Numbers 16:49
Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּֽהְי֗וּ
H1961
וַיִּֽהְי֗וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
1 of 13
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
Now they that died
H4191
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
Now they that died
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
2 of 13
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
עָשָׂ֛ר
H6240
עָשָׂ֛ר
Strong's:
H6240
Word #:
5 of 13
ten (only in combination), i.e., -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
H505
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
6 of 13
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וּשְׁבַ֣ע
and seven
H7651
וּשְׁבַ֣ע
and seven
Strong's:
H7651
Word #:
7 of 13
seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week; by extension, an indefinite number
מִלְּבַ֥ד
H905
מִלְּבַ֥ד
Strong's:
H905
Word #:
9 of 13
properly, separation; by implication, a part of the body, branch of a tree, bar for carrying; figuratively, chief of a city; especially (with preposit
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
Now they that died
H4191
הַמֵּתִ֖ים
Now they that died
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
10 of 13
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
11 of 13
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
Historical Context
The plague occurred at Kadesh-barnea (ca. 1445 BC) when the congregation blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of Korah and his followers (16:41). Aaron's intercessory incense offering (16:46-48) halted the plague mid-camp, demonstrating priestly mediation's life-saving power.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the death toll from challenging God-ordained leadership warn against divisive criticism in churches?
- What does Aaron's plague-halting intercession (16:46-48) teach about Christ's ongoing mediation for believers?
- Why did God judge not only the rebels but also those who sympathized with them (16:41)?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
They that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred—The plague (מַגֵּפָה maggeiphah, divine stroke/affliction) following Korah's rebellion killed 14,700 beyond the 250 who offered unauthorized incense and the earth-swallowed rebels (16:32-35). This staggering death toll (approximately 1% of military-age males) demonstrates the lethal nature of divine judgment against those who challenged God's established order.
Beside them that died about the matter of Korah—The phrase beside them (מִלְּבַד milevad, apart from/in addition to) emphasizes cumulative judgment—250 leaders consumed by fire, Korah's household swallowed by earth, plus 14,700 plague victims totaling over 15,000 dead. This catastrophic loss taught Israel that rejecting God-appointed leadership (Moses and Aaron) was rejecting God Himself, a principle Paul applies to church authority (Hebrews 13:17).