Numbers 16:7

and tomorrow you are to place fire and incense in them in the presence of the LORD. Then the man the LORD chooses will be the one who is holy. It is you sons of Levi who have taken too much upon yourselves!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses speaks to Korah and his followers immediately after instructing them to take censers. He addresses the sons of Levi during a direct confrontation over their claim to exclusive holiness.

The words — The text commands them to "put" (וּ/תְנ֣וּ, u./te.Nu) "fire" (אֵ֡שׁ, 'esh) and "set" (וְ/שִׂימוּ֩, ve./si.Mu) "incense" (קְטֹ֜רֶת, ke.To.ret) on the vessels. This ritual must occur "before" (לִ/פְנֵ֤י, li/f.Nei) "Yahweh" (יְהוָה֙, Yah.weh) "tomorrow" (מָחָ֔ר, ma.Char).

The thread — The challenge to Moses and Aaron's authority is recorded in Numbers 16:3 and resolved by the promise in Numbers 16:5 that Yahweh will reveal the chosen holy one. A parallel accusation of religious disruption appears in 1 Kings 18:17.

Why it lands — The text states that Yahweh alone selects the holy one, not human self-appointment. It requires the reader to submit to the prescribed ritual and reject self-inflamed religious ambition.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וּתְנ֣וּu./te.Nuand/ putבָהֵ֣ן׀va./Henin <the>/ themאֵ֡שׁ'eshfire וְשִׂימוּ֩ve./si.Muand/ set עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן'a.lei./Henon/ them קְטֹ֜רֶתke.To.retincense לִפְנֵ֤יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh מָחָ֔רma.Chartomorrow וְהָיָ֗הve./ha.Yahand/ it will be הָאִ֛ישׁha./'Ishthe/ man אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-whom יִבְחַ֥רyiv.Charhe will choose יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh ה֣וּאhu'he הַקָּד֑וֹשׁha./ka.Do.osh[will be] the/ holy [person]רַב־rav-enoughלָכֶ֖םla./Khemfor <the>/ youבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiO descendants of לֵוִֽי׃le.ViLevi

King James Version

And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

Cross-references

Numbers 16:3 They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, “You have taken too much upon yourselves! For everyone in the entire congregation is holy, and the LORD is in their midst. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
Numbers 16:5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.
1 Kings 18:17 When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
Matthew 21:23 When Jesus returned to the temple courts and began to teach, the chief priests and elders of the people came up to Him. “By what authority are You doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave You this authority?”
Ephesians 1:4 For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.