Numbers 16:1-35
Read Numbers 16 in full →Korah Rises Up Against Moses
16Now aKorah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with bDathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took others, 2and they rose up before Moses, 1together with some of the sons of Israel, 250 leaders of the congregation, 2,athose called upon by the assembly, men of renown. 3Then they assembled together aagainst Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “1,bYou have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and cYahweh is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?”
4And Moses heard this and afell on his face; 5and he spoke to Korah and all his congregation, saying, “Tomorrow morning Yahweh will show who is His, and awho is holy, and will bring him near to Himself; even bthe one whom He will choose, He will bring near to Himself. 6“Do this: take censers for yourselves, Korah and all 1your congregation, 7and put fire in them, and lay incense upon them in the presence of Yahweh tomorrow; and the man whom Yahweh chooses shall be the one who is holy. 1,aYou have gone far enough, you sons of Levi!”
8Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, 9ais it 1not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel, bto bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you aseeking for the priesthood also? 11“Therefore you and all your congregation are gathered together aagainst Yahweh; but as for Aaron, 1who is he that byou grumble against him?”
12Then Moses sent 1a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up. 13“Is it 1not enough that you have brought us up out of a aland flowing with milk and honey bto put us to death in the wilderness, but you would also lord it over us? 14“Indeed, you have not brought us ainto a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of bfields and vineyards. Would you 1,cput out the eyes of 2these men? We will not come up!”
15Then Moses became very angry and said to Yahweh, “aDo not regard their offering! bI have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.” 16And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your congregation be present before Yahweh tomorrow, both you and they along with Aaron. 17“And each of you take his firepan and put incense on 1it, and each of you bring his censer near before Yahweh, 250 firepans; also you and Aaron shall each bring his firepan.” 18So they each took his own censer and put fire on 1it, and laid incense on 2it; and they stood at the doorway of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron. 19Thus Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And athe glory of Yahweh appeared to all the congregation.
20Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 21“aSeparate yourselves from among this congregation, bthat I may consume them instantly.” 22But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, aGod of the spirits of all flesh, bwhen one man sins, will You be angry with the entire congregation?”
23Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 24“Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘aGet back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”
25Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram, with the elders of Israel following him, 26and he spoke to the congregation, saying, “aTurn aside now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing that belongs to them, blest you be swept away in all their sin.” 27So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan and Abiram; but Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and atheir sons and their little ones. 28And Moses said, “By this you shall know that aYahweh has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not from my heart. 29“If these men die 1the death of all men or 2if they suffer the afate of all men, then Yahweh has not sent me. 30“But aif Yahweh creates an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they bgo down to Sheol alive, then you will know that these men have spurned Yahweh.”
31And it happened that as he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32and athe earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and ball the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33So they and all that belonged to them went down to Sheol alive; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34Then all Israel who were around them fled at their 1outcry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35aFire also came forth from Yahweh and consumed the b250 men who were bringing near the incense.