But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

NUMBERS 16:41KJV
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Numbers 16:41 (KJV)

What does Numbers 16:41 mean?

Numbers 16:41 describes how, the day after Korah’s rebellion, the entire community of Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of killing “the people of the LORD.” The verse shows that the people blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths that happened as a result of God’s judgment, rather than recognizing God’s role in the events.

The setting is just after a dramatic confrontation where Korah and his followers challenged Moses and Aaron’s leadership, and God judged the rebels. Despite witnessing these events, the Israelites direct their anger at Moses and Aaron, not at those who rebelled or at God’s decision. This verse highlights the people’s ongoing distrust and their tendency to grumble against their leaders, even after clear signs of divine intervention.

The Hebrew behind Numbers 16:41

  • “Congregation” (עֵדָה, edah): This word refers to the whole assembly or community of Israelites. It emphasizes that the complaint was not just from a few, but from the collective group.
  • “Murmured” (לוּן, lun): This verb means to grumble or complain, often with a sense of persistent dissatisfaction. In the context of Numbers, it suggests a pattern of resistance and negativity toward leadership.
  • “Killed” (מוּת, muth): The people accuse Moses and Aaron of causing death, but the original word simply means to put to death or cause to die. The accusation ignores that it was God’s judgment, not Moses and Aaron’s direct action.

Why Numbers 16:41 matters

  • Numbers 16:41 shows how quickly the Israelites shifted blame to Moses and Aaron, even after witnessing a clear act of divine judgment, revealing a deep-rooted mistrust and misunderstanding among the people.
  • The verse connects to a recurring theme in Numbers: the people’s tendency to grumble against leadership, which often leads to further trouble and judgment.
  • This verse helps explain why further judgment follows in the chapter, as the people’s refusal to accept God’s actions sets the stage for what happens next.

Where else these words appear

“morrow” Hebrew H4283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
  • Numbers 11:32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
  • 1 Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

“murmured” Hebrew H3885 · used in 79 verses

  • Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
  • Joshua 4:3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
  • Job 17:2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation?

“congregation” Hebrew H5712 · used in 140 verses

  • Exodus 12:3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
  • Numbers 15:24 Then it shall be, if ought be committed by ignorance without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt offering, for a sweet savour unto the LORD, with his meat offering, and his drink offering, according to the manner, and one kid of the goats for a sin offering.
  • Numbers 31:16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against the LORD in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the LORD.