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16 Now 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. They 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. They 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?”

When Moses heard it, he fell on his face. He 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. Do this: have Korah and all his company take censers, put 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!”

Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi! 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 service of Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them; 10 and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh! What is Aaron that you complain against him?”

12 Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, “We won’t 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, but you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover 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.”

15 Moses 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.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company go before Yahweh, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 Each 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.”

18 They 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. 19 Korah assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Tent of Meeting.

Yahweh’s glory appeared to all the congregation. 20 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”

22 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 all the congregation?”

23 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!’”

25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He 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!”

27 So 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.

28 Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then Yahweh hasn’t sent me. 30 But 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,[a] then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.”

31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol.[b] The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35 Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

36 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 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, 38 even 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.”

39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which those who were burned had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 40 to 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.

41 But 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!”

42 When 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. 43 Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting. 44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.

46 Moses 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.”

47 Aaron 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. 48 He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. 49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, in addition to those who died about the matter of Korah. 50 Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stopped.

Footnotes

  1. 16:30 Sheol is the place of the dead.
  2. 16:33 Sheol is the place of the dead.

Si Kore ay naghimagsik laban kay Moises at laban kay Aaron.

16 Si (A)Core nga na anak ni Ishar, na anak ni Coath, na anak ni Levi sangpu ni Dathan at ni Abiram na mga anak ni Eliab, at si Hon na anak ni Peleth, na mga anak ni Ruben, ay nagsikuha ng mga tao:

At sila'y tumindig sa harap ni Moises, na kasama ng ilang mga anak ni Israel, na dalawang daan at limang pung (B)prinsipe sa kapisanan na tinawag sa kapulungan na mga lalaking bantog:

(C)At sila'y nagpupulong laban kay Moises at laban kay Aaron, at sinabi nila sa kanila, Kayo'y kumukuha ng malabis sa inyo, dangang ang buong kapisanan ay (D)banal, bawa't isa sa kanila, (E)at ang Panginoon ay nasa gitna nila: bakit nga kayo'y magmamataas sa kapisanan ng Panginoon?

At nang marinig ni Moises, ay (F)nagpatirapa.

At sinalita niya kay Core at sa kaniyang buong pulutong, na sinasabi, Sa kinaumagahan ay ipakikilala ng Panginoon kung sino ang kaniya, at kung sino ang banal, at kung sino ang palalapitin niya sa kaniya: sa makatuwid baga'y ang (G)piliin ay siyang kaniyang (H)palalapitin sa kaniya.

Ito'y inyong gawin; kumuha kayo ng mga (I)suuban, si Core at ang kaniyang buong pulutong;

At lagyan ninyo ng apoy at patungan ninyo ng kamangyan bukas sa harap ng Panginoon: at mangyayari na ang tao na piliin ng Panginoon, ay siyang banal: kayo'y kumukuha ng malabis sa inyo, kayong mga anak ni Levi.

At sinabi ni Moises kay Core, Dinggin ninyo ngayon, kayong mga anak ni Levi:

(J)Minumunting bagay pa ba ninyo na kayo'y ibinukod ng Dios ng Israel sa kapisanan ng Israel, upang ilapit niya kayo sa kaniya, upang gawin ninyo ang paglilingkod sa tabernakulo ng Panginoon, at upang kayo'y tumayo sa harap ng kapisanan na mangasiwa sa kanila;

10 At inilapit ka niya sangpu ng lahat ng iyong mga kapatid na mga anak ni Levi? at hangarin din naman ninyo ang pagkasaserdote?

11 Kaya't ikaw at ang iyong buong pulutong ay napipisan laban sa Panginoon: at si (K)Aaron, ano nga't siya'y inyong inupasala?

12 At ipinatawag ni Moises si Dathan at si Abiram, na mga anak ni Eliab: at kanilang sinabi, Hindi kami sasampa:

13 Munting bagay pa ba na kami ay iyong pinasampa sa isang lupain na (L)binubukalan ng gatas at pulot, upang kami ay patayin sa ilang, kundi (M)napapanginoon ka pa mandin sa amin?

14 Bukod dito'y hindi mo kami dinala sa isang lupain na binubukalan ng gatas at pulot, ni binigyan mo kami ng manang bukid at mga ubasan: dudukitin mo ba ang mga mata ng mga taong ito? hindi kami sasampa.

15 At si Moises ay naginit na mainam, at sinabi sa Panginoon, (N)Huwag mong pagpitaganan ang kanilang handog: (O)ako'y hindi kumuha ng isang asno sa kanila ni gumawa ng masama sa kanino man sa kanila.

16 At sinabi ni Moises kay Core, Humarap ka at ang iyong buong kapisanan sa Panginoon, ikaw, at sila, at si Aaron, (P)bukas:

17 At kumuha ang bawa't isa ng kaniyang suuban, at lagyan ninyo ng kamangyan, at dalhin ninyo sa harap ng Panginoon, na bawa't isa'y magdala ng kaniyang suuban, na dalawang daan at limang pung suuban; ikaw naman at si Aaron, bawa't isa sa inyo'y may kaniyang suuban.

18 At kinuha ng bawa't isa ang kaniyang suuban, at kanilang nilagyan ng apoy at kanilang pinatungan ng kamangyan, at sila'y tumayo sa pintuan ng tabernakulo ng kapisanan na kasama ni Moises at ni Aaron.

19 At pinisan ni Core ang buong kapisanan laban sa kanila sa pintuan ng tabernakulo ng kapisanan: at ang (Q)kaluwalhatian ng Panginoon ay lumitaw sa buong kapisanan.

Pinarusahan ang manghihimagsik.

20 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises at kay Aaron, na sinasabi,

21 (R)Humiwalay kayo sa gitna ng kapisanang ito, upang aking lipulin sila sa isang sangdali.

22 At sila'y (S)nagpatirapa, at nagsabi, Oh Dios, na (T)Dios ng mga diwa ng lahat ng laman, sa pagkakasala ba ng isang tao ay magagalit ka sa buong kapisanan?

23 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,

24 Salitain mo sa kapisanan na iyong sabihin, Lumayo kayo sa palibot ng tabernakulo ni Core, ni Dathan, at ni Abiram.

25 At si Moises ay tumayo at naparoon kay Dathan at kay Abiram; at ang mga matanda sa Israel ay sumunod sa kaniya.

26 At sinalita ni Moises sa kapisanan na sinasabi, (U)Magsilayo kayo, isinasamo ko sa inyo, sa mga tolda ng masasamang taong ito, at huwag kayong humipo ng anomang bagay nila, baka kayo'y (V)mamatay sa lahat nilang kasalanan.

27 Gayon sila nagsilayo sa tabernakulo ni Core, ni Dathan, at ni Abiram sa lahat ng dako: at si Dathan at si Abiram ay nagsilabas, at nagsitayo sa pintuan ng kanilang mga tolda, at ang kanilang mga asawa, at ang kanilang mga anak, at ang kanilang bata.

28 At sinabi ni Moises, Dito ninyo makikilala na ako'y sinugo ng Panginoon na gawin ang lahat ng mga gawang ito; sapagka't hindi kinatha ng (W)aking sariling pagiisip.

29 Kung ang mga taong ito ay mamatay sa karaniwang kamatayan ng lahat ng tao, o kung sila'y dalawin ayon sa karaniwang pagdalaw sa lahat ng tao; ay hindi nga ako sinugo ng Panginoon.

30 Nguni't kung ang Panginoon ay lumikha ng isang bagong bagay, na anopa't ibuka ng (X)lupa ang kaniyang bibig, at sila'y lamunin, sangpu ng buong nauukol sa kanila, (Y)at sila'y ibabang mga buháy sa Sheol; ay inyo ngang mapagkikilala na (Z)minungkahi ng mga taong ito ang Panginoon.

31 (AA)At nangyari, na pagkatapos na masalita niya ang lahat ng salitang ito, na ang lupa na nasa ilalim nila ay bumuka:

32 At ibinuka ng lupa ang kaniyang bibig at nilamon sila, at ang kanilang mga sangbahayan, at ang (AB)lahat ng lalake na nauukol kay Core, at lahat ng kanilang pagaari.

33 Na anopa't sila at lahat ng nauukol sa kanila, ay nababang buháy sa Sheol: at sila'y pinagtikuman ng lupa, at sila'y nalipol sa gitna ng kapisanan.

34 At ang buong Israel na nasa palibot nila ay tumakas sa hiyaw nila; sapagka't kanilang sinabi, Baka pati tayo'y lamunin ng lupa.

35 At apoy ang (AC)lumabas na mula sa Panginoon, at nilamon ang dalawang daan at limang pung lalake na naghandog ng kamangyan.

Ginawang laminang pinukpok ang mga suuban ng mga manghihimagsik.

36 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,

37 Salitain mo kay (AD)Eleazar na anak ni Aaron na saserdote, na kaniyang kunin ang mga suuban sa sunog, at magkalat ng apoy doon; sapagka't mga banal yaon;

38 Pati ng mga suuban ng mga (AE)makasalanang ito laban sa kanilang sariling buhay, at gawin mo sa kanilang mga laminang pinukpok na pinaka pangtakip sa dambana: sapagka't kanilang inihandog sa harap ng Panginoon: kaya't mga banal: at (AF)magiging isang tanda sa mga anak ni Israel.

39 At kinuha ni Eleazar na saserdote ang mga tansong suuban na inihandog ng mga nasunog; at kanilang pinukpok na ginawang pinaka pangtakip sa dambana:

40 Upang maging pinakaalaala sa mga anak ni Israel, (AG)upang sinomang ibang tao na hindi sa mga anak ni Aaron ay huwag lumapit na magsunog ng kamangyan sa harap ng Panginoon; upang huwag magaya kay Core at sa kaniyang mga kasama: gaya ng sinalita ng Panginoon sa kaniya sa pamamagitan ni Moises.

Inpasala ng kapisanan si Moises at si Aaron; Ipinadala ang salot.

41 Datapuwa't sa kinabukasan ay inupasala ng buong kapisanan ng mga anak ni Israel si Moises at si Aaron, na sinasabi, Inyong pinatay ang bayan ng Panginoon.

42 At nangyari, nang magpipisan ang kapisanan laban kay Moises at laban kay Aaron, na sila'y tumingin sa dako ng tabernakulo ng kapisanan; at, narito, tinakpan ng (AH)ulap (AI)at ang kaluwalhatian ng Panginoon ay lumitaw.

43 At si Moises at si Aaron ay naparoon sa tapat ng tabernakulo ng kapisanan.

44 At sinalita ng Panginoon kay Moises, na sinasabi,

45 (AJ)Lumayo kayo sa gitna ng kapisanang ito, upang aking lipulin sila sa isang sangdali. At sila'y nagpatirapa.

46 At sinabi ni Moises kay Aaron, Kunin mo ang iyong suuban, at lagyan mo ng apoy mula sa dambana at patungan ng kamangyan, at dalhin mong madali sa kapisanan, at itubos mo sa kanila: (AK)sapagka't may galit na lumabas sa harap ng Panginoon; ang salot ay nagpapasimula na.

47 At kinuha ni Aaron gaya ng sinalita ni Moises, at siya'y tumakbo sa gitna ng kapulungan; at, narito, ang salot ay nagpasimula sa gitna ng bayan; at siya'y naglagay ng kamangyan at itinubos sa bayan.

48 At siya'y tumayo sa gitna ng mga patay at ng mga buhay; at ang salot ay (AL)tumigil.

49 Ang nangamatay nga sa salot ay labing apat na libo at pitong daan, (AM)bukod pa yaong nangamatay dahil kay Core.

50 At si Aaron ay nagbalik kay Moises sa pintuan ng tabernakulo ng kapisanan: at ang salot ay tumigil.

16 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:

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:

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?

And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:

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.

This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;

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.

And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:

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?

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?

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?

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

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?

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.

15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:

17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.

18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation.

20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their's, lest ye be consumed in all their sins.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

35 And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

36 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.

38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.

39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:

40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses.

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.

42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared.

43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation.

44 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.

46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun.

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.

48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

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

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

Korah, Dathan and Abiram

16 Korah(A) son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram(B), sons of Eliab,(C) and On son of Peleth—became insolent[a] and rose up against Moses.(D) With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.(E) They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron(F) and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy,(G) every one of them, and the Lord is with them.(H) Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”(I)

When Moses heard this, he fell facedown.(J) Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy,(K) and he will have that person come near him.(L) The man he chooses(M) he will cause to come near him. You, Korah, and all your followers(N) are to do this: Take censers(O) and tomorrow put burning coals(P) and incense(Q) in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses(R) will be the one who is holy.(S) You Levites have gone too far!”

Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! Isn’t it enough(T) for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them?(U) 10 He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too.(V) 11 It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble(W) against him?(X)

12 Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram,(Y) the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!(Z) 13 Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey(AA) to kill us in the wilderness?(AB) And now you also want to lord it over us!(AC) 14 Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey(AD) or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards.(AE) Do you want to treat these men like slaves[b]?(AF) No, we will not come!(AG)

15 Then Moses became very angry(AH) and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey(AI) from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”

16 Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.(AJ) 17 Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.(AK) 18 So each of them took his censer,(AL) put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19 When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them(AM) at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord(AN) appeared to the entire assembly. 20 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Separate yourselves(AO) from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”(AP)

22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown(AQ) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,(AR) will you be angry with the entire assembly(AS) when only one man sins?”(AT)

23 Then the Lord said to Moses, 24 “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

25 Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel(AU) followed him. 26 He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men!(AV) Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away(AW) because of all their sins.(AX) 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.(AY) Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children(AZ) and little ones at the entrances to their tents.(BA)

28 Then Moses said, “This is how you will know(BB) that the Lord has sent me(BC) to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29 If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me.(BD) 30 But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth(BE) and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead,(BF) then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.(BG)

31 As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart(BH) 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them(BI) and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33 They went down alive into the realm of the dead,(BJ) with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34 At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

35 And fire came out from the Lord(BK) and consumed(BL) the 250 men who were offering the incense.

36 The Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar(BM) son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers(BN) from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38 the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives.(BO) Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar,(BP) for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign(BQ) to the Israelites.”

39 So Eleazar the priest(BR) collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death,(BS) and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40 as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense(BT) before the Lord,(BU) or he would become like Korah and his followers.(BV)

41 The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.

42 But when the assembly gathered in opposition(BW) to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord(BX) appeared. 43 Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Get away from this assembly so I can put an end(BY) to them at once.” And they fell facedown.

46 Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer(BZ) and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly(CA) to make atonement(CB) for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord;(CC) the plague(CD) has started.” 47 So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people,(CE) but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48 He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped.(CF) 49 But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah.(CG) 50 Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.[c]

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 16:1 Or Peleth—took men
  2. Numbers 16:14 Or to deceive these men; Hebrew Will you gouge out the eyes of these men
  3. Numbers 16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.