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Aaron Saves the People

41 The next day the whole community complained against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have killed some of the Lord's people.” 42 After they had all gathered to protest to Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tent and saw that the cloud was covering it and that the dazzling light of the Lord's presence had appeared. 43 Moses and Aaron went and stood in front of the Tent, 44 (A)and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Move back from these people, and I will destroy them on the spot!”

The two of them bowed down with their faces to the ground, 46 and Moses said to Aaron, “Take your fire pan, put live coals from the altar in it, and put some incense on the coals. Then hurry with it to the people and perform the ritual of purification for them. Hurry! The Lord's anger has already broken out and an epidemic has already begun.” 47 Aaron obeyed, took his fire pan and ran into the middle of the assembled people. When he saw that the plague had already begun, he put the incense on the coals and performed the ritual of purification for the people. 48 This stopped the plague, and he was left standing between the living and the dead. 49 The number of people who died was 14,700, not counting those who died in Korah's rebellion.

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41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition(A) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord(B) appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end(C) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer(D) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly(E) to make atonement(F) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;(G) the plague(H) has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,(I) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.(J) 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.(K)

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