Numbers 16:41-43

The Congregation Blame Moses and Aaron for the Fire and Pit (Numbers 16:41).

Numbers 16:41

‘But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of Yahweh.” '

As would be expected the incidents of that day were the talking point of the camp. It may well be that the rebels had given the people new hope, even if it was probably groundless, and thus what had happened angered them. It had been one thing for Moses and Aaron to devastate Pharaoh and Egypt, quite another when they used their strange powers to attack the people of Yahweh. They felt that a part of them had been cut off. Many would not forget the dreadful sight of the pit opening up and the fire coming from heaven.

So the next day the camp was seething with anger and discontent. And they charged Moses and Aaron with killing ‘the people of Yahweh'. They had seemingly been convinced by the claims made by Korah. Here, they believed, were holy men whom Moses and Aaron had chosen to destroy. This reveals how deeply the rebels had seized the hearts of the people, and how much Moses and Aaron had lost face as a result of the debacle of the invasion of the land.

Numbers 16:42

‘And it came about that, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the tent of meeting, and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Yahweh appeared.'

As a result they gathered together around the Dwellingplace where they were planning to have it out with Moses and Aaron. But as they looked towards the Tent of meeting they saw the cloud descend and cover it and the appearance of the glory of Yahweh. It would remind them of what had happened days before (Numbers 16:19), which had resulted in all that they were complaining about. They should have taken warning that when this happened at times when Moses and Aaron were being castigated, it was a sign of worse to come. Instead of being the welcome sight that it would have been when they were at peace with God and His chosen servants, it was a warning of what could lie ahead.

Numbers 16:43

‘And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.'

Then Moses and Aaron appeared, and came to the front of the Tent of meeting. They were ready to face any threat that might appear.