנָ֑ן
and behold the cloud
Strong's:
H6051
Word #:
14 of 17
a cloud (as covering the sky), i.e., the nimbus or thunder-cloud
וַיֵּרָ֖א
appeared
H7200
וַיֵּרָ֖א
appeared
Strong's:
H7200
Word #:
15 of 17
to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)
Cross References
Numbers 16:19And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.Leviticus 9:23And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.Numbers 20:6And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Historical Context
This occurred the day after Korah's judgment (v. 41), demonstrating how quickly human hearts forget divine displays. The congregation's ability to organize opposition so quickly after witnessing earth opening and fire falling reveals the depth of human depravity and the hardness of unbelieving hearts. This episode would result in 14,700 additional deaths (v. 49).
Questions for Reflection
- How can witnessing God's judgment fail to produce lasting repentance if hearts remain hardened?
- What does Israel's blaming of Moses for God's judgment reveal about human nature's tendency to justify rebellion?
- How should church leaders respond when congregations blame them for divine discipline they merely announced?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
"The congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron"—incredibly, Israel rebounds from witnessing divine judgment to renewed rebellion. The Hebrew qahal (קָהַל, to assemble) suggests organized opposition, not spontaneous complaint. Their accusation (implied from context and v. 41) blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths, revealing hearts that interpret God's righteous judgment as leadership's cruelty.
"The cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared"—the kabod Yahweh (כְּבוֹד יְהוָה, glory of the LORD) manifests at the precise moment of rebellion, showing God's vigilant presence. The cloud's covering suggests both God's protective presence for Moses/Aaron and His dangerous holiness toward rebels. Divine glory means judgment for the unrepentant, grace for the faithful.