Numbers 16: Korah, Dathan and Abiram rise against Moses and Aaron
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Korah the Levite, with Dathan, Abiram and On of the tribe of Reuben and 250 leaders, rises against Moses and Aaron, saying the whole community is holy. Moses sets a test with censers of incense before Yahweh, and Dathan and Abiram refuse to come. The ground opens and swallows Dathan, Abiram, their households and Korah's people, and fire from Yahweh burns up the 250 men who offered the incense. The next day the people blame Moses and Aaron, a plague begins, and Aaron stands with his incense between the dead and the living until it stops.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story, and many people speak. God's own words are in 5 of the 50 verses: what he says to Moses and Aaron in verse 21, and to Moses in verses 24, 37, 38 and 45. Korah's group speaks in verse 3, Dathan and Abiram in verses 12 to 14, and the people in verses 34 and 41. Moses speaks in verses 5 to 11, 16 and 17, 26, 28 to 30 and 46. In verse 15 Moses speaks to Yahweh, and in verse 22 "they", after Yahweh has spoken to Moses and Aaron, plead with God. Those are their words, not God's. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took some men.
In plain English: Now Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, who were of the tribe of Reuben, took men (the Hebrew says only "took").
The Hebrew word: "Took" is laqach, the everyday word for "to take".
How it is translated: The Hebrew begins "Korah took", but it does not say what he took. This Bible adds "some men". Other Bibles say "Korah took action" or "Korah dared".
Good to know: Korah was a close relative of Moses and Aaron. His father Izhar was a brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron (, and ). As sons of Kohath, Korah's family carried the holy things but were not to touch them (). Dathan, Abiram and On were from the tribe of Reuben.
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2They rose up before Moses, with some of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown.
In plain English: They rose up before (or: against) Moses, with 250 men of the Israelites, leaders of the community, chosen for the assembly, well-known men (literally: men of name).
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3They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them! Why do you lift yourselves up above Yahweh’s assembly?”
In plain English: They gathered against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far (literally: enough for you)! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and Yahweh is among them. So why do you set yourselves above Yahweh's assembly?"
The Hebrew words: "You take too much on yourself" is rav lakhem, literally "much for you" or "enough for you". Moses throws the same words back at them in : "You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!"
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4When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.
In plain English: When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.
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5He said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning, Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, he will cause to come near to him.
In plain English: He said to Korah and all his group, "In the morning Yahweh will show who is his, and who is holy, and he will let that one come near to him. The one he chooses, he will bring near to himself.
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6Do this: have Korah and all his company take censers,
In plain English: Do this: Korah, you and all your group, take censers (pans for hot coals),
The Hebrew word: "Censers" is machtah, which the dictionary gives as "a pan for live coals".
How it is translated: This Bible says "censer" or "censers" in 9 of the 19 verses that use the word. For the tools of the bronze altar it says "fire pans" ().
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7put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. It shall be that the man whom Yahweh chooses, he shall be holy. You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!”
In plain English: put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. The man Yahweh chooses is the one who is holy. You have gone too far (literally: enough for you), you sons of Levi!"
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8Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi!
In plain English: Moses said to Korah, "Listen, you sons of Levi!
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9Is it 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 Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;
In plain English: Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the work of Yahweh's tabernacle, and to stand before the community and serve them?
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10and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?
In plain English: He has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you. And now you want the priesthood too?
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11Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh! What is Aaron that you complain against him?”
In plain English: So it is against Yahweh that you and all your group have gathered! And Aaron, who is he, that you complain against him?"
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12Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, “We won’t come up!
In plain English: Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up!
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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, but you must also make yourself a prince over us?
In plain English: Is 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 must also make yourself a ruler over us?
Good to know: "A land flowing with milk and honey" are the words Yahweh used for the land he promised (). Here Dathan and Abiram use them for Egypt.
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14Moreover you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We won’t come up.”
In plain English: And you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us fields and vineyards to own. Will you put out (or: blind; literally: bore out) the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"
The Hebrew word: "Put out" is naqar, which the dictionary gives as "to bore".
What changes: Read word for word, they ask whether Moses will gouge out the men's eyes. Read as a saying, they ask whether he will blind them, that is, fool them so they do not see what is happening.
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15Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”
In plain English: Moses was very angry, and he said to Yahweh, "Do not accept (literally: turn to) their offering. I have not taken a single donkey from them, and I have not harmed any one of them."
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16Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company go before Yahweh, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.
In plain English: Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your group are to be before Yahweh: you, they, and Aaron.
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17Each man take his censer and put incense on it, and each man bring before Yahweh his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each with his censer.”
In plain English: Each man is to take his censer and put incense on it, and each man is to bring his censer before Yahweh, 250 censers. You and Aaron too, each with his censer."
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18They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.
In plain English: So each man took his censer, put fire in it and laid incense on it, and they stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.
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19Korah assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Tent of Meeting. Yahweh’s glory appeared to all the congregation.
In plain English: Korah gathered the whole community against (or: opposite) them at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then Yahweh's glory appeared to the whole community.
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20Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,
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21“Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”God speaks
In plain English: "Separate yourselves from this community, so that I may destroy (literally: finish) them in a moment!"
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22They 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 all the congregation?”
In plain English: They fell on their faces and said, "God, the God of the spirits of all people (literally: all flesh), if one man sins, will you be angry with the whole community?"
Good to know: "The God of the spirits of all flesh" comes again in the Bible only in , where Moses asks Yahweh to choose a leader after him.
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23Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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24“Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!’”God speaks
In plain English: "Speak to the community and say, 'Get away from around the tent (or: dwelling) of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!'"
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25Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
In plain English: Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.
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26He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!”
In plain English: He said to the community, "Please move away from the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that is theirs, or you will be swept away in all their sins!"
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27So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
In plain English: So they moved away from all around the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little children.
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28Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind.
In plain English: Moses said, "This is how you will know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these things, and that it is not my own idea (literally: not from my own heart).
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29If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then Yahweh hasn’t sent me.
In plain English: If these men die the way all people die, or if what comes to all people comes to them, then Yahweh has not sent me.
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30But if Yahweh makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.”
In plain English: But if Yahweh does something new (literally: creates a creation), and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them with everything they have, and they go down alive into Sheol (the world of the dead), then you will know that these men have scorned (or: despised) Yahweh."
The Hebrew words: "Makes a new thing" is literally "creates a creation". The word for "create" is bara, the word for "created" in . The word for the thing created, beriah, is in this one verse only in the whole Bible. "Sheol" is sheol, which the dictionary gives as "Hades or the world of the dead".
How it is translated: This Bible keeps the word "Sheol" in 63 of the 64 verses that use it. Older Bibles say "the pit", "the grave" or "hell".
What changes: Read as "the grave", the men go down alive into the ground. Read as "the world of the dead", they go down alive to the place of the dead. The text does not say more about Sheol here.
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31As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart.
In plain English: As soon as he finished saying all these words, the ground under them split open.
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32The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.
In plain English: The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah's people, and all their goods.
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33So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.
In plain English: So they and all that was theirs went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.
Good to know: and tell this again, and add that "the sons of Korah didn't die". Several psalms are headed "by the sons of Korah", such as . remembers the earth swallowing Dathan and covering "the company of Abiram".
Church tradition: Jewish teaching holds up Korah's quarrel as the example of an argument not made for the sake of heaven. names people who "perished in Korah's rebellion" as a warning. The text here tells what happened and does not explain it further.
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34All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
In plain English: All Israel around them ran away at their cry, for they said, "The earth might swallow us too!"
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35Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
In plain English: Fire came out from Yahweh and burned up the 250 men who were offering the incense.
Good to know: Nearly the same words, fire "came out from" Yahweh and "devoured" them, are used of Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu in , where the fire comes "from before Yahweh". They too had put fire and incense in their censers ().
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36Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Good to know: In the Hebrew Bible, verses 36 to 50 of this chapter are the first 15 verses of chapter 17. This page follows the numbering of most English Bibles.
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37“Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire away from the camp; for they are holy,God speaks
In plain English: "Tell Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, to take the censers out of the burning (or: from among the burned men) and scatter the fire far away (this Bible: away from the camp), for they are holy,
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38even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before Yahweh. Therefore they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”God speaks
In plain English: the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their own lives (this Bible: against their own lives). Have them hammered into thin plates as a covering for the altar, for they were offered before Yahweh, and so they are holy. They will be a sign to the Israelites."
The Hebrew words: "Who sinned against their own lives" is in the Hebrew "the sinners in (or: by) their lives". The word for lives is nefesh, life or self.
What changes: Read as "at the cost of their lives", the men's sin led to their death. Read as "against their own lives", their sin was a wrong done against themselves.
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39Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which those who were burned had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,
In plain English: So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that the men who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,
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40to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Yahweh, that he not be as Korah and as his company; as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.
In plain English: to be a reminder to the Israelites that no outsider who is not a descendant of Aaron is to come near to burn incense before Yahweh, so that he will not be like Korah and his group. This was as Yahweh had told him through Moses.
The Hebrew word: "Stranger" is zur, here someone who is not of Aaron's family, an outsider to the priesthood, not a foreigner. already says "the stranger who comes near shall be put to death".
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41But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed Yahweh’s people!”
In plain English: But the next day the whole community of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron, saying, "You have killed Yahweh's people!"
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42When the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the Tent of Meeting. Behold, the cloud covered it, and Yahweh’s glory appeared.
In plain English: When the community had gathered against Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tent of Meeting, and the cloud covered it, and Yahweh's glory appeared.
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43Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
In plain English: Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
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44Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
In plain English: Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
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45“Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.God speaks
In plain English: "Get away from this community, so that I may destroy them in a moment!" And they fell on their faces.
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46Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, lay incense on it, carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Yahweh! The plague has begun.”
In plain English: Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, and lay incense on it. Take it quickly to the community and make atonement for them, because anger has gone out from Yahweh! The plague has begun."
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47Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.
In plain English: Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense and made atonement for the people.
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48He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
In plain English: He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was held back.
The Hebrew words: "Was stayed" is atsar, which the dictionary gives as "to inclose; by analogy, to hold back". "The plague" is maggephah, "a pestilence".
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49Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, in addition to those who died about the matter of Korah.
In plain English: Those who died in the plague were 14,700, besides those who died because of Korah.
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50Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stopped.
In plain English: Aaron went back to Moses at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague had stopped.
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