Texts in Conversation
In 1 Corinthians, Paul mentions a “destroying angel” who brought death, echoing the “destroyer” in Exodus and linking it to the plagues in Numbers. In Exodus, this figure brings judgment on Egypt, while in Numbers, death spreads until Aaron stops it.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
LXX Numbers 17:12
Septuagint
9 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 10 Depart out of the midst of this congregation, and I will consume them at once: and they fell upon their faces. 11 And Moses said to Aaron, Take a censer, and put on it fire from the altar, and put incense on it, and carry it away quickly into the camp, and make atonement for them; for fierce anger has gone forth from the presence of the Lord, it has begun to destroy the people. 12 And Aaron took as Moses spoke to him, and ran among the congregation, for already the plague had begun among the people; and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. 13 And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague ceased. 14 And they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those that died on account of Korah.
Date: 300–201 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
1 Corinthians 10:10
New Testament
8 And let us not be immoral, as some of them were, and 23,000 died in a single day. 9 And let us not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And do not complain, as some of them did, and were killed by the destroying angel. 11 These things happened to them as examples and were written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the ages have come.
Date: 55–57 CE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Turning to the New Testament writings, it is found that, consistent with LXX usage, the verb γογγύζω is used in Matthew and Luke in reference to a specific statement of discontent expressed directly and clearly to the object of discontent. In Matthew the laborers who worked the whole day, bearing the burden and heat of the day, complain to the master of the house because he paid them the same amount as those workers who only labored for one hour (Matthew 20:11). In Luke the Pharisees and scribes grumble against Jesus’ disciples, asking them why they are eating with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 5:30). The verb γογγύζω is used twice in 1 Corinthians 10:10, where the Apostle Paul warns the Corinthians not to murmur (μηδὲ γογγύζετε) as the Israelites murmured (ἐγόγγυσαν) and were destroyed by the destroyer. In this verse Paul makes reference to some or all of the events that occurred in Numbers 16:1–50. Here the murmuring of the Israelites is against the leadership of Moses and Aaron, a fact that parallels the murmuring of the Corinthians against Paul’s leadership ..."
David S. Hasselbrook, “Nuances of Meaning with Compound Words in the Septuagint: A Case Study of διαγογγύζω and εἰσακούω in Contexts of Grumbling,” in The Vocabulary of the Septuagint and Its Hellenistic Background, ed. Patrick Pouchelle Eberhard Bons and Daniela Scialabba (Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2019), 80–94.
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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