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Psalm 106:16
They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.
14but gave in to craving in the desert, and tested God in the wasteland.
15He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.
16They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, the LORD’s saint.
17The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
18A fire was kindled in their company. The flame burned up the wicked.
Notice
Envy in the camp turns against Moses and Aaron, exposing how resentment can reach even those set apart for service to God.
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Where else Scripture says this
12 passages readers most often link with this verse, and the thread each one shares with it.
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Numbers 16:1–50Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took …Dathan and Abiram, named in the psalm’s next verse, also appear among the men introduced in Numbers 16.
Numbers 16:3They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, …Numbers records the assembly’s accusation against Moses and Aaron; the psalm names envy behind the opposition to these same men.
Deuteronomy 33:8About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.Both passages use language of godliness or holiness, with Deuteronomy speaking about Levi and the psalm naming Aaron.
Genesis 30:1When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister. She said to Jacob, “Give me children, or else I will die.”Both texts name envy toward another person: Rachel envies her sister, while people in the camp envy Moses and Aaron.
Leviticus 21:10–12“‘He who is the high priest among his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the …The psalm identifies Aaron as the LORD’s saint, while Leviticus describes the high priest’s consecration and anointing.
Genesis 37:11His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.Both passages name envy within a close community, among brothers in Genesis and among people in the camp in Psalms.
1 Chronicles 23:13The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should sanctify the most holy things, he and his sons forever, to burn incense before the …Both passages name Moses and Aaron, and Chronicles describes Aaron’s separation for service to the LORD.
Job 5:1“Call now; is there any who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?The shared thread is limited to holiness language: Aaron is called the LORD’s saint, while Job mentions holy ones.
Exodus 28:36“You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, ‘HOLY TO THE LORD.’The gold plate’s inscription declares holiness to the LORD, echoing the psalm’s description of Aaron as the LORD’s saint.
Leviticus 21:6–8They shall be holy to their God, and not profane the name of their God, for they offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the bread of their God. …Both texts connect holiness with belonging to God, naming Aaron in the psalm and describing priestly service in Leviticus.
Matthew 27:18For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.Both passages identify envy behind hostility toward others, whether against Moses and Aaron or in handing Jesus over.
John 9:29We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don’t know where he comes from.”Moses is named in both passages: the psalm records envy against him, while John records acknowledgment that God spoke to him.
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Encouragement
The judgment that follows is severe: earth swallows Dathan, and fire burns the wicked. Envy against Moses and Aaron belongs within this account of rebellion against God.
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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).