Numbers 16:1-18 ▼

1 And Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, took both Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—the sons of Reuben,

2 and they rose up before the face of Moses with men of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown.

3 And they gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “It is too much upon yourselves! For all the congregation, everyone of them, is holy, and YHWH is in their midst. And why do you? exalt yourselves above the assembly of YHWH?”

4 And Moses heard it, and he fell on his face.

5 And he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, “In the morning YHWH will show who is unto Him and who is holy, and He will bring him near to Himself. And that one whom He chooses He will bring near to Himself.

6 Do this: Take to you? firepans, Korah and all your company,

7 and put fire in them and put incense in them before the face of YHWH tomorrow. And it shall be that the man whom YHWH chooses is the holy one. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”

8 And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, sons of Levi,

9 is 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 work of the tabernacle of YHWH and to stand before the face of the congregation to serve them?

10 And He has brought near to Himself you and all your brothers, the sons of Levi with you—and you? are seeking also the priesthood!

11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against YHWH! And Aaron, what is he that you? complain against him?”

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. And they said, “We will not come up!

13 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 should keep acting also a prince over us?

14 Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given to us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of those men? We will not come up!”

15 And Moses was very hot, and he said to YHWH, “Turn not to their offerings. Not one donkey from them have I taken, nor have I hurt one of them.”

16 And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company, be present before the face of YHWH, you and they and Aaron tomorrow,

17 and let each take his firepan and put incense in it, and each of you bring his firepan before the face of YHWH, two hundred and fifty firepans—and you and Aaron, each with his firepan.”

18 And every man took his firepan, and put in it fire, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.