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But Korah was not satisfied. He wanted to act as a priest. To that end, he advanced what [[political science]] calls a [[populism|populist argument]]. He argued that no person in [[Israel]] was any more holy than any other person, and therefore the reservation of the priesthood to [[Aaron]] and his sons was unfounded and uncalled-for. Korah directed his argument to [[Moses]], in the belief that Moses had made the decision to establish the [[Aaronic priesthood]] to the exclusion of all other bloodlines. But his argument was clearly false, and his motive was self-aggrandizement, not a genuine concern for the welfare of the Israelites.<ref name=Olitzky/><ref name=Nickels/><ref name=ebibleteacher>"[http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/OT/Exodus/korah.htm Korah Rebels, Moses Sins]." eBibleTeacher.com, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Kabbalah>"[http://www.everburninglight.org/Korah.html Korah]." EverBurningLight.org, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Smith>"[http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/SmithsBibleDictionary/smt.cgi?number=T2613 Korah]." Smith's Bible Dictionary, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=chabad>"[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246641/jewish/Korahs-Rebellion.htm Korah's Rebellion]." Our Biblical Fathers, Chabad.org., n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> Furthermore, this was a power struggle within the leadership, a far more dangerous source of trouble than a rebellion by an ordinary layman.<ref name=Nickels/>

But Korah was not satisfied. He wanted to act as a priest. To that end, he advanced what [[political science]] calls a [[populism|populist argument]]. He argued that no person in [[Israel]] was any more holy than any other person, and therefore the reservation of the priesthood to [[Aaron]] and his sons was unfounded and uncalled-for. Korah directed his argument to [[Moses]], in the belief that Moses had made the decision to establish the [[Aaronic priesthood]] to the exclusion of all other bloodlines. But his argument was clearly false, and his motive was self-aggrandizement, not a genuine concern for the welfare of the Israelites.<ref name=Olitzky/><ref name=Nickels/><ref name=ebibleteacher>"[http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/OT/Exodus/korah.htm Korah Rebels, Moses Sins]." eBibleTeacher.com, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Kabbalah>"[http://www.everburninglight.org/Korah.html Korah]." EverBurningLight.org, 2003. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Smith>"[http://www.biblestudytools.net/Dictionaries/SmithsBibleDictionary/smt.cgi?number=T2613 Korah]." Smith's Bible Dictionary, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=chabad>"[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/246641/jewish/Korahs-Rebellion.htm Korah's Rebellion]." Our Biblical Fathers, Chabad.org., n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> Furthermore, this was a power struggle within the leadership, a far more dangerous source of trouble than a rebellion by an ordinary layman.<ref name=Nickels/>

In Rabbinical literature, Korah was a wealthy man, a codiscoverer of one of the treasuries of [[Joseph]] in [[Egypt]],<ref name=Jastrow>Jastrow M, Mendelsohn CJ, Schechter S, ''et al.'' "[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=362&letter=K Korah]." The Jewish Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Ginzberg>Ginzberg L, ''[http://philologos.org/__eb-lotj/vol3/p08.htm The Legends of the Jews]'', Vol. III(8). Philologos, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> and that the immediate provocation of the revolt was the selection of [[Elzaphan]], son of [[Uzziel]], as the Kohathites' captain.<ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=chabad/> The Rabbinical literature also suggests that Korah's wife helped provoke him to his rash acts.<ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Ginzberg/>

In Rabbinical literature, Korah was a wealthy man, a codiscoverer of one of the treasuries of [[Joseph]] in [[Egypt]],<ref name=Jastrow>Jastrow M, Mendelsohn CJ, Schechter S, ''et al.'' "[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=362&letter=K Korah]." The Jewish Encyclopedia, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Ginzberg>Ginzberg L, ''[http://philologos.org/__eb-lotj/vol3/p08.htm The Legends of the Jews]'', Vol. III(8). Philologos, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> and that the immediate provocation of the revolt was the selection of [[Elzaphan]], son of [[Uzziel]], as the Kohathites' captain.<ref name=chabad/><ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Ginzberg/> The Rabbinical literature also suggests that Korah's wife helped provoke him to his rash acts.<ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Ginzberg/>

Korah gathered to him three confederates, who came, perhaps by no accident, from the tribe of [[Reuben (tribe)|Reuben]]. The Reubenites camped to the south of the [[Tabernacle]] and were thus the "neighbors" of the Kohathites.<ref name=chabad/> The particular Reubenites who joined Korah were [[Dathan]], [[Abiram]], and [[On]].<ref name=Ginzberg/> He also recruited two hundred fifty prominent Israelites, apparently chosen from all the tribes and not Levites only.<ref name=Blank>Blank, Wayne. "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000215.htm Korah's Rebellion]." Daily Bible Study, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Beecher>Beecher WJ, "[http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5364 Entry for Korah]," International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, gen. ed. 1915. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=chabad/><ref name=Zadok>Bar Tzadok, Ariel, "[http://koshertorah.com/PDF/korah.pdf Korah: A Lesson in Arrogance]." Kosher Torah, 2000. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> Some commentators suggest that this is a sign that Moses and Aaron were not popular leaders, and that most good leaders do not remain popular for long.<ref name=Dunagan>Dunagan M, "[http://www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us/Korahs_Rebellion.htm Korah's Rebellion]," Beaverton Church of Christ, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref>

Korah gathered to him three confederates, who came, perhaps by no accident, from the tribe of [[Reuben (tribe)|Reuben]]. The Reubenites camped to the south of the [[Tabernacle]] and were thus the "neighbors" of the Kohathites.<ref name=chabad/> The particular Reubenites who joined Korah were [[Dathan]], [[Abiram]], and [[On]].<ref name=Ginzberg/> He also recruited two hundred fifty prominent Israelites, apparently chosen from all the tribes and not Levites only.<ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=chabad/><ref name=Blank>Blank, Wayne. "[http://www.keyway.ca/htm2000/20000215.htm Korah's Rebellion]." Daily Bible Study, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Beecher>Beecher WJ, "[http://www.studylight.org/enc/isb/view.cgi?number=T5364 Entry for Korah]," International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, gen. ed. 1915. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Zadok>Bar Tzadok, Ariel, "[http://koshertorah.com/PDF/korah.pdf Korah: A Lesson in Arrogance]." Kosher Torah, 2000. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> Some commentators suggest that this is a sign that Moses and Aaron were not popular leaders, and that most good leaders do not remain popular for long.<ref name=Dunagan>Dunagan M, "[http://www.ch-of-christ.beaverton.or.us/Korahs_Rebellion.htm Korah's Rebellion]," Beaverton Church of Christ, n.d. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref>

=== Initial response ===

=== Initial response ===

From the beginning, Moses appealed to God and allowed God to direct him in answering Korah and his confederates.<ref name=Dunagan/> Moses answered Korah with a challenge. He ordered Korah and all his "company" to bring their censers and prepare to offer [[incense]] before God, and God would choose who was properly holy before Him.<ref name=Blank/> Moses was actually daring Korah and his men to do a thing that could result in their summary execution, similar to the execution of Nadab and Abihu.<ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Dunagan/><ref name=Kabbalah/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=chabad/>

From the beginning, Moses appealed to God and allowed God to direct him in answering Korah and his confederates.<ref name=Dunagan/> Moses answered Korah with a challenge. He ordered Korah and all his "company" to bring their censers and prepare to offer [[incense]] before God, and God would choose who was properly holy before Him.<ref name=Blank/> Moses was actually daring Korah and his men to do a thing that could result in their summary execution, similar to the execution of Nadab and Abihu.<ref name=Kabbalah/><ref name=chabad/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=Dunagan/>

Moses then called on Korah and his Levite followers to regain the sense of perspective that they had clearly lost:{{Bible quote|Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of 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 to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?|book=Numbers|chap=16|verses=8-11|version=NASB}}

Moses then called on Korah and his Levite followers to regain the sense of perspective that they had clearly lost:{{Bible quote|Hear now, you sons of Levi, is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of 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 to them; and that He has brought you near, Korah, and all your brothers, sons of Levi, with you? And are you seeking for the priesthood also? Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against the LORD; but as for Aaron, who is he that you grumble against him?|book=Numbers|chap=16|verses=8-11|version=NASB}}

Moses was referring directly decision by [[God]] to reserve all duties of ministration to the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]], rather than have the firstborn of all tribes participate in the priesthood. God had done this because the Levites, alone among the tribes, had stood by Moses in the [[Golden Calf]] incident a year earlier.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Dunagan/><ref name=chabad/>

Moses was referring directly decision by [[God]] to reserve all duties of ministration to the [[Levi (tribe)|Levites]], rather than have the firstborn of all tribes participate in the priesthood. God had done this because the Levites, alone among the tribes, had stood by Moses in the [[Golden Calf]] incident a year earlier.<ref name=chabad/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Dunagan/>

Moses also summoned Dathan and Abiram to the [[Tabernacle]], but they refused, and in effect called Moses a confidence artist. This made Moses more indignant than ever, and he protested to [[God]] that he had never taken even a [[donkey]] from any of them, or caused them any harm. He also reminded Korah to have all his two hundred fifty followers present the next day, each with his censer, and Moses and Aaron would also offer incense with them.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Dunagan/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=chabad/>

Moses also summoned Dathan and Abiram to the [[Tabernacle]], but they refused, and in effect called Moses a confidence artist. This made Moses more indignant than ever, and he protested to [[God]] that he had never taken even a [[donkey]] from any of them, or caused them any harm. He also reminded Korah to have all his two hundred fifty followers present the next day, each with his censer, and Moses and Aaron would also offer incense with them.<ref name=chabad/><ref name=Ginzberg/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=Dunagan/>

The next day, Korah and his followers accepted Moses' challenge and offered the incense. Moses and Aaron did the same. Then [[God]] ordered Moses and Aaron to stand aside from the congregation, because God was going to destroy them all. Moses and Aaron both interceded for the congregation, suggesting that one man's [[sin]] shouldn't warrant the destruction of all the people. So God ordered Moses and Aaron to tell the congregation to withdraw from Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and all their followers, so that they would not suffer as they would. (The third Reubenite, On, had by then repented.) The people obeyed.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=chabad/>

The next day, Korah and his followers accepted Moses' challenge and offered the incense. Moses and Aaron did the same. Then [[God]] ordered Moses and Aaron to stand aside from the congregation, because God was going to destroy them all. Moses and Aaron both interceded for the congregation, suggesting that one man's [[sin]] shouldn't warrant the destruction of all the people. So God ordered Moses and Aaron to tell the congregation to withdraw from Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and all their followers, so that they would not suffer as they would. (The third Reubenite, On, had by then repented.) The people obeyed.<ref name=chabad/><ref name=Blank/>

Moses then said that if God punished the mutineers with an unusual form of execution, the congregation would know positively that it was a divine punishment. The punishment certainly was unusual. A chasm opened in the ground on which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram stood, and they all fell in, with their households and their possessions. In addition, fire from God burned alive the two hundred fifty followers of Korah who had offered the incense.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=Dunagan/><ref name=Kabbalah/><ref name=Smith/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=chabad/> But God spared the sons of Korah, whose later descendants would redeem their memory. (Among those descendants was [[Judge (biblical)|Judge]] [[Samuel]].) In addition, several of Korah's descendants continued to serve as doorkeepers to the [[Temple of Jerusalem]]<ref name=Plaut>Plaut, W. Gunther. "[http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/What_is_the_Torah/numbers/Korah.htm Korah: Rebellion & Divine Wrath]." Excerpt from Plaut WG, ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary'', 1981. Hosted by MyJewishLearning.com. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref><ref name=Jastrow/>, a duty that was actually an extension of the Kohathite duties to transport the Tabernacle furnishings before they gained a permanent home.

Moses then said that if God punished the mutineers with an unusual form of execution, the congregation would know positively that it was a divine punishment. The punishment certainly was unusual. A chasm opened in the ground on which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram stood, and they all fell in, with their households and their possessions. In addition, fire from God burned alive the two hundred fifty followers of Korah who had offered the incense.<ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=Kabbalah/><ref name=Smith/><ref name=chabad/><ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Zadok/><ref name=Dunagan/> But God spared the sons of Korah, whose later descendants would redeem their memory. (Among those descendants was [[Judge (biblical)|Judge]] [[Samuel]].) In addition, several of Korah's descendants continued to serve as doorkeepers to the [[Temple of Jerusalem]],<ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Plaut>Plaut, W. Gunther. "[http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/bible/What_is_the_Torah/numbers/Korah.htm Korah: Rebellion & Divine Wrath]." Excerpt from Plaut WG, ''The Torah: A Modern Commentary'', 1981. Hosted by MyJewishLearning.com. Accessed December 6, 2008.</ref> a duty that was actually an extension of the Kohathite duties to transport the Tabernacle furnishings before they gained a permanent home.

God then told Moses to tell [[Eleazar (son of Aaron)|Eleazar]], Aaron's eventual successor, to gather the censers of the 250 rebels, melt them down, beat the brass into thin plates, and use them to cover the altar, as a reminder to the people that Aaron and his descendants, and ''only'' Aaron and his descendants, were to burn the holy [[incense]] in the Tabernacle.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Dunagan/>

God then told Moses to tell [[Eleazar (son of Aaron)|Eleazar]], Aaron's eventual successor, to gather the censers of the 250 rebels, melt them down, beat the brass into thin plates, and use them to cover the altar, as a reminder to the people that Aaron and his descendants, and ''only'' Aaron and his descendants, were to burn the holy [[incense]] in the Tabernacle.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=Dunagan/>

=== Second challenge and response ===

=== Second challenge and response ===

The next day after this, the people of Israel did an incredibly foolish thing. They blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers. Again God threatened to destroy them all, and this time God did not wait for a response. A plague struck the people, who began to die rapidly where they stood. So Moses ordered Aaron to prepare his censor and offer incense at once to make atonement for the congregation. Aaron stood between those who were already dead and those who were still alive, and the plague was stopped. 14,700 people died in this plague.<ref name=Blank/><ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=Dunagan/><ref name=chabad/>

The next day after this, the people of Israel did an incredibly foolish thing. They blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths of Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their followers. Again God threatened to destroy them all, and this time God did not wait for a response. A plague struck the people, who began to die rapidly where they stood. So Moses ordered Aaron to prepare his censor and offer incense at once to make atonement for the congregation. Aaron stood between those who were already dead and those who were still alive, and the plague was stopped. 14,700 people died in this plague.<ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=chabad/><ref name=Blank/><ref name=Dunagan/>

=== Aaron's rod that budded ===

=== Aaron's rod that budded ===

The next day, God ordered Moses to gather a rod from each of the twelve tribes, with the name of [[Aaron]] on the Levite rod. Moses deposited these twelve rods in the Holy Place. Twenty-four hours later, [[Aaron's Rod|Aaron's rod]] had budded and produced ripe [[almond]]s. Thereafter Aaron kept the rod in the [[Holy of Holies]] as a perpetual reminder to the people to stop grumbling about who had what place in the camp of Israel.<ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=chabad/> ({{Bible ref|book=Numbers|chap=17}})

The next day, God ordered Moses to gather a rod from each of the twelve tribes, with the name of [[Aaron]] on the Levite rod. Moses deposited these twelve rods in the Holy Place. Twenty-four hours later, [[Aaron's Rod|Aaron's rod]] had budded and produced ripe [[almond]]s. Thereafter Aaron kept the rod in the [[Holy of Holies]] as a perpetual reminder to the people to stop grumbling about who had what place in the camp of Israel.<ref name=ebibleteacher/><ref name=chabad/> ({{Bible ref|book=Numbers|chap=17}})

== Critical discussion of the mutiny ==

== Critical discussion of the mutiny ==

[[Biblical criticism|Higher critics]] of the Bible often suggest that the Biblical narrative of the Korah Mutiny is actually a conflation of two different mutinies, one led by Korah alone and the other led by Dathan and Abiram.<ref name=Plaut/><ref name=Beecher/><ref name=Jastrow/> The second story, according to this theory, is a story of intertribal struggle, which the Reubenites lose, as Reuben himself lost his birthright after having an affair with [[Bilhah]], one of his father's concubines.<ref name=Plaut/>

[[Biblical criticism|Higher critics]] of the Bible often suggest that the Biblical narrative of the Korah Mutiny is actually a conflation of two different mutinies, one led by Korah alone and the other led by Dathan and Abiram.<ref name=Jastrow/><ref name=Beecher/><ref name=Plaut/> The second story, according to this theory, is a story of intertribal struggle, which the Reubenites lose, as Reuben himself lost his birthright after having an affair with [[Bilhah]], one of his father's concubines.<ref name=Plaut/>

Still other critics confuse this Korah with another Korah, son of [[Esau]].<ref name=Beecher/>

Still other critics confuse this Korah with another Korah, son of [[Esau]].<ref name=Beecher/>

{{reflist|2}}

{{reflist|2}}

== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Israel]]

* [[Israel]]

* [[Dathan]]

* [[Dathan]]