Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

Get you out from the midst of this multitude, this moment will I destroy them. And as they were lying on the ground,

Get you up from the midst of this assembly, and I will consume them in a moment. And they fell on their faces.

Remove from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

'Get you up from the midst of this company, and I consume them in a moment;' and they fall on their faces,

Come out from among this people, so that I may send sudden destruction on them. And they went down on their faces.

"Withdraw from the midst of this multitude, and I will destroy them immediately." And while they were lying on the ground,

Recedite e medio congregationis hujus, et consumam eos momento. Tunc projecerunt se super faciem suam.

Get you up from among this congregation. I have expounded the meaning of this expression a little above, namely, that as God regards His people with constant and peculiar love, so He defers His vengeance against the wicked, until these people are set apart, and placed in safety. For tie declares that, as soon as Moses and Aaron have secured themselves, all the rest shall perish in a moment. But incredible was the kindness of both of them, thus humbly to intercede for so ungrateful a people, who deserved to die a hundred times over; for, forgetful of their own lives, which they saw to be imperiled, they were ready to make atonement for the guilt, so as to rescue from death those abandoned wretches who were plotting their destruction. I do not, however, understand this, "Get you up," merely with reference to place, for they were already separated, having taken refuge in the tabernacle; but it is just as if God had commanded them to sever themselves from the people, and, quitting them altogether, and casting away all care for the public welfare, to provide for their own private safety.

They fell upon their faces - In intercession for the people; compare Numbers 16:22; Numbers 14:5.

Get you up from among this congregation,.... That is, withdraw from them, and be separate, that they might not be involved in the same destruction with them, as well as that they might have no concern for them, or plead with the Lord in prayer on their account, but let him alone to destroy them, as follows:
that I may consume them in a moment; as he was able to do, and had proposed to do it before, but they entreated him that he would not, Numbers 16:21; as they again do:
and they fell upon their faces; in prayer, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem; and so Aben Ezra observes, it was to pray to deprecate the wrath of God, and to implore his pardoning mercy for this sinful people; which shows what an excellent temper and disposition these men were of, to pray for them that had so despitefully used them as to charge them with murder, and were about to commit it on them; see Matthew 5:44.

They fell upon their faces - To beg mercy for the people; thus rendering Good for Evil.