Numeri 16:38

38 Die Räucherpfannen dieser Männer, welche wider ihre Seele gesündigt haben, man mache daraus breitgeschlagene Bleche zum Überzug für den Altar; denn sie haben sie vor Jehova dargebracht, und so sind sie heilig; und sie sollen den Kindern Israel zum Zeichen sein.

Numeri 16:38 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 16:38

The censers of these sinners against their own souls
Who by burning incense in them sinned, and by sinning hurt and ruined their souls:

let them make them broad plates [for] a covering of the altar;
the altar of burnt offering, which, though it had a covering of brass, another made of these were to be over it, for the further security of it, being of from the fire continually burning on it; these censers were to be beaten into broad plates, by the workmen who understood how to do it:

for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed;
they offered them in his presence, they burned incense in them, and to him, though it was not their business, but the business of the priests; yet these being done, and by his orders, for an open trial who were his priests and who not, they were not to be put to common use:

and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel;
a memorial sign, a sign bringing this affair to remembrance, as it is explained in ( Numbers 16:40 ) ; this was a sign to the priests, that they only were to offer every kind of offerings, and to the Levites, who attended the priests at the altar continually, and so had every day a sight of it and of those plates upon it, which would remind them of this fact, and teach them not to usurp the priest's office; and to all the children of Israel, to learn from hence that none were to burn incense but the priests of the Lord, for doing which Uzziah, though a king, was punished, ( 2 Chronicles 26:18-23 ) .

Numeri 16:38 In-Context

36 Und Jehova redete zu Mose und sprach:

37 Sprich zu Eleasar, dem Sohne Aarons, dem Priester, daß er die Räucherpfannen aus dem Brande herausnehme; und streue das Feuer hinweg, denn sie sind heilig.

38 Die Räucherpfannen dieser Männer, welche wider ihre Seele gesündigt haben, man mache daraus breitgeschlagene Bleche zum Überzug für den Altar; denn sie haben sie vor Jehova dargebracht, und so sind sie heilig; und sie sollen den Kindern Israel zum Zeichen sein.

39 Und Eleasar, der Priester, nahm die ehernen Räucherpfannen, welche die Verbrannten dargebracht hatten, und man schlug sie breit zum Überzug für den Altar,

40 als ein Gedächtnis für die Kinder Israel, auf daß kein Fremder, der nicht vom Samen Aarons ist, herzunahe, um Räucherwerk vor Jehova zu räuchern, und es ihm nicht ergehe wie Korah und seiner Rotte, so wie Jehova durch Mose zu ihm geredet hatte.