Numbers 16:39
◄  Numbers 16:39  ►
New International Version (©2011)
So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,

New Living Translation (©2007)
So Eleazar the priest collected the 250 bronze incense burners that had been used by the men who died in the fire, and he hammered them into a thin sheet to overlay the altar.

English Standard Version (©2001)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which the men who were burned had offered, and they hammered them out as a plating for the altar,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze firepans that those who were burned had presented, and they were hammered into plating for the altar,

International Standard Version (©2012)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that had been burned and beat them into metal plates for the altar,

NET Bible (©2006)
So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers presented by those who had been burned up, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
So the priest Eleazar took the bronze incense burners which had been brought by those who had been burned to death. The incense burners were then hammered into thin metal sheets to cover the altar,

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, with which they that were burned had offered; and they were hammered out for a covering of the altar:

American King James Version
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, with which they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

American Standard Version
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, wherein they had offered, whom the burning fire had devoured, and beat them into plates, fastening them to the altar:

Darby Bible Translation
And Eleazar the priest took the copper censers, which they that were burnt had presented; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

English Revised Version
And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, which they that were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar:

Webster's Bible Translation
And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, with which they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

World English Bible
Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

Young's Literal Translation
And Eleazar the priest taketh the brazen censers which they who are burnt had brought near, and they spread them out, a covering for the altar --

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

16:35-40 A fire went out from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense, while Aaron, who stood with them, was preserved alive. God is jealous of the honour of his own institutions, and will not have them invaded. The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. The censers are devoted, and, as all devoted things, must be made serviceable to the glory of God. This covering of the altar would remind the children of Israel of this event, that others might hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously. They brought destruction on themselves both in body and soul. Thus all who break the law and neglect the gospel choose and love death.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers,.... The metal of which these censers were made is particularly observed, to show that they were fit for the use they were ordered to be put unto, namely, for a covering of the altar of burnt offering, which was covered with brass, that being very suitable, since fire was continually burning on it; and by this it appears that these censers were different from those of Aaron and his sons, for theirs were silver ones; the high priest on the day of atonement indeed made use of golden one, but at all other times he used a silver one (b); and so did the common priests every day, morning and night, when they offered incense (c):

wherewith they that were burnt had offered; the two hundred fifty men burnt with fire from the Lord, having offered incense to him with the brazen censers:

and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar; not by Eleazar, but by workmen skilled in the art of drawing or beating any kind of metal into thin plates, by the direction and order of Eleazar.

(b) Misn. Yoma, c. 4. sect. 4. (c) Misn. Tamid, c. 5. sect. 5.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

39, 40. the brazen censers … made broad plates to be a memorial—The altar of burnt offerings, being made of wood and covered with brass, this additional covering of broad plates not only rendered it doubly secure against the fire, but served as a warning beacon to deter all from future invasions of the priesthood.

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The Censers Reserved for Holy Use
…38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel. 39And Eleazar the priest took the brazen censers, with which they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: 40To be a memorial to the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

Numbers 16:38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the LORD and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites."
Numbers 16:40 as the LORD directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the LORD, or he would become like Korah and his followers.
2 Chronicles 26:18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, "It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the LORD God."
Ezra 2:62 These searched for their family records, but they could not find them and so were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.