Numbers 26:10

And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The narrator addresses the Israelite census-takers, recording the aftermath of the rebellion immediately after naming Dathan and Abiram in Numbers 26:9. This account follows the original revolt narrative and precedes the note that Korah’s lineage survived in Numbers 26:11.

The words — The Hebrew verb תִּפְתַּח (tif.Tach) translates "it opened," paired with תִּבְלַע (tiv.La'), "it swallowed," to describe the earth’s action against Korah and his followers. The phrase אֶת־פִּי הָאָרֶץ (et-Pi ha-'A.retz) literally renders the earth's "mouth" as the instrument of judgment.

The thread — The event originates in Numbers 16:31 where the ground splits, and the surviving censers are later consecrated in Numbers 16:38. The narrative function of a divinely executed judgment as a warning parallels 2 Peter 2:6, which cites the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah as a comparable example.

Why it lands — The text states the rebels serve as a warning sign, requiring readers to acknowledge rebellion against God’s authority as a fatal breach. It demands a plain recognition of historical judgment without softening the record or adding devotional commentary.

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

וַתִּפְתַּ֨חva./tif.Tachand/ it opened הָאָ֜רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ earth אֶת־'et-<obj.>פִּ֗יהָPi./hamouth/ its וַתִּבְלַ֥עva./tiv.La'and/ it swallowed אֹתָ֛ם'o.Ta/m<obj.>/ them וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>קֹ֖רַחKo.rachKorah בְּמ֣וֹתbe./Motwhen/ died הָעֵדָ֑הha./'e.Dahthe/ company בַּאֲכֹ֣לba./'a.Kholwhen/ consumed הָאֵ֗שׁha./'Eshthe/ fire אֵ֣ת'et<obj.>חֲמִשִּׁ֤יםcha.mi.Shimfifty וּמָאתַ֙יִם֙u./ma.Ta.yimand/ two hundred אִ֔ישׁ'Ishman וַיִּהְי֖וּva/i.yih.Yuand/ they became לְנֵֽס׃le./Nes<into>/ a warning sign

King James Version

And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.

Cross-references

Numbers 16:38 As for the censers of those who sinned at the cost of their own lives, hammer them into sheets to overlay the altar, for these were presented before the LORD, and so have become holy. They will serve as a sign to the Israelites.”
Numbers 16:31 As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open,
2 Peter 2:6 if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction, reducing them to ashes as an example of what is coming on the ungodly;
Numbers 16:2 a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly.
1 Samuel 2:34 And this sign shall come to you concerning your two sons Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day.
Psalms 106:17 The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.
Jeremiah 29:22 Because of them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the LORD make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire!’
Ezekiel 14:8 I will set My face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb; I will cut him off from among My people. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
1 Corinthians 10:6 These things took place as examples to keep us from craving evil things as they did.
Jude 1:7 In like manner, Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, who indulged in sexual immorality and pursued strange flesh, are on display as an example of those who sustain the punishment of eternal fire.