38. Sinners against their own souls. Perhaps we should understand this as “at the cost of their own lives” (see Prov. 20:2; Hab. 2:10; Heb. 12:3).
A covering of the altar. The altar of incense was of gold (Ex. 30:3; 37:26); so the reference is apparently to the brazen altar in the courtyard. Yet that altar was overlaid with bronze when it was first made at Sinai (Ex. 27:2; 38:2). This, then, was probably an additional bronze covering to protect the original metal top. The censers of Korah and of the company with him were made of bronze (Num. 16:39). In the time of Solomon censers were made of gold (1 Kings 7:50; 2 Chron. 4:22).
A sign. So also the rod of Aaron ( 17:10).