What is the meaning of Psalm 106:17? The earth opened up - Numbers 16:31-32 records the moment “the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth.” This is not poetic exaggeration but a literal act of divine judgment. - The Creator commands even the soil (Psalm 18:7), reminding us that nothing in creation is beyond His control. - By causing the land itself to react, God vividly demonstrated His intolerance of willful rebellion (Deuteronomy 11:6). and swallowed Dathan - Dathan, a son of Eliab from the tribe of Reuben, joined Korah in challenging Moses’ God-given authority (Numbers 16:1-3; 26:9-10). - “Swallowed” underscores completeness; there was no partial penalty or chance to escape (Jude 11). - The scene points to personal accountability: God singled out the ringleaders rather than issuing an impersonal catastrophe. it covered the assembly - The “assembly” includes the families, tents, and all who sided with the rebels (Numbers 16:33-34). - Sin is contagious; those who align themselves with it share its consequences (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians 15:33). - The covering earth erased every trace of their defiance, dramatizing that God’s judgments are thorough and final. of Abiram - Abiram, Dathan’s brother, likewise defied Moses, refusing even to appear when summoned (Numbers 16:12, 25). - The pairing of Dathan and Abiram highlights how rebellion often gains strength through alliances (Psalm 106:18). - Their identical fate shows that family ties or group identity cannot shield anyone from divine justice (Deuteronomy 11:6). summary Psalm 106:17 recalls a real historical event to teach that God actively opposes rebellion against His appointed order. The earth itself became His instrument: it opened, swallowed the leaders, and closed over their followers. The verse warns that rejecting God’s authority leads to swift, decisive judgment, while simultaneously assuring the faithful that He remains sovereign over every detail of creation. |
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