Theological and Religious Analysis: An In-depth Look at Numbers 16

This essay provides a detailed theological and religious analysis of Numbers Chapter 16, focusing on the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. It examines the historical background, literary context, and structure of the text, highlighting key characters and events. The analysis includes a literature review of verses 1-11, 12-15, 16-22, 23-34, 35-40, and 41-50, exploring themes of disobedience, divine judgment, and atonement. The essay references various scholarly works to provide a comprehensive understanding of the chapter's significance within the broader biblical narrative, concluding with the consequences of the rebellion and the role of Moses and Aaron in seeking atonement for the people.

Running head: THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS
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Historical background Analysis

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A. Analysis of the text
Historical background of the text
As suggested by Friedman (2019), the text from Numbers is set from the Bible which
contains population counts, statistics, tribal and priestly figures, and numerical data. The book of
Numbers highlights about the long and winding path through a desert of excruciating details. As
suggested by Kelsay (2017), the historical setting of the text is related to the journey of Israelites
and their wandering in the wilderness because of their refusal to take possession of their
promised land. This Bible is difficult to understand due to its technicality and presumptions of
the knowledge as its ritual systems change at almost every turn. Egypt has been identified as the
geographical location in the text.
Literary Context
As per Friedman (2019), there have many questions with regards to author of the five
books of Bible. Many people are in the belief that Moses was the author of Numbers but there
have been hypothesis created stating that the original author were the priests. Many believe that
the Numbers was written in the 1450-1410 B.C. The book of Numbers has been carefully
explained in all the group of related chapters which gives the readers the sense of how to read the
material. Numbers essentially bridges the gap between the Israelites receiving the law (Exodus
and Leviticus) and preparing them to go to their promised lands (Deuteronomy and Joshua).
Form of writing
The form of the writing is in the form of poetry as per the language of Hebrew. The genre
of the book is a Narrative History which tells about Israelites prepared themselves to enter their
promised lands but were sinned and punished. The text is based on its structure with meter and
rhythm.
Characters
According to Cocco (2016), the important characters in the book of Numbers are Moses,
Aaron, Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Moses was the leader of the Israelites who receives the laws
from God and enlightens them to the people. Aron is Moses' older brother who was chosen by

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God himself to be the first high priest. Korah is the main character who is a cousin of Moses and
Aron. Dathan and Abiram were Reubenites.
Words and images
Leviticus 16 is not narrative and has an absence of form of the Hebrew verb, usually
associated with narrative. The narrative verb is used in Numbers is high when compared to the
narrative verbs used in books like Leviticus. There are adjectives used in Numbers. There are
common verbs used in Numbers. There are many personal names in the book of Numbers and in
number of proper nouns.
Structure
As stated by Feldman (2017), Numbers contains three major divisions based on the
Israel’s geographical location. The story line of Numbers moves into large cycles where it deals
with the verses 1-50 of the chapter 16.
Literal Meaning
The chapter 16 of the book Numbers the rebellion of Korah. The verse 1 to 3 highlights
the acquisition against Moses and Aaron by Korah and his followers. Versus 4 to 11 highlight
the response is given by Moses to Korah and the entire assembly. Verses 12 to 14 enlightens on
what Dathan and Abiram have spoken about Moses and Aaron and how the rebels have followed
him. Verses 15 to 19 state that Moses was confident stating his challenge to Korah. Verse 22 is
about the intercession Moses and Aaron for Korah and the Rebels. Verses 23 to 35 has
highlighted the ultimate judgement of God on the rebels. Verses 36 to 40 has highlighted keeping
the offerings of the rebels. In verses 16 to 41 people have accused Moses and Aaron for killing
the innocents. Verses 42 to 45 highlighted about how Moses saved the people from the wrath of
god.
B. Literature Review
Numbers 16:1-11
The book of Numbers, Chapter 16 comprises of verses 1 to 50 which highlights about the
rebellions Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. It deals with the contends of the priesthood of Korah.
Versys 1 to 11 deals with the disobedience of Dathan and and Abhiram. Verses 12 to 15

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highlight about the glory of the Lord as explain by Moses and Aaron. In versus 16 to 22, Dathan
and Abhiram are swallowed by the earth and the story continues (Conway & Guy, 2012).
As stated by Kenyon (2011), in the first verse of the book of Numbers, chapter 16, the
son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Reubenites named Dathan and Abhiram, who were sons of
Eliab, and On who is the son of Peleth showed a rude and arrogant lack of respect of everything.
In the second verse the Reubenites along with 250 other Israelite men rose against Moses. The
Rebels quarreled about the settlement of the priesthood upon Aaron and his family only. The
Rebels wanted to boast the people's purity, or of God's favor, as the people were sinned and
could do nothing but please God by doing something good. Without being justified the Rebels
charged Moses and Aaron with belief that they were not doing anything wrong. Their combined
forces came together with the motive to oppose Moses and Aaron and mention about them being
gone too far. The rebels believed that God is with them and Moses and Aaron should not be
setting themselves above Lord's assembly. This broke Moses but he mentions to the Rebels that
God chose him for a purpose and in the morning they would know who belongs to God, who is
holy and God selects his people. God gave a chance to all the Levites to come closer to him
birthday Levites had an agenda of achieving the priesthood too.
Numbers 16:12-15
As mentioned in the article by Friedman & Hertz (2015), Moses summoned Dathan and
Abiram, the sons of Eliab, to present the complaints they have but they disobeyed him. Both
Dathan and Abiram accussed Moses with false charges and did not want to continue the journey
since the believed Moses is treating them as slaves. Moses was considered to be very meek but
God chose him. Moses appealed to god as to his own integrity. He ensured that they appear with
Aaron the next morning offer the morning incense. Korah and his other men were ambitious
about presenting themselves in front of God but it was projected that the people who hurry often
have a shameful fall.
Numbers 16:16-22
The next morning Korah with his men were to appear in front of God and their offerings.
But Moses was against this and said to the Lord not to accept their offerings as Moses believed
he had done nothing wrong to them. Moses suggested each of the men to carry censers with them

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which meant all of the 250 men had to carry 250 censers with burning coals and incense in it in
front of God. Both Moses and Aaron had to guide them to the entrance to the tent of meeting.
Korah being the head of the rebel group was about to present his offerings to the Lord. When
they reached there, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. The lord was very
displeased with the acts of Korah and his men and wanted put an end to them at once. But Moses
and Aaron requested God not to punish the entire assembly for the sins of one man.
Numbers 16:23-34
The Lord wanted to perish the sinners and the culprit must come out among the entire
assembly and be separate. Moses got up and went with 70 other elders of Israel to Dathan and
Abiram. Moses ordered the entire assembly except Dathan and Abiram to stay away from the
tents. Dathan and Abiram they made to stand in front of the tent with their wives, children and
others. Moses declares to the other people of Israel that if the Rebels die a common death, he will
be content he would be counted as an imposter. But God caused the earth to open and swallow
all of them up. The entire family of Dathan and Aaron were perished. It was not justified for their
families to die, but the infinite justice did them no wrong. Although the 250 men were not
consumed by the earth but God's wrath did not leave them. God burned them all.
Numbers 16:35-40
As stated by Walton, Matthews and Chavalas (2012), although the 250 men were
consumed by fire, Aaron was alive. The censers offered to the God by the 250 men had to die a
miserable death but God wanted to hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar. As the
censers were presented to the God, they had become holy. Eleazar, the priest, collected the
censers and hammered them to overlay the altar. The devotees had brought the offerings
therefore those must be made serviceable to the glory of god. This event was unimaginable and
were instructed no one except a descendant of Aaron woodburn an instance before Lord. The
consequences would be same as Korah and his followers. The Israelites criticized Moses and
Aaron of killing the Lord's people.
Numbers 16:41-50
As stated by Watts (2011), the criticism was not justified as Moses and Aaron are ardent
followers of God and want the good for their people. The gap on the earth started closing. They

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all opposed Moses and Aaron, made their judgements and find fault with the divine justice. The
entire assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron, but then the glory of God appeared.
God wanted to end the entire assembly again as they were plagued by the mindset that Moses
and Aaron were the soul reasons for making their people kill. However, Moses and Aaron
wanted to make an Atonement for the entire assembly since the wrath of God had started. Aaron
offered incense in front of God and stood between the dead and living to stop the plague. But he
could not save all of them as the wrath of god had already started. Therefore, it was concluded
that the entire assembly previously and now where killed because the people followed Korah.

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References
Cocco, F. (2016). The Torah as a Place of Refuge: Biblical Criminal Law and the Book of
Numbers (Vol. 84). 3rd ed. Tübingen, Germany: Mohr Siebeck.
Conway, J. H., & Guy, R. (2012). The book of numbers. 3rd. Berlin, Germany: Springer Science
& Business Media.
Friedman, H. H., & Hertz, S. (2015). Insights from the Bible about getting even: A primer for
leaders and managers. Journal of Leadership and Management, 1(3), 37-44.
Friedman, R. (2019). Who wrote the Bible?. 4th ed. New York, USA: Simon & Schuster.
Kelsay, J. (2017). ‘Let God Rise Up!’The Bible and Notions of Victory in War. Moral Victories:
The Ethics of Winning Wars, 15.
Kenyon, F.G. (2011). Our Bible and the ancient manuscripts. 2nd ed. Oregan, USA: Wipf and
Stock Publishers.
Walton, J.H., Matthews, V.H. and Chavalas, M.W., 2012. The IVP bible background
commentary: Old Testament. 5th ed. Illinois, USA: InterVarsity Press.
Watts, J. W. (2011). Aaron and the Golden Calf in the Rhetoric of the Pentateuch. Journal of
Biblical Literature, 130(3), 417-430.