TO COME NEAR, draw near — and in the causative, to BRING near, which is the ordinary verb for presenting an offering (a qorban is literally a thing-brought-near). ⚠ It is the spine of the revolt in Numbers 16–17, where it occurs eleven times and traces the whole argument from one end to the other. It opens with Moses saying Jehovah 'will bring near the one he chooses, he will bring him near' (16:5) and pressing Korah with 'is it a small thing that he separated you to bring you near — and he brought you near — and you seek the priesthood also?' (16:9-10). It runs through the men 'bringing the incense near' who are consumed (16:35), the censers that became holy 'because they were brought near before Jehovah' (17:3-4), and the memorial that no outsider 'draw near' to burn incense (17:5). And it is the last thing anyone says: kol ha-qarev ha-qarev, 'everyone who draws near, who draws near, dies' (17:28) — the participle doubled, which only the ASV and the two Reina-Valeras keep. Korah's complaint was that access was restricted; the congregation ends by complaining that access is lethal. → first discussed at Num 16:5