Numbers 16

1Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men,

2and rose up before Moses, with two hundred fifty men from the sons of Israel, leaders of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown.

3They assembled against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all the congregation—all of them—are holy, and Yahweh is among them. So why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Yahweh?”

4When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.

5And he spoke to Korah and to all his congregation, saying, “In the morning Yahweh will make known who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to himself. The one whom he chooses, he will bring near to himself.”

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

7and put fire in them, and place incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. Then the man whom Yahweh chooses—he is the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!

8Then Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi.”

9Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to serve in the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

10He has brought you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you; yet you are seeking the priesthood as well.

11Therefore, you and all your company who have assembled against Yahweh—and Aaron, what is he, that you grumble against him?

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

13Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you should also make yourself a ruler over us?

14Indeed, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor have you given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.

15Then Moses became very angry and said to Yahweh, “Do not turn toward their offering. I have not taken a single donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them.”

16And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your congregation, be before Yahweh tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.”

17And let each man take his firepan, and put incense on them, and bring before Yahweh each man his firepan—two hundred and fifty firepans—and you and Aaron, each his firepan.

18So each man took his firepan, and they put fire in them and put incense on them, and they stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting, with Moses and Aaron.

19And Korah assembled the whole congregation against them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to the whole congregation.

20And Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

21Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in an instant.

22Then they fell on their faces and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with the whole congregation?”

23Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

24Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Go up from around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.’

25Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel went after him.

26And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Please move away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that belongs to them, lest you be swept away in all their sins.”

27So they moved away from around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out, standing at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, their sons, and their little children.

28And Moses said, “By this you will know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these deeds, for it was not from my own heart.”

29If these men die the death of all mankind, and the fate of all mankind is visited on them, then Yahweh has not sent me.

30But if Yahweh creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and all that belongs to them, and they go down alive to Sheol, then you will know that these men have despised Yahweh.

31And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open.

32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, all the people who belonged to Korah, and all their possessions.

33So they went down alive into Sheol—they and all that belonged to them—and the earth covered them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.

34And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”

35And fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.