16:4 When Moses heard it he fell down with his face to the ground. 2 16:5 Then he said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning the Lord will make known who are his, and who is holy. He will cause that person 3 to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him. 16:6 Do this, Korah, you and all your company: 4 Take censers,
1 tn The meaning of רַב־לָכֶם (rab-lakhem) is something like “you have assumed far too much authority.” It simply means “much to you,” perhaps “you have gone to far,” or “you are overreaching yourselves” (M. Noth, Numbers [OTL], 123). He is objecting to the exclusiveness of the system that Moses has been introducing.
2 tn Heb “fell on his face.”
3 tn Heb “him.”
4 tn Heb “his congregation” or “his community.” The expression is unusual, but what it signifies is that Korah had set up a rival “Israel” with himself as leader.