_Isaar was brother of Amram; and, consequently, his son was the cousin
of Moses. --- Core engaged the rest in his revolt. Hebrew, "took or
replied," interrupting Moses at the very time when he was speaking, in
the name of God, and requiring that he should shew by what right he
arrogated to himself a... [ Continue Reading ]
Rose up. The crime of these men, which was punished in so remarkable a
manner, was that of schism, and of rebellion against the authority
established by God in the Church; and their pretending to the
priesthood without being lawfully called and sent: the same is the
case of all modern sectaries. (Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
_Let it be enough. Hebrew rab, "too much you take upon you;" or
"suffice it for you," Septuagint. --- Holy ones, as deserving of the
priesthood as yourselves, ver. 10. Why then would you treat them as
your inferiors? We will throw off the yoke, and assert our just
rights. (Calmet) --- On the same pl... [ Continue Reading ]
_The holy ones, whom he has chosen for the high priesthood. The
psalmist, speaking of this sedition, says, they provoked....Aaron, the
holy one of the Lord, Psalm cv. 16. (Calmet) See 1 Timothy ii. 19. ---
Only those who are chosen by God, can lawfully perform this sacred
office, as the Almighty dec... [ Continue Reading ]
_Censers. It was not lawful for the Levites to offer incense: but they
had prepared for themselves the ensigns of the priestly power, and
Moses permits them to try their success. (Haydock) --- They might have
brought the censers, or broad plates, bowls, or vials, (Apocalypse v.
8,) out of Egypt, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Lord, in his sanctuary, where the priests alone offered incense twice
a day upon the altar. (Calmet) --- Too much. Moses retorts upon them
their own words, ver. 3._... [ Continue Reading ]
_To him: Hebrew and Septuagint, "to them," or instead of the people.
God had chosen them for that post of honour, to the exclusion of all
the rest, so that they ought, the least of all, to have complained.
But it often happens, that those who are the most exalted, take
occasion to esteem themselves... [ Continue Reading ]
_Him. The injury is offered to God, who made choice of Aaron freely._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Eyes. These princes of Ruben were not desirous of the priesthood, as
Core was; they repined, that Moses had got possession of the sovereign
authority, and therefore they endeavour to represent him as an
imposter, who had promised great things, but in reality had deprived
the people of all the happi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Very angry. This anger was a zeal against sin; and an indignation at
the affront offered to God; like that which the same holy prophet
conceived upon the sight of the golden calf, Exodus xxxii. 19.
(Challoner) --- Respect not. Hebrew, "thou wilt not have regard for
their sacrifices, " as long as th... [ Continue Reading ]
_God, who givest life to all, and searchest the inmost recesses of the
heart. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Depart. If we give any encouragement to schismatics, or go to their
meetings, we must expect to be involved in their sins. (St. Cyprian,
de Lapsis 5.) (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_People, ( frequentia). The Septuagint generally translate tappam by
aposkene, "family and effects," of every denomination. (Calmet) ---
Here was a full assembly waiting for the event, between fear and hope.
As these rebels would not come, when Moses sent for them, he
condescended to go to them, and... [ Continue Reading ]
Hell. See Psalm liv. 16., and Proverbs i. 12. "They were consigned to
the tomb before they were dead," (St. Optatus, B. i.,) while their
impenitent souls were buried in hell. The souls of their infant
children, which had no share in the rebellion, might be exempted from
the latter part of their puni... [ Continue Reading ]
_Tents. Hebrew adds, "all those who belonged to ( or sided with) Core,
and all their riches." Moses informs us, (chap. xxvi. 10,) how some of
Core's children were miraculously preserved. Their descendants were
appointed by David to sing and to guard the doors of the temple, 1
Paralipomenon ix. 19. ... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hell. Hebrew adds, "they, and whatsoever belonged to them, descended
into hell, or the pit." Sale. --- The souls of the impenitent into the
former, the bodies of the cattle, &c., into the bowels of the earth.
(Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Incense. Core had left them, and was busy in stirring up the people
to rebellion, when a fire proceeding from the cloud, or from the
altar, or perhaps a thunderbolt, (Calmet) came to arraign them before
God's tribunal, there to meet their chief, and to hear the eternal
sentence of separation from a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sinners. These censers were sanctified or set apart for God's altar:
1. By the intention of those who used them, though contrary to his
will; 2. by the exemplary vengeance which he exercised upon the rash
pretenders to the priesthood; 3. by being a monument of their folly,
and therefore placed, by... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XVI.
_ Altar of holocausts, which was already covered with plates of brass.
(Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Stranger, though he be even of royal dignity. Thus Osias was
afflicted with a perpetual leprosy, which rendered him incapable of
exercising even the office of king, because he had attempted to offer
incense, 2 Kings xv. 5., and 2 Paralipomenon xxvi. 17. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Get ye out. Moses and Aaron complied with the spirit, though not with
the letter of this injunction. They lay prostrate on their faces, with
all humility and earnestness, begging that the Lord would preserve
them, and at the same time take pity on the frailty of the multitude,
who had been deluded,... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take. Moses was inspired by God, on this extraordinary occasion, to
pass over the common rules, which forbade the high priest to offer
incense any where but in the tabernacle, and never to appear among the
dead. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Core. We cannot reckon less than 15,000, who perished in consequence
of their adherence to this innovator. Behold the first-fruits of
ambition and of rebellion. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]