The revolt of Korah

(Numb 16:1) Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:

(Numb 16:2) And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

- Dathan, Abiram and On were of Reuben (but we read about On once only. It is possible he left them).

Who were 250 peoples? They were ''princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown''.

(Numb 16:3) And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you, seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

When did this revolt appear? After that when 12 people explored the land of Canaan and later 10 of them had doubts (all of them were leaders of Jewish people):

(Numb 13:31) But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they [are] stronger than we.

(Numb 13:32) And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, [is] a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it [are] men of a great stature.

(Numb 13:33) And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

(Numb 14:34) After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, [even] forty days, each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, [even] forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.

(Numb 14:37) Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD.

(Numb 16:5) And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew who [are] his, and [who is] holy; and will cause [him] to come near unto him: even [him] whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near unto him.

(Numb 16:7) And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the LORD to morrow: and it shall be [that] the man whom the LORD doth choose, he [shall be] holy: [ye take] too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.

(Numb 16:9) [Seemeth it but] a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?

(Numb 16:10) And he hath brought thee near [to him], and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?

(Numb 16:11) For which cause [both] thou and all thy company [are] gathered together against the LORD: and what [is] Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

(Numb 16:12) And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

(Numb 16:13) [Is it] a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?

(Numb 16:14) Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

We see Levites aimed at the priesthood. Dathan and Abiram climbed to power. Although they were of the different tribers and had the different aims they united one with another during the revolt.

(Numb 16:24) Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

(Numb 16:25) And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

(Numb 16:26) And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

(Numb 16:27) So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

(Numb 16:28) And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of mine own mind.

(Numb 16:29) If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; [then] the LORD hath not sent me.

(Numb 16:30) But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.

(Numb 16:31) And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was] under them:

(Numb 16:32) And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that [appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods.

(Numb 16:33) They, and all that [appertained] to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.

(Numb 16:34) And all Israel that [were] round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up [also].

(Numb 16:35) And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

(Numb 16:41) But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the people of the LORD.

The mutineers perished but a rebellious spirit worked through people. After that ''wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun'' (verse 46), Moshe asks Aharon to protect people.

(Numb 16:47) And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.

(Numb 16:48) And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

(Numb 16:49) Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.

(Numb 16:50) And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

(Numb 17:2) Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of [their] fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod.

(Numb 17:3) And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod [shall be] for the head of the house of their fathers.

(Numb 17:4) And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.

(Numb 17:5) And it shall come to pass, [that] the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.

(Numb 17:6) And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, [even] twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron [was] among their rods.

(Numb 17:7) And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

(Numb 17:8) And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

(Numb 17:9) And Moses brought out all the rods from before the LORD unto all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

(Numb 17:10) And the LORD said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels; and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not.

(Numb 17:12) And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.

(Numb 17:13) Whosoever cometh any thing near unto the tabernacle of the LORD shall die: shall we be consumed with dying?

What conclusions can we draw? Some believers can climb to power. It can result in a revolt in the congregation or church. We see too people who have the different aims they can unite one with another during the revolt.

"The intent of this biblical tradition is clear - to underline in the strongest terms the political and spiritual supremacy of the priests, and their successors, who were shown to have unequivocal divine sanction. A rebellion against them and Moses as their leader was in fact a rebellion against God. Those who demurred were therefore exposed to divine wrath, which was demonstrably severe in behalf of His servant." (http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/What_is_the_Torah/numbers/Korah.htm)

''The rabbis describe Korach's revolt, "Shelo L'sheym Shamayim" (not for the sake of Heaven). They did not hesitate to condemn the controversy, which brought so much harm to all concerned. On the other hand the Talmud is filled with argument and debate to search for the truth to arrive at what is peaceful and best for the community.'' (http://www.bethisrael-maine.org/newsletter_2004_07.shtml)

(Matt 20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

(1Peter 5:5) Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.