Definition: [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse – it's a really important one in understanding how God worked with Moses! Here’s an explanation in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is about God setting a special plan for Moses to be close to him and to serve the people. It’s saying that God has chosen Moses to be a special, important role – a minister – who will be present with the Israelites. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Numbers 16:9” : This is the specific verse we're looking at. “[Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you…” : This is a bit tricky, and it means "It seems like a little thing to you." It’s not about literally being small; it’s about how significant this situation is in God's plan. “…that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel…” : This is the core of the verse. God is saying that He has chosen Moses to be excluded from the community of Israelites – their people. He’s making a choice to keep him focused on serving God and with them. “…to bring you near to himself…” : This means God wants to get closer to Moses, to have a more intimate relationship with him. "...to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD..." : The tabernacle was a special tent that God used to dwell with his people and to perform rituals. It was designed for worship and connection with God. "...and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?” : This describes Moses' role as a leader and witness. He would be there to teach, guide, and lead the Israelites – to be a representative of God with them. In a nutshell: God is setting up a special arrangement for Moses to be a vital part of the Israelites’ worship and connection with God. It's about a unique relationship between God and his chosen leader. Why is this important? This verse tells us that God has a plan for our lives – He wants us to be involved in something significant, even if it means being set apart from our community. It highlights the idea of God’s sovereignty and His desire for a special relationship with humanity. --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a story or biblical context (like the Exodus)?