Numbers

The People, the Lord, and Aaron

Rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram

Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, from the tribe of Levi—and also Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben—rebelled against Moses.

Two hundred fifty Israelites followed him; all were well-known leaders in the community and members of the council.

They came together and addressed Moses and Aaron, saying:

“It is enough! The whole community is consecrated to the Lord, who lives among them. Why, then, do you set yourselves over the community of the Lord?”

Moses threw his face downward on the ground when he heard this.

Then he said to Korah and all his followers:

“Tomorrow morning, the Lord will make known who belongs to him, and who is consecrated to him and may approach him. He will let the one he has chosen approach.”

You, Korah, along with all your followers, take your censers tomorrow.

Then you will fill them with burning coals and put incense in them before the Lord, and the Lord will indicate the holy one. Sons of Levi, you have gone too far!”

Moses told Korah:

“Listen to me now, you sons of Levi.

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the rest of the community of Israel and called you close to himself for service in the Holy Tent of the Lord to stand before this community and perform the sacred service on their behalf?

He has called you to be near him, you and all your brother Levites with you, and now you want the office of priesthood as well!

What is Aaron’s misdeed that you complain about him? It is against the Lord himself that you and your followers have rebelled.”

Moses sent messengers to summon Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said:

“We will not come up.

Is it not enough that you have brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to die in the wilderness? Do you also want to lord it over us?

You did not bring us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor give us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you suppose that all these people are blind? We will not come.”

Moses then became angry and said to the Lord:

“Do not look favorably on their offering. I have not taken a single donkey or harmed any of them.”

Moses told Korah:

“You and all your company be present before the Lord tomorrow, you and they, together with Aaron.

Each of you takes his censer, puts incense in it, and presents it before the Lord—250 censers!—and Aaron will do the same.”

So every man took his censer and put incense in it, and they stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.

Korah assembled all the community against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

The Lord’s glory appeared to all the community.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron:

“Stand aside from this community so that I may immediately destroy them.”

Intercession and Punishment

They fell on their faces and said, “God, God of the spirits of all mortals, for one man’s sin, will you become angry with the whole congregation?”

The Lord answered Moses:

“Speak to the community and say this: Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

Moses got up and went towards Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.

He spoke to the community, saying:

“Move away from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing that belongs to them lest you perish because of all their sins.”

They withdrew from the area near the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram; they came out and stood with their wives, sons, and little ones.

Then Moses said:

“By this, you shall know that the Lord sent me to do all these deeds and that it is not my doing.

If these men die naturally, merely suffering the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.

But if the Lord works a miracle and the earth, opening its mouth, swallows them with all they possess, and they descend alive to Sheol, you will know that these men have rejected the Lord.”

As Moses finished saying all this, the earth under them split in two,

opened its mouth and engulfed them with their household and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions.

They descended alive to Sheol with all that belonged to them; the earth covered them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

On hearing their cries, all the Israelites who were around them fled, for they said, “Let not the earth swallow us as well!” ³⁵A fire came forth from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering incense.