God’s judgment through a plague is halted when Moses instructs Aaron to offer incense as an act of atonement on behalf of the people.
“Numbers 16:46” reads: “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!’” (v.46)
In this verse, Moses (who traditionally lived around 1526-1406 BC) instructs his brother Aaron to intercede on behalf of the Israelites. When the Israelites rebelled, it brought about God’s judgment upon them, described here as a plague or severe affliction. Moses urgently tells Aaron, “take your censer and put in it fire from the altar” (v.46), signifying an act of worship and atonement. The censer, containing burning coals and incense, visually represented the prayers and supplications rising before the LORD. Such incense offerings are seen frequently in Scripture as a plea for mercy (Revelation 8:3-4).
In the second half of the verse, Moses implores Aaron to “make atonement for them” (v.46). In the Old Testament, “atonement” often meant covering sin so that the guilty could remain in covenant fellowship with God. Aaron’s quick action here reveals the seriousness of the situation—“for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!” (v.46). This language underscores the immediate danger the congregation faced as a divine consequence of sin. In other parts of Scripture, plagues are used by God both as judgments and as opportunities to show His sovereignty and mercy (Exodus chapters 7-12).
By instructing Aaron to run into the midst of the assembly with holy fire and incense, Moses was obeying God’s directive to intercede and save lives. This anticipates a future, greater act of atonement in Jesus, who offers Himself as the final and all-sufficient sacrifice to restore humanity’s relationship with God (John 3:16). Moses and Aaron’s faithful intervention here not only halts the plague, but also foreshadows the importance of intercession in the biblical narrative, pointing toward Christ’s ultimate atonement for all who believe.
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Numbers 16:46 meaning
“Numbers 16:46” reads:
“Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer and put in it fire from the altar, and lay incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!’” (v.46)
In this verse, Moses (who traditionally lived around 1526-1406 BC) instructs his brother Aaron to intercede on behalf of the Israelites. When the Israelites rebelled, it brought about God’s judgment upon them, described here as a plague or severe affliction. Moses urgently tells Aaron, “take your censer and put in it fire from the altar” (v.46), signifying an act of worship and atonement. The censer, containing burning coals and incense, visually represented the prayers and supplications rising before the LORD. Such incense offerings are seen frequently in Scripture as a plea for mercy (Revelation 8:3-4).
In the second half of the verse, Moses implores Aaron to “make atonement for them” (v.46). In the Old Testament, “atonement” often meant covering sin so that the guilty could remain in covenant fellowship with God. Aaron’s quick action here reveals the seriousness of the situation—“for wrath has gone forth from the LORD, the plague has begun!” (v.46). This language underscores the immediate danger the congregation faced as a divine consequence of sin. In other parts of Scripture, plagues are used by God both as judgments and as opportunities to show His sovereignty and mercy (Exodus chapters 7-12).
By instructing Aaron to run into the midst of the assembly with holy fire and incense, Moses was obeying God’s directive to intercede and save lives. This anticipates a future, greater act of atonement in Jesus, who offers Himself as the final and all-sufficient sacrifice to restore humanity’s relationship with God (John 3:16). Moses and Aaron’s faithful intervention here not only halts the plague, but also foreshadows the importance of intercession in the biblical narrative, pointing toward Christ’s ultimate atonement for all who believe.