The Holy Bible · Numbers

Numbers 16

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1Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, spoke, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, son of Reuben.

2They rose up before Moses, with two hundred fifty men of the Israelites, leaders of the congregation, members summoned to the council, men of renown.

3They banded together against Moses and Aaron and said, “Enough for you! The whole congregation, all of them, is holy, and the Lord is among them. Why do you rise up against the Lord’s congregation?”

4When Moses heard, he fell on his face.

5He said to Korah and all his congregation, “God has looked upon and known those who are His and those who are holy, and has brought them near to Himself. Those He chose for Himself He brought near to Himself.

6Do this: take fire pans for yourselves, Korah and all his congregation.

7Put fire on them and place incense on them before the Lord tomorrow. The man the Lord chooses shall be holy. Let that suffice for you, sons of Levi!”

8Moses said to Korah, “Listen to me, sons of Levi.

9Is this too little for you, that the God of Israel distinguished you from Israel’s congregation and brought you near to Himself to perform the ministries of the Lord’s tent and stand before the congregation to serve them?

10He brought you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you. Do you seek to serve as priests?

11Thus you and all your congregation have gathered against God. As for Aaron, who is he, that you grumble against him?”

12Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up.

13Is it too little that you brought us up from a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you rule over us as a ruler?

14Even if you had brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey and given us an allotment of land and vineyards, you would have gouged out those men’s eyes. We will not come up!”

15Moses was deeply distressed and said to the Lord, “Do not attend to their sacrifice. I have taken no desirable possession from any of them, nor have I harmed any of them.”

16Moses said to Korah, “Consecrate your congregation, and be ready before the Lord tomorrow—you, they, and Aaron.

17Each of you shall take his fire pan and place incense on it; each shall present his fire pan before the Lord, two hundred fifty fire pans. You and Aaron shall each bring his fire pan.”

18Each took his fire pan, put fire on it, and placed incense on it. Moses and Aaron stood beside the entrances of the Tent of Testimony.

19Korah gathered all his congregation against them beside the entrance of the Tent of Testimony, and the Lord’s glory appeared to the whole congregation.

20The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

21“Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and I will consume them all at once.”

22They fell on their faces and said, “O God, God of the spirits and of all flesh, if one man sinned, will the Lord’s anger be against the whole congregation?”

23The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

24“Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Withdraw all around from Korah’s congregation.’”

25Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and all the elders of Israel went with him.

26He said to the congregation, “Separate yourselves from the tents of these stubborn men. Touch none of their possessions, lest you perish with them in all their sin.”

27They withdrew from around Korah’s tent. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood beside the entrances of their tents, with their wives, their children, and their baggage.

28Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord sent me to do all these deeds, and that they did not come from myself.

29If these men die the death of all people, and a visitation comes upon them according to the visitation of all people, then the Lord has not sent me.

30But if the Lord displays a portent, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, their households, their tents, and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to Hades, then you shall know that these men have provoked the Lord.”

31As he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split apart.

32The earth opened and swallowed them, their households, all the people who were with Korah, and their livestock.

33They and all that belonged to them went down alive to Hades; the earth covered them, and they perished from the midst of the congregation.

34All Israel around them fled at their cry, saying, “Lest the earth swallow us!”

35Fire went out from the Lord and consumed the two hundred fifty men presenting the incense.

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Read this chapter with the Hebrew and Greek compared →

Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · working draft awaiting specialist review.