Numbers 16

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 16 of 36

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

2 and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty rulers of the congregation, elect men of the assembly, men of name.

3 And they were assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, You take too much! For all the congregation, all of them are holy, and Jehovah is among them. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of Jehovah?

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Chapter Summary

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebel against Moses and Aaron's authority. The earth swallows up Dathan and Abiram with their families, while fire consumes Korah and 250 men offering incense. When the people murmur the next day, a plague kills 14,700 before Aaron stops it with incense.

Key Hebrew Words

קְהַ֥ל assembly H6951 · TWOT 1991a
קְטֹ֜רֶת smoke H7004 · TWOT 2011a
נַחֲלַ֖ת possession H5159 · TWOT 1342a
חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים fifty H2572 · TWOT 686c
כְּהֻנָּֽה priesthood H3550 · TWOT 959b

People & Context

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Rebel

Korah the Levite, along with Dathan and Abiram of Reuben, gathered two hundred and fifty rulers of the congregation to oppose Moses and Aaron 27 . The…

Moses' Challenge to the 250 Men

Moses challenged Korah and his company to appear before Jehovah the next day with two hundred and fifty firepans filled with fire and incense 29 . Jeh…

Earth Swallows Rebels

Moses ordered the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram . The earth split apart, opening its mouth to swallow the rebe…

Timeline

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram Rebel

Korah the Levite, along with Dathan and Abiram of Reuben, gathered two hundred and fifty rulers of the congregation to oppose Moses and Aaron 27 . They accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves over an assembly that was already entirely holy .

Numbers 16:1-14
Moses' Challenge to the 250 Men

Moses challenged Korah and his company to appear before Jehovah the next day with two hundred and fifty firepans filled with fire and incense 29 . Jehovah's glory then appeared to the entire assembled congregation at the tabernacle door .

Numbers 16:15-22
Earth Swallows Rebels

Moses ordered the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram . The earth split apart, opening its mouth to swallow the rebels, their households, and all their possessions alive into Sheol 32 .

Numbers 16:23-34

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