Numbers 16:1-22 ▼

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, started a faction;

2 And they rose up before Moses with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty chiefs of the assembly, who at that time were men of renown;

3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, Is it not enough for you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them; wherefore then do you lift up yourselves above the whole congregation of the LORD?

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

5 And he spoke to Korah and to all his company and said to them, In the morning the LORD will show who are his, and who are holy; and he will cause them to come near to him; and those whom he has chosen will he cause to come near to him.

6 This do: Take for yourselves censers, you Korah, and all your company;

7 And put fire into them, and put incense into them before the LORD tomorrow; and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses, he shall be holy; this is enough for you, O you sons of Levi.

8 And Moses said to Korah, Hear again, O you sons of Levi;

9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the whole congregation of Israel and brought you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

10 And he has brought you near to him, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you; and do you seek the priesthood also?

11 Therefore both you and all your company gather yourselves together before the LORD tomorrow; and what is Aaron, that you should murmur against him?

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

13 Is it not enough for you that you have brought us out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but that you should also make yourselves princes over us?

14 Moreover you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards; even if you should put out our eyes, we will not come up.

15 And Moses was greatly displeased, and said to the LORD, Respect not thou their offerings, because I have not taken an ass from one of them, neither have I hurt one of them.

16 And Moses said to Korah, Present yourselves, you and all your company before the LORD, you and they and Aaron, tomorrow;

17 And take every man his censer, and put fire into it, and put incense into it, and bring before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; you also and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18 So they took every man his censer, and put fire into it, and laid incense upon it, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

21 Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, that I may destroy 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 shall the wrath come upon all the congregation?