Numbers 16 The Rebellion of Korah

1 Korah, Dathan and Abiram
Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent

2 and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

3 They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”

4 When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.

5 Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him.

6 You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers

7 and tomorrow put fire and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”

8 Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites!

9 Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?

10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.

11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!

13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert? And now you also want to lord it over us?

14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”

15 Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.

17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.”

18 So each man took his censer, put fire and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly.

20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron,

21 “Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, God of the spirits of all mankind, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”

23 Then the Lord said to Moses,

24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

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

26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.”

27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea:

29 If these men die a natural death and experience only what usually happens to men, then the Lord has not sent me.

30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart

32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households and all Korah’s men and all their possessions.

33 They went down alive into the grave, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community.

34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.

36 The Lord said to Moses,

37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to take the censers out of the smoldering remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy—

38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned up, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar,

40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers.

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the Tent of Meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared.

43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the Tent of Meeting,

44 and the Lord said to Moses,

45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with fire from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.”

47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them.

48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.

49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.

50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.

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Analysis of Numbers Chapter 16

Numbers Chapter 16 narrates the infamous rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. This chapter is rich with themes of divine authority, judgment, and the sanctity of God’s ordained leadership. A detailed analysis of this chapter reveals deep insights into the nature of rebellion, the consequences of challenging divine order, and the proper response to divine authority.

Verses 1-3: The Rebellion

The chapter opens with the introduction of the main characters of the rebellion: Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with 250 leaders of the congregation. Korah, Described as a descendant of Levi, questions the exclusive priestly leadership of Moses and Aaron by arguing that the entire congregation is holy and capable of leadership.

“They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, ‘You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?'” (Numbers 16:3)

Korah’s challenge is multifaceted. It questions the exclusive nature of the priesthood, implying that all Israelites have equal access to God, and it subtly challenges the hierarchical structure established by divine mandate through Moses. The underlying issue isn’t merely a political or social disagreement but a theological one concerning the nature of chosenness and divine appointment.

Verses 4-11: Moses’ Response

Moses’s initial reaction is to fall facedown, demonstrating humility and the gravity of the accusation. He proposes a test to determine whom God chooses, signaling that the true priesthood is not something to be usurped but divinely ordained:

“In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy…” (Numbers 16:5)

Moses then addresses the Levites’ special role, reminding Korah and his followers that they already have a significant status among the Israelites. The fact that they seek the priesthood suggests an underlying dissatisfaction and a desire for power that overlooks their current sacred duties.

Verses 12-14: Dathan and Abiram’s Defiance

Dathan and Abiram refuse to come when summoned, expressing their discontent toward Moses’ leadership in no uncertain terms:

“Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in this wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us!” (Numbers 16:13)

Their complaint is not only against Moses but against God’s plan for Israel. By referring to Egypt ironically as a land of plenty, they downplay the divine deliverance from slavery and question the promise of the Promised Land.

Verses 15-22: The Test and Moses’ Intercession

Moses is clearly distressed by these accusations and makes it known that he has not exploited his position. He reiterates the divine origin of his leadership and invites the rebels to present themselves and their censers before the Lord. This test will reveal God’s choice. Here, Moses’ faith in God’s authoritative choice is clear, and his intercession on behalf of the people demonstrates his pastoral care despite their rebellion:

“Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, ‘Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.'” (Numbers 16:15)

God commands Moses and Aaron to isolate themselves from the assembly as He prepares to unleash His wrath. However, Moses and Aaron plead for mercy, illustrating their deep concern for the people’s welfare despite the rebellion:

“O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?” (Numbers 16:22)

Verses 23-35: Divine Judgment

The climax of the chapter comes with the dramatic judgment. As Moses pronounces, the earth opens up and swallows Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, along with their households and possessions. This cataclysmic event serves as a powerful endorsement of Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership, clearly painting rebellion against divine authority as fatal:

“If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.” (Numbers 16:29-30)

This judgment unmistakably signifies divine intervention, showing that God’s chosen leaders are not to be questioned lightly. The fire that consumes the 250 men offering incense further underscores that not all are called to the priestly office, despite personal aspirations.

Verses 36-40: The Aftermath and Memorial

Post-judgment, God instructs Moses to have the censers of the rebellious group made into a bronze covering for the altar, serving as a perpetual reminder of the sanctity of the priesthood and a warning against unauthorized persons usurping this holy office:

“The censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives; hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.” (Numbers 16:38)

This memorial ensures that the lesson of Korah’s rebellion remains fresh in the communal memory, underlining the sanctity and divine election associated with the priesthood.

Verses 41-50: Continued Rebellion and Moses’ Intercession

Despite the clear and dramatic signs of divine support for Moses and Aaron, the following day the entire congregation grumbles against them, accusing them of killing the Lord’s people. This act of rebellion triggers a deadly plague as divine judgment:

“Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.'” (Numbers 16:46)

Aaron’s intercession, in line with his priestly role, halts the plague, illustrating the mediating role of the priesthood and the efficacious nature of intercession. This act underscores the necessity of respecting God’s appointed leaders, whose intervention can bring about divine mercy.

Theological and Practical Implications

Numbers Chapter 16 is a sobering reminder of the gravity of challenging divine authority. Several key themes and lessons emerge:

Divine Authority: The chapter underscores that leadership and roles within the community of faith are divinely appointed. Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron was a rebellion against God’s established order.
The Danger of Ambition: Korah, Dathan, and Abiram’s desire for power led them to overlook the sacred roles already entrusted to them, leading to catastrophic consequences.
Intercession: Moses and Aaron’s intercessory actions highlight the importance of leadership marked by humility and a deep concern for the welfare of the people, even in the face of rebellion.
Judgment and Mercy: The immediate and severe judgment of the rebels contrasts with the merciful intervention through intercession, demonstrating God’s justice tempered by mercy.
Memorials: The repurposed censers serve as a tangible reminder of the sanctity of the priesthood and the dire consequences of overstepping divinely appointed boundaries.

Numbers Chapter 16 calls modern readers to reflect on their respect for divinely appointed leadership and the importance of humility, reminding them that true greatness lies in serving within the roles God has assigned.

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Understanding the Key Messages in Numbers 16: Insights and Explanation

Chapter 16 of Numbers narrates the rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron. They challenge the authority and priesthood of Moses and are judged by God. The chapter demonstrates the consequences of rebellion and the importance of obedience to God's chosen leaders.

Notes

This chapter serves as a cautionary tale against challenging God-appointed leadership and promotes the principle of submission. It also emphasizes God's sovereign authority over His chosen servants.