Korah’s Rebellion
1Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, together with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, took men 2and rose up before Moses, along with two hundred and fifty men from the Israelites, leaders of the congregation, chosen members of the assembly, men of renown. 3They assembled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?” 4When Moses heard this, he fell on his face. 5Then he spoke to Korah and all his company. He said, “In the morning Yahweh will show who belongs to him, and who is holy, and he will bring that one near to himself. Whoever he chooses he will bring near to himself. 6Do this: take censers, Korah and all your company, 7put fire in them, and place incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. Then the man Yahweh chooses will be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!” 8Moses also said to Korah, “Hear now, sons of Levi. 9Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the congregation of Israel, bringing you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh and to stand before the congregation and minister to them? 10He has brought you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you — and now you seek the priesthood as well! 11Therefore it is against Yahweh that you and all your company have conspired. As for Aaron, who is he, that you grumble against him?”
Dathan and Abiram Defy Moses
12Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up. 13Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also lord it over us? 14Besides, you have not 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? We will not come up.” 15Moses was very angry, and he said to Yahweh, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any one of them.” 16Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company, be present before Yahweh tomorrow — you, they, and Aaron. 17Each of you take his censer, put incense on it, and each bring his censer before Yahweh — two hundred and fifty censers. You and Aaron shall also each bring your censer.” 18So each man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. 19Then Korah assembled the whole congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to the whole congregation.
Separation from the Congregation
20Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, 21“Separate yourselves from this congregation, so that I may consume them in an instant.” 22But they fell on their faces and said, “God, God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will you be angry with the whole congregation?” 23Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, 24“Speak to the congregation: Move away from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” 25Then Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26He said to the congregation, “Move away, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you will be swept away in all their sin.” 27So they moved away from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
The Earth Swallows the Rebels
28Moses said, “By this you will know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these deeds, and that they are not of my own devising: 29if these men die a natural death, as all people do, or if they suffer the fate common to all mankind, then Yahweh has not sent me. 30But if Yahweh brings about something totally new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised Yahweh.” 31As soon as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split apart. 32The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with their households, and all Korah’s people, and all their possessions. 33They went down alive into Sheol, they and all that belonged to them; the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34All the Israelites who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “The earth might swallow us too!” 35And fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were presenting the incense.
