The account of the destruction of Korah, along with his followers, is a significant event in the narrative of the Israelites' journey through the wilderness, illustrating the divine authority vested in Moses and Aaron as God's chosen leaders. This event is recorded in the Book of Numbers, specifically in chapter 16, and serves as a powerful testament to the consequences of rebellion against God's appointed leadership.

Background and Rebellion

Korah, a Levite of the Kohathite clan, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, sons of Reuben, led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. They were joined by 250 prominent community leaders, who challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron, questioning their authority and claiming that the entire congregation was holy. Korah and his followers accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the assembly of the Lord. Numbers 16:3 records their challenge: "You have gone too far, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?"

Divine Response and Judgment

In response to this rebellion, Moses fell facedown, seeking the Lord's guidance. He proposed a test to demonstrate whom the Lord had chosen. Each man was to take his censer, put incense in it, and present it before the Lord. The man whom the Lord chose would be the holy one. Moses warned the rebels that their challenge was not against him and Aaron, but against the Lord Himself.

The following day, as instructed, Korah and his followers presented themselves with their censers at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly, and the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, instructing them to separate themselves from the assembly so that He might consume them instantly. However, Moses and Aaron interceded, pleading with God not to destroy the entire congregation for the sin of one man.

The Earth Swallows the Rebels

Moses then warned the assembly to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. He declared that if these men died a natural death, then the Lord had not sent him. But if the Lord created something unprecedented, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, then it would be known that these men had treated the Lord with contempt.

As soon as Moses finished speaking, the ground under the rebels split apart, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with their households and all their possessions. Numbers 16:32-33 states, "And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly."

Fire Consumes the 250 Men

Simultaneously, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering incense. This miraculous judgment served as a clear sign of God's displeasure with the rebellion and His affirmation of Moses and Aaron's leadership.

Aftermath and Significance

Following the destruction, the Lord instructed Moses to have Eleazar, the son of Aaron, collect the censers from the smoldering remains, as they were holy. The censers were hammered into sheets to overlay the altar, serving as a reminder to the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, lest they suffer the same fate as Korah and his followers.

The destruction of Korah and his followers underscores the seriousness of rebellion against God's appointed leaders and the sanctity of the priesthood. It serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of challenging divine authority and the importance of obedience to God's commands.Numbers 16:28-32
And Moses said, Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own mind.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

A Description of Heart-Purity
... holy heart labours to be affected and wrought upon ... The holiest ordinances are stained,
running through an impure ... raising the dead or in working miracles, but in ...
/.../16 a description of heart-purity.htm

Solomon's Temple Spiritualized
... Secondly, These stones, as they were thus wrought within and ... and immortality is brought
to light through this ... of God; as so, they are but servants, though these ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/solomons temple spiritualized.htm

The Doctrine
... law discovered to a people by the servants of Jesus ... the law, and of some also that
through delusions of ... Eden, in these words: "And the LORD God commanded the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the doctrine.htm

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