Numbers, Chapter 16

Numbers Chapter 16

Verses 1-35: The Rebellion of Korah

1. Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, took a stand,
2. and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
3. And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, “Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”
4. When Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
5. And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, “Even tomorrow the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.”
6. This do: Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
7. And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.”
8. And Moses said unto Korah, “Hear now, ye sons of Levi:
9. 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?
10. And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
11. For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?”
12. And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, “We will not come up:
13. Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
14. Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.”
15. And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, “Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”
16. And Moses said unto Korah, “Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow:
17. And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.”
18. And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.
19. And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation.
20. And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
21. “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
22. And they fell upon their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?”
23. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
24. “Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
25. And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
26. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, “Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.”
27. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
28. And Moses said, “Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
29. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
30. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.”
31. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
32. And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
33. They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
34. And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up also.”
35. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Interpretation: This passage vividly illustrates the dire consequences of rebelling against divinely appointed leadership. It underscores the theme of divine justice and the importance of faithfulness and humility before God’s chosen representatives. The dramatic episode serves as a warning against the dangers of dissent and the presumption of authority within a spiritual community.