Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Korah, son of Izhar, Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, along with On, son of Peleth, began a rebellion against Moses, taking men from their families to join them. They rose up before Moses, accompanied by two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. The group gathered against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You're taking too much on yourselves, since all the congregation are holy, with God among them; why then do you elevate yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"

Moses fell upon his face when he heard it, but instead of giving in to their demands, he called Korah and his company together. Tomorrow, the Lord would show who were his and who is holy, and bring near him whom he had chosen. Moses instructed them to take censers, put fire in them, and incense before the Lord tomorrow; it would be that the man whom the Lord chose would be holy.

The sons of Levi were specifically addressed by Moses: "Is it but a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord?" They had been given a unique privilege, not shared with all the Levites.

Moses also reminded them of the role they were playing in serving the congregation and ministering to them. "You have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness," Dathan and Abiram said when Moses sent for them, "except you also make yourself a prince over us." They felt that their sacrifices had not been rewarded with the promised inheritance.

Moses was extremely angry and told the Lord not to accept their offering, as he had taken nothing from them and harmed none of them. The next day, Korah and his company stood before the Lord with their censers, along with Moses and Aaron. A fire came out from the Lord's presence, consuming the two hundred and fifty men who had offered incense.

The glory of the Lord appeared to all the people at the entrance of the tabernacle as Korah gathered all the congregation against them. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, so I may consume them in a moment." However, God considered whether one man's sin should bring judgment on the entire community.

The Lord told Moses, "Depart from before me" and speak to the congregation, instructing them to get up from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. If these men died like all other people, then the Lord had not sent Moses. But if the earth swallowed them up with their households and possessions, it would be clear that they had provoked God.

As Moses finished speaking, the ground split open beneath them, swallowing up Korah's group, along with their families and belongings. The earth closed in on them, and they perished from among the congregation. Everyone who was around them fled at their cry, fearing for their own lives as well.

A fire came out of the Lord to consume the men who had offered incense. The Lord spoke to Moses again, instructing him to tell Eleazar, Aaron's son who was a priest, to take up the censers from among the burning and scatter the fire elsewhere because they were holy.

Eleazar fashioned the censers into broad plates to cover the altar, which would serve as a lasting reminder that no outsider not from Aaron's family line could come near to offer incense before the Lord. However, on the next day, all the congregation of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have brought death to the people of the Lord."

The cloud covered the tabernacle of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord appeared as the congregation gathered against Moses and Aaron. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Get up from among this congregation, that I may consume them in an instant." Moses told Aaron to take a censer, put fire from the altar in it, add incense, and quickly go among the people to make atonement for them.

Aaron took incense and ran into the midst of the congregation, where he saw that the plague had begun. He made atonement for the people, standing between the dead and the living until the plague was stayed. Fourteen thousand seven hundred died in the plague, apart from those who perished because of Korah.

Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tabernacle, and the plague was stopped.