Numbers 16:27 reminds us that refusing God’s established order inevitably brings grave repercussions.
So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones (Numbers 16:27). In this passage, Scripture presents a vivid picture of the community separating itself from the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. These men challenged the authority that God had given to Moses, causing a profound rupture within the fledgling Israelite nation. By ordering the people to distance themselves physically from the tents of these leaders, Moses sought to shield the wider assembly from the impending judgment that would fall upon those who were instigating chaos in the camp. Historically, this confrontation occurred sometime after Israel’s exodus from Egypt around the mid-15th century BC, during their lengthy desert wanderings.
Korah was a Levite—a member of the tribe specifically set apart to assist in priestly duties—yet he orchestrated a rebellion against God’s chosen method of governance. Dathan and Abiram likewise joined him in openly defying Moses. When they came out and stood in front of their own tents, they symbolically demonstrated their unyielding opposition. The reference to their “wives and their sons and their little ones” underscores the sobering reality that a family's rejection of God’s command can also lead to dire consequences for those around them. The biblical narrative later shows how God responded decisively, bringing judgment upon these households for their insurrection (Numbers 16:27-32).
This verse also highlights the necessity of holiness within the covenant community. By telling the assembly to “get back” from these dwellings, Moses was calling on the faithful to separate themselves not just physically, but spiritually, from a deliberate act of rebellion. Centuries later, the New Testament echoes this principle: believers are exhorted to steer clear of harmful influences that promote division or challenge godly authority. In the same way that ancient Israel was commanded to stand apart, Christians today are urged to discern and reject rebellion, while still seeking to restore those who repent (Galatians 6:1).
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Numbers 16:27 meaning
So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their sons and their little ones (Numbers 16:27). In this passage, Scripture presents a vivid picture of the community separating itself from the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. These men challenged the authority that God had given to Moses, causing a profound rupture within the fledgling Israelite nation. By ordering the people to distance themselves physically from the tents of these leaders, Moses sought to shield the wider assembly from the impending judgment that would fall upon those who were instigating chaos in the camp. Historically, this confrontation occurred sometime after Israel’s exodus from Egypt around the mid-15th century BC, during their lengthy desert wanderings.
Korah was a Levite—a member of the tribe specifically set apart to assist in priestly duties—yet he orchestrated a rebellion against God’s chosen method of governance. Dathan and Abiram likewise joined him in openly defying Moses. When they came out and stood in front of their own tents, they symbolically demonstrated their unyielding opposition. The reference to their “wives and their sons and their little ones” underscores the sobering reality that a family's rejection of God’s command can also lead to dire consequences for those around them. The biblical narrative later shows how God responded decisively, bringing judgment upon these households for their insurrection (Numbers 16:27-32).
This verse also highlights the necessity of holiness within the covenant community. By telling the assembly to “get back” from these dwellings, Moses was calling on the faithful to separate themselves not just physically, but spiritually, from a deliberate act of rebellion. Centuries later, the New Testament echoes this principle: believers are exhorted to steer clear of harmful influences that promote division or challenge godly authority. In the same way that ancient Israel was commanded to stand apart, Christians today are urged to discern and reject rebellion, while still seeking to restore those who repent (Galatians 6:1).