Numbers 16:45
Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
Original Language Analysis
הָֽעֵדָ֣ה
this congregation
H5712
הָֽעֵדָ֣ה
this congregation
Strong's:
H5712
Word #:
3 of 10
a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd)
וַֽאֲכַלֶּ֥ה
that I may consume
H3615
וַֽאֲכַלֶּ֥ה
that I may consume
Strong's:
H3615
Word #:
5 of 10
to end, whether intransitive (to cease, be finished, perish) or transitive (to complete, prepare, consume)
אֹתָ֖ם
H853
אֹתָ֖ם
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
6 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
כְּרָ֑גַע
them as in a moment
H7281
כְּרָ֑גַע
them as in a moment
Strong's:
H7281
Word #:
7 of 10
a wink (of the eyes), i.e., a very short space of time
וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ
And they fell
H5307
וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ
And they fell
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
8 of 10
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
Historical Context
This moment precipitated Aaron's dramatic act of running into the midst of the plague with his censer, standing "between the dead and the living" until the plague stopped (v. 46-48). That atonement saved Israel, foreshadowing Christ who stood between holy God and sinful humanity. The 14,700 who died (v. 49) served as warning that even God's patience has limits.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Moses and Aaron's refusal to flee to safety model the heart of Christ-like pastoral ministry?
- What does their falling on their faces rather than obeying God's escape command teach about intercessory prayer?
- In what ways does this episode reveal both the terror of God's holiness and the power of mediatorial intercession?
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Analysis & Commentary
"Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment"—God commands Moses and Aaron to separate themselves so He can destroy Israel rega' (רֶגַע, in an instant). The urgency reveals divine wrath ready to fall. Yet remarkably, "they fell upon their faces"—instead of fleeing to safety as commanded, they prostrate themselves in intercession. This defiant mercy—refusing to abandon those who deserve judgment—previews Christ's mediatorial work.
The Hebrew kalah (כָּלָה, to consume/complete) indicates total destruction, the same word used of Sodom (Genesis 19:15). Only intercession stands between Israel and extinction. Their falling on their faces (naphal al-paneh, נָפַל עַל־פָּנֶה) demonstrates that effective intercession requires self-humbling before God, not self-exaltation before men.