This verse illustrates the devastating cost of rebellion and the need for divine atonement.
In the wilderness journey of the Israelites, we see a sobering event take place when a divine judgment struck the camp following Korah’s rebellion. The verse highlights the scale of the consequences, stating, “But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah” (v.49). This plague swept through the nation rapidly, underscoring the seriousness of rejecting the leadership that God had established under Moses. Moses, who was born around 1526 BC, had led the Israelites out of Egypt in 1446 BC, demonstrating God’s power by parting the Red Sea. Korah’s recent uprising challenged both God’s authority and the divinely appointed roles of Moses and Aaron, prompting God’s swift judgment for the sake of preserving holiness among His people.
Tragically, “14,700” people perished in this plague (v.49). Although there is no specific mention of a town or geographical region by name at this exact juncture, context places these events in the wilderness near the Tabernacle, where the Israelites carried out their worship and sacrifices during their forty-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The devastation conveyed by the verse showcases how rebellion within the community can have extensive repercussions, far beyond the initial sin of its ringleaders. God’s response is not arbitrary; it reveals His protective hand over His covenant and His desire to teach His people reverence and obedience.
At the same time, this passage points ahead to the greater deliverance through Jesus, who took upon Himself the judgment for humanity’s sins (Romans 6:23). Just as Aaron—who, according to biblical chronology, was born around 1529 BC—offered atonement to stay the plague (Numbers 16:46-48), Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate atonement, once and for all, to halt the destruction caused by sin. In reading “those who died by the plague were 14,700” (v.49), we are reminded that God’s justice and grace flow together: He deals decisively with sin but provides a path to redemption for those who seek His mercy.
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Numbers 16:49 meaning
In the wilderness journey of the Israelites, we see a sobering event take place when a divine judgment struck the camp following Korah’s rebellion. The verse highlights the scale of the consequences, stating, “But those who died by the plague were 14,700, besides those who died on account of Korah” (v.49). This plague swept through the nation rapidly, underscoring the seriousness of rejecting the leadership that God had established under Moses. Moses, who was born around 1526 BC, had led the Israelites out of Egypt in 1446 BC, demonstrating God’s power by parting the Red Sea. Korah’s recent uprising challenged both God’s authority and the divinely appointed roles of Moses and Aaron, prompting God’s swift judgment for the sake of preserving holiness among His people.
Tragically, “14,700” people perished in this plague (v.49). Although there is no specific mention of a town or geographical region by name at this exact juncture, context places these events in the wilderness near the Tabernacle, where the Israelites carried out their worship and sacrifices during their forty-year journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. The devastation conveyed by the verse showcases how rebellion within the community can have extensive repercussions, far beyond the initial sin of its ringleaders. God’s response is not arbitrary; it reveals His protective hand over His covenant and His desire to teach His people reverence and obedience.
At the same time, this passage points ahead to the greater deliverance through Jesus, who took upon Himself the judgment for humanity’s sins (Romans 6:23). Just as Aaron—who, according to biblical chronology, was born around 1529 BC—offered atonement to stay the plague (Numbers 16:46-48), Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate atonement, once and for all, to halt the destruction caused by sin. In reading “those who died by the plague were 14,700” (v.49), we are reminded that God’s justice and grace flow together: He deals decisively with sin but provides a path to redemption for those who seek His mercy.