Numbers 16

“Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the…” Naming Abiram and Dathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is…” Naming Even and Korah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;” Naming Korah and Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:” Naming Hear and Korah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD : and what is Aaron, that ye…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:” Naming Abiram and Dathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD , Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD , thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:” Naming Aaron and Korah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the…” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the…” Naming Korah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Naming Separate keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” Naming Abiram and Dathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.” Naming Abiram and Dathan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing…” Naming Depart keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD…” The line’s distinctive content terms include common, death, LORD. Its relationship to verses 28 and 30 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah…” Naming Korah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they…” The line’s distinctive content terms include alive, appertained, closed. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.” Naming Israel and Lest keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And there came out a fire from the LORD , and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the…” Naming Aaron and Eleazar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad…” Naming Eleazar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer…” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye…” Naming Aaron and Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,” Naming Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.” Naming Get keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly…” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dead, living, plague. Its relationship to verses 47 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of…” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.