1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

2And 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:

3And 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 isamong them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

4And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

5And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew 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.

6This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

7And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: 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.

8And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

9Seemeth 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?

10And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

11For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

12And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

13Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

14Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth 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.

15And 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.

16And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17And 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.

18And 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.

19And 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.

20And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22And 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?

23And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

24Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26And 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.

27So 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.

28And 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.

29If 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.

30But 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.

31And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:

32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all theirgoods.

33They, 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.

34And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.

35And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

36And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

37Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

38The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

39And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

40To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

41But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

42And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

44And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

45Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

47And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

49Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

50And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed

1 Now Korah the sonne of Izhar, the sonne of Kohath, the sonne of Leui, and Dathan, and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab, and On the sonne of Peleth, sonnes of Reuben, tooke men.

2And they rose vp before Moses, with certaine of the children of Israel, two hundred and fiftie Princes of the assembly, famous in the Congregation, men of renowne.

3And they gathered themselues together against Moses, and against Aaron, and said vnto them, Ye take too much vpon you, seeing all the Congregation are holy euery one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherfore then lift you vp your selues aboue the Congregation of the Lord ?

4And when Moses heard it, he fell vpon his face.

5And hee spake vnto Korah, and vnto all his company, saying, Euen to morrow the Lord will shew who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come neere vnto him: euen him whom he hath chosen, will he cause to come neere vnto him.

6This doe: take you censers, Korah, and all his company:

7And put fire therein, and put incense in them, before the Lord to morrow; And it shall be, that the man whom the Lord doeth choose, hee shall be holy: yee take too much vpon you, ye sonnes of Leui.

8And Moses saide vnto Korah, Heare, I pray you, ye sonnes of Leui.

9Seemeth it but a small thing vnto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the Congregation of Israel, to bring you neere to himselfe, to doe the seruice of the Tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the Congregation to minister vnto them?

10And he hath brought thee neere to him, and all thy brethren the sonnes of Leui with thee: and seeke ye the Priesthood also?

11For which cause both thou, and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmure against him?

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sonnes of Eliab: which said, We will not come vp.

13Is it a small thing that thou hast brought vs vp out of a land that floweth with milke and hony, to kill vs in the wildernesse, except thou make thy selfe altogether a prince ouer vs?

14Moreouer, thou hast not brought vs into a land that floweth with milke and hony, or giuen vs inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come vp.

15And Moses was very wroth, and said vnto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I haue not taken one asse from them, neither haue I hurt one of them.

16And Moses said vnto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron to morrow.

17And take euery man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring yee before the Lord euery man his censer, two hundred and fiftie censers, thou also and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18And they tooke euery man his censer, and put fire in them, and laide incense thereon, and stood in the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19And Korah gathered all the Congregation against them, vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared vnto all the Congregation.

20And the Lord spake vnto Moses, and vnto Aaron, saying,

21Separate your selues from among this Congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22And they fell vpon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shal one man sinne, and wilt thou be wroth with all the Congregation?

23 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

24Speake vnto the Congregation, saying, Get you vp from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25And Moses rose vp, and went vnto Dathan and Abiram: and the Elders of Israel followed him.

26And hee spake vnto 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 sinnes.

27So they gate vp from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on euery side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the doore of their tents, and their wiues, & their sonnes, and their little children.

28And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to doe all these workes: for I haue not done them of mine owne mind.

29If 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:

30But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them vp, with all that appertaine vnto them, and they go downe quicke into the pit: then ye shall vnderstand that these men haue prouoked the Lord.

31 And it came to passe as he had made an ende of speaking all these words, that the ground claue asunder that was vnder them:

32And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them vp, and their houses, and all the men that appertained vnto Korah, and all their goods.

33They, and all that appertained to them, went downe aliue into the pit, and the earth closed vpon them: and they perished from among the Congregation.

34And all Israel that were round about them, fled at the crie of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow vs vp also.

35And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fiftie men that offered incense.

36 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

37Speake vnto Eleazar the sonne of Aaron the Priest, that he take vp the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder, for they are hallowed.

38The censers of these sinners against their owne soules, let them make them broad plates for a couering of the Altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed, and they shall be a signe vnto the children of Israel.

39And Eleazar the Priest tooke the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered, and they were made broad plates for a couering of the Altar:

40To bee a memoriall vnto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come neere to offer incense before the Lord, that he be not as Korah, and as his company, as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

41 But on the morrow, all the Congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye haue killed the people of the Lord.

42And it came to passe when the Congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the Tabernacle of the Congregation: and behold, the cloud couered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.

43And Moses and Aaron came before the Tabernacle of the Congregation.

44 And the Lord spake vnto Moses, saying,

45Get you vp from among this Congregation, that I may consume them, as in a moment: and they fell vpon their faces.

46 And Moses said vnto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the Altar, and put on incense, and goe quickly vnto the Congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.

47And Aaron tooke as Moses commanded, and ranne into the midst of the Congregation: and behold, the plague was begun among the people, and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

48And he stood betweene the dead and the liuing, and the plague was stayed.

49Now they that died in the plague, were foureteene thousand and seuen hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

50And Aaron returned vnto Moses, vnto the doore of the Tabernacle of the Congregation; and the plague was stayed

I == Ex 6:21 ; Num 26:9 ; 27:3 ; Jude 1:11

 

II == Num 26:9

 

 

 

III == Ex 19:6 ; 29:45 ; Num 14:14 ; 35:34 ; Ps 106:16

 

 

 

 

IV == Num 14:5 ; 20:6

V == Ex 28:1 ; Lev 10:3 ; 21:6-8 , 12 , 15 , 17-18 ; Num 3:10 ; 16:3 ; 17:5 ; 1st Sam 2:28 ; Ps 105:26 ; Ezek 40:46 ; 44:15-16 ; 2nd Tim 2:19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IX == Num 3:41 , 45 ; 8:14 ; Deut 10:8 ; 1st Sam 18:23 ; Isa 7:13

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XI == Ex 16:8 ; 1st Cor 3:5

 

 

 

 

 

XIII == Ex 2:14 ; Num 16:9 ; Acts 7:27 , 35

 

 

XIV == Ex 3:8 ; Lev 20:24

 

 

 

XV == Gen 4:4-5 ; 1st Sam 12:3 ; Acts 20:33 ; 2nd Cor 7:2

 

XVI == 1st Sam 12:3 , 7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XIX == Ex 16:7 , 10 ; Lev 9:6 , 23 ; Num 14:10 ; 16:42

 

 

 

XXI == Gen 19:17 , 22 ; Ex 32:10 ; 33:5 ; Jer 51:6 ; Acts 2:40 ; Rev 18:4

XXII == Num 14:5 ; 16:45 ; 27:16 ; Job 12:10 ; Eccl 12:7 ; Isa 57:16 ; Zech 12:1 ; Heb 12:9

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVI == Gen 19:12 , 14 ; Isa 52:11 ; 2nd Cor 6:17 ; 2nd Tim 2:19 ; Rev 18:4

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXVIII == Ex 3:12 ; Deut 18:22 ; Zech 2:9 , 11 ; 4:9 ; John 5:30 , 36 ; 6:38

XXIX == Ex 20:5 ; 32:34 ; Job 35:15 ; Isa 10:3 ; Jer 5:9

 

XXX == Job 31:3 ; Isa 28:21

 

 

 

 

XXXI == Deut 11:6 ; Ps 106:17

 

XXXII == Num 16:17 ; 26:11 ; 1st Chr 6:22 , 37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XXXV == Lev 10:2 ; Num 11:1 ; 16:17 ; Ps 106:18

 

 

XXXVII == Lev 27:28

 

 

XXXVIII == Prov 20:2 ; Ezek 14:8 ; Hab 2:10

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XL == Num 3:10 ; 2nd Chr 26:18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLII == Ex 40:34 ; Num 16:19 ; 20:6

 

 

 

 

 

 

XLV == Num 16:21-22 , 24 ; 20:6

 

 

XLVI == Lev 10:6 ; Num 1:53 ; 8:19 ; 11:33 ; 18:5 ; 1st Chr 27:24 ; Ps 106:29

 

 

 

 

 

1 Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, (and Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, son of Pallu, son of Reuben) took

2 two hundred and fifty Israelites who were leaders in the community, members of the council and men of note. They stood before Moses,

3 and held an assembly against Moses and Aaron, to whom they said, "Enough from you! The whole community, all of them, are holy; the LORD is in their midst. Why then should you set yourselves over the LORD'S congregation?"

4 When Moses heard this, he fell prostrate.

5 Then he said to Korah and to all his band, "May the LORD make known tomorrow morning who belongs to him and who is the holy one and whom he will have draw near to him! Whom he chooses, he will have draw near him.

6 Do this: take your censers (Korah and all his band)

7 and put fire in them and place incense in them before the LORD tomorrow. He whom the LORD then chooses is the holy one. Enough from you Levites!"

8 Moses also said to Korah, "Listen to me, you Levites!

9 Is it too little for you that the God of Israel has singled you out from the community of Israel, to have you draw near him for the service of the LORD'S Dwelling and to stand before the community to minister for them?

10 He has allowed you and your kinsmen, the descendants of Levi, to approach him, and yet you now seek the priesthood too.

11 It is therefore against the LORD that you and all your band are conspiring. For what has Aaron done that you should grumble against him?"

12 Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, but they answered, "We will not go.

13 Are you not satisfied with having led us here away from a land flowing with milk and honey, to make us perish in the desert, that you must now lord it over us?

14 Far from bringing us to a land flowing with milk and honey, or giving us fields and vineyards for our inheritance, will you also gouge out our eyes? No, we will not go."

15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, "Pay no heed to their offering. I have never taken a single ass from them, nor have I wronged any one of them."

16 Moses said to Korah, "You and all your band shall appear before the LORD tomorrow-you and they and Aaron too.

17 Then each of your two hundred and fifty followers shall take his own censer, put incense in it, and offer it to the LORD; and you and Aaron, each with his own censer, shall do the same."

18 So they all took their censers, and laying incense on the fire they had put in them, they took their stand by the entrance of the meeting tent along with Moses and Aaron.

19 Then, when Korah had assembled all his band against them at the entrance of the meeting tent, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire community,

20 and the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

21 "Stand apart from this band, that I may consume them at once."

22 But they fell prostrate and cried out, "O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will one man's sin make you angry with the whole community?"

23 The LORD answered Moses,

24 "Speak to the community and tell them: Withdraw from the space around the Dwelling" (of Korah, Dathan and Abiram).

25 Moses, followed by the elders of Israel, arose and went to Dathan and Abiram.

26 Then he warned the community, "Keep away from the tents of these wicked men and do not touch anything that is theirs: otherwise you too will be swept away because of all their sins."

27 When Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrances of their tents with their wives and sons and little ones,

28 Moses said, "This is how you shall know that it was the LORD who sent me to do all I have done, and that it was not I who planned it:

29 if these men die an ordinary death, merely suffering the fate common to all mankind, then it was not the LORD who sent me.

30 But if the LORD does something entirely new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them alive down into the nether world, with all belonging to them, then you will know that these men have defied the LORD."

31 No sooner had he finished saying all this than the ground beneath them split open,

32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their families (and all of Korah's men) and all their possessions.

33 They went down alive to the nether world with all belonging to them; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the community.

34 But all the Israelites near them fled at their shrieks, saying, "The earth might swallow us too!"

35 So they withdrew from the space around the Dwelling (of Korah, Dathan and Abiram). And fire from the LORD came forth which consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.

The Authority of Moses and Aaron Chalienged by Korah, Dathan and Abiram

v 1-3. Korah, a Levite and one of the descendants of Kohath was older than Aaron and reportedly rich, and though he had the best of service, the furnishings of the tabernacle and altar, became jealous and coveted the position of priest. The tribe of Reuben was camped near by, so Korah may have conspired with Dathan and Abiram that they were the oldest tribe and as a right of primogeniture they should be placed above Judah and Moses and Aaron. They became convinced that Moses was setting up himself and Aaron as dictators, even refusing to let the ark of God go into battle, resulting in Israel’s defeat. How ridiculous for all the people who had seen God’s judgment fall, and later, v 41, to blame their deaths and punishment on Moses and Aaron. They also influenced 250 prominent leaders of the people to join the rebellion. 

v 4-7. After all the other problems, this greatly disturbed Moses and he warned Korah that the Lord would show His will the next day. The test was to come by means of censers of fire presented to God, but warned that they were in error. 

v 8-11. Moses becomes more specific, telling Korah God had separated them into a special place of service, and warned him against also coveting the priesthood. The rebellion of Korah, Jude 11, was attempted intrusion into the priest’s office. He is also linked with Cain and Balaam in that verse.

v 12-14. Dathan and Abiram refused to come to take part in the demonstration, accusing Moses of making himself a prince over them, taking them out of a place of abundance and not leading into the land of promise. They suspected Moses would bring some punishment on those who came up, so they would just stay away.

v 15-17. Moses pleads his innocence before the Lord and asks Him to reject the rebels. The 250 leaders plus Korah and Aaron were to bring their censers of incense.

 

 

v 18,19. Korah not only got the 250 princes to come, but gathered the whole congregation to watch the showdown.

 

 

v 20-22. Just as He had in Ex. 32:10 and Num. 14:11,12, God threatens to destroy the entire congregation except Moses and Aaron, but they again intercede. 

 

 

v 23-27. Leading the elders of Israel, Moses went to Dathan and Abiram and warned the congregation to get completely away from those wicked men and Korah or be destroyed. Dathan and Abiram stood belligerently by their tents with their families.

 

 

 

 

v 28-30. Moses offered proof this would be from the Lord, not him, if the earth would open up and swallow the provocateurs and all they had.

 

 

 

v 31-33. Probably an earthquake caused the ground to open up and swallow up the men, their families, tents and everything they had, then closed over them. According to KJV, the pit, hell, as in Amos 9:2 and Hab. 2:5, or Sheol, is in the earth. It is not just the grave, but the place of sorrow to which the wicked go while waiting eternal judgment, and I have taught along that line for many years. However, that is an unfortunate translation, and should simply have been Sheol, the grave. These men had placed the blood over the door before leaving Egypt, and were redeemed men, so they could not have been sent to the place of torment. They died more spectacularly than the others who died in the wilderness, but like other redeemed people “could not enter in because of their unbelief”, Heb. 3:19. This was a “sin unto death”, 1 Jn. 5:16.
Comparing with Num. 26:11, the children of Korah did not die, and they are mentioned in 1 Chron. 6:22,23 and numerous times in Psalms. Some of his sons may have been grown and were not a party to his rebellion or had repented & separated.

v 34,35. Israel fled from the sound of the horrified cries so they too would not be swallowed up, but fire from the Lord consumed the 250 with censers. Eleazar obeyed Moses and picked up the bronze censers from among the charred corpses to make broad sheets with which they overlaid the brazen altar. This gave it more protection and was a warning against rebellion. The men had sinned, but the offering of incense to the Lord made the censers holy. The people were slow to learn, and the next day they all came and complained that Moses and Aaron had killed the people of the Lord. Again the Lord tells Moses and Aaron to separate from the people as in v 21, and again Moses and Aaron fall on their faces and intercede. At Moses’ command, Aaron takes a censer with fire from the altar, adds incense as a token of prayer, and runs between the living and the dead, stopping the plague from the Lord. Those who died before the plague stopped were 14,700.