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Numbers 16:1-35; Rebels and Wrath
2026 04/12 Numbers 16:1-35; Rebels and Wrath Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20260412_numbers-16.mp3
The Backstory
We are in Numbers 16. Thus far God’s people have been rescued from slavery to Egypt, brought to Sinai, where they received God’s instructions, entered into a covenant relationship with God, broke that covenant, Moses prayed, God forgave, and they built the tent where God would dwell among them and be their God. They were organized around his central tent, 603,550 fighting men were numbered (Nu.1:46), and they set out across the wilderness to possess the promised land following the leading of the Lord’s pillar of cloud and fire. They grumbled along the way, but the Lord led them safely to the borders of the land. They sent 12 men to spy out the land, but only Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people to go up in obedience and possess the land; the other 10 said “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are” (Nu.13:31). The congregation attempted to kill Joshua and Caleb and choose another leader to lead them back to slavery. The glory of the Lord appeared in wrath and he threatened to wipe out all the people and start over with Moses, but Moses interceded, and God extended both mercy and justice; the 10 died in a plague, the congregation who rebelled were sentenced to fall over the next 40 years, but God promised to bring their children in to the land. The next day they again disobeyed, attempting to conquer the land in their own strength, and were defeated before their enemies.
In chapter 15, the Lord affirmed his promises by giving instructions for that next generation when they had come into the land ‘which I am giving you’ (Nu.15:2). He reminds them that there is sacrifice for unintentional sins, but for willful rebellion, there is no forgiveness. This law is applied to a man openly and willfully disobeying by gathering firewood on the Sabbath, who is killed by the congregation. The Lord instructs them to wear tassels with a blue cord to remind them of his laws, to remind them who they are and to whom they belong.
Numbers 16:1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron…
Korah is a cousin of Moses and Aaron; his father Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi was brother to Amram son of Kohath son of Levi, father of Aaron and Miriam and Moses (Ex.6:18-23). Korah was a Kohathite Levite, entrusted with the holy responsibility of transporting God’s holy furniture of the Tabernacle, and stationed to the south of the Tabernacle (Nu.3:29-32).
Dathan and Abiram and On are of the tribe of Reuben, firstborn of Jacob and Leah, however Reuben forfeited his place of priority in the family by his sexual sin, sleeping with his father’s concubine (Gen. 35:22; 49:3-4). The tribe of Reuben was also camped south of the Tabernacle (Nu.2:10), although the Levites were camped closer, to serve as protection between the dangerous presence of YHWH and the rest of the tribes.
This chapter recounts two parallel rebellions, one political and one religious, rising up against the Lord’s appointed leaders.
Korah; Equal Religious Access
Numbers 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in 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?”
As often is the case, there was some truth mixed in to give a foundation of credibility to their accusations. The last chapter instructed all the people to wear tassels with a cord of blue to remind them that they were all to be holy to the Lord; identifying them visibly with the color of the tabernacle and the priests.
Numbers 15:39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Back in Exodus 19, the Lord said:
Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen …how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
It was true that all in the congregation were to be holy, set apart to the Lord. It was true that YHWH had his tent in the midst of their camp. But it did not follow that all had equal access to the holy places. Those who were unclean were to be put outside the camp. The priests, exclusively descendants of Aaron, were set apart by specific outfits and by the proscribed rituals of cleansing, sacrifices and anointing. If you’ve followed the story thus far, it should be blatantly obvious that Moses and Aaron did not exalt themselves above the assembly; Moses specifically was reluctant to answer God’s call to leadership, and burdened by the weight of leadership, was more than happy to share some of that responsibility with those the Lord brought alongside him.
Moses’ Intercession and Plea; Korah and the 250
Numbers 16:4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. 6 Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; 7 put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”
Moses falls on his face in a posture of humility and intercession before the Lord; how do you argue with a leader who is on his face? There was no point in arguing his case or reasoning with these rebels. Moses would leave it to the Lord to make clear his own choice. And God has every right to choose for himself who he will bring near. It is never a popularity contest; never a matter of taking the office to oneself out of personal ambition or a jealous desire for power. Moses turns their words back on them; ‘you have gone too far, sons of Levi!’
Numbers 16:8 And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9 is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”
Korah was of the division of the Kohathites, entrusted with the care of God’s holy furniture, the ark of the covenant, the altar of incense, the table of the bread of the presence, the lampstand, the bronze altar and washbasin. They were given a high and holy calling, but they were not satisfied with that; they wanted more. Their responsibilities on the journey should have reminded them of the danger of drawing near to God unbidden; the priests were to prepare all these holy articles by wrapping them in the curtains and coverings and inserting the carrying poles so that the Kohathites would not inadvertently look at them and die (Nu.4:4-20). Like Eve in the garden, they failed to view God’s boundaries as gracious protection to keep them safe, but rather as undue restrictions to keep from them something they desired.
Leadership Complaint; Dathan and Abiram
Attention now turns to the complaint directed primarily against Moses and his authority.
Numbers 16:12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We will not 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, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not 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 will not come up.”
This is the height of arrogance! Moses and Aaron, dealing with the 250 Kohathites at the entrance to the east of the Tabernacle, now sends for Dathan and Abiram to come, and they refuse even to appear. They send back a rebuttal that calls evil good and good evil. They label the land of slavery with the Lord’s description of his promised land; ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’. They dredge up the tired accusation ‘you have brought us up’ (no, it was the Lord who brought you up) ‘to kill us in the wilderness.’ The reason they were not now enjoying their inheritance, experiencing the Lord’s promised land, flowing with milk and honey, (which even the evil spies affirmed that it was) is because they had refused to obey the word of the Lord through Moses. And the absurd accusation that Moses had made himself a prince over them! They accuse Moses of lying, in our terms trying to pull the wool over their eyes. They flatly reject Moses’ authority.
Numbers 16:15 And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them.”
This is one of the things Samuel will later warn Israel of in their desire for a king to rule over them (1Sam.8:11-18). Moses is free of any motive of greed or self-promotion.
Korah’s Attempt to Usurp the Office of Priest
Numbers 16:16 And Moses said to Korah, “Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” 18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
The flagrant arrogance of this act; had they forgotten Nadab and Abihu (Lev.10:1-3; Nu.3:4), the first two sons of Aaron, legitimately descendants of Aaron, fully authorized to serve as priests who offered incense with strange fire and were consumed by the fire of the Lord? But in this there is an opportunity to reflect, to remember, to turn, to repent. Tomorrow.
Numbers 16:19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. 20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
The Lord comes to the defense of those who are unjustly attacked.
Moses and Aaron’s Intercession in YHWH’s Courts
Numbers 16:22 And they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
Moses and Aaron again prostrate themselves on the ground in prayer for God’s mercy. This is reminiscent of Abraham’s prayer ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? … Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen.18:23,25). Not that any in the congregation were truly righteous, but the Lord again extends mercy; tell the congregation to get away from their dwellings!
Judgment and Mercy; Dathan and Abiram’s Tents (where’s On?)
Numbers 16:25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” 27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
This is a tragic display of the consequences of a hard heart. They had opportunity to come before Moses but they refused. Now God’s judgment would extend to their whole household. They were united in their willful rebellion. They all came out and stood defiantly at their doors. The call to ‘depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men’ would have been a final call to even those with them in their tents. At the beginning of the chapter, On the son of Peleth, also a son of Reuben is mentioned alongside Dathan and Abiram, but he is not mentioned again in the narrative. What happened to him? Was he included with them? Did he wake up to the folly of rebellion, turn and distance himself from them and escape their judgment? We aren’t told.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.” 31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
Moses discerned that their disrespect of him as leader was at its root despising the authority of the Lord. It was more than a rejection of their human leaders; it was a rejection of the God who appointed them. And the Lord defended his own honor. The earth swallowed them up; they went down alive to the grave.
Wrath on Religious Rebels at the Tabernacle
Moses, along with the elders of Israel had gone to the south side of the camp, where Dathan and Abiram’s tents were pitched. Meanwhile, back at the entrance to the tabernacle, with Aaron;
Numbers 16:35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
Just like Nadab and Abihu, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the rebels.
Grace
Numbers 26, reflecting on these events, warning not to contend against the Lord and against his anointed leaders, tells us
Numbers 26:11 But the sons of Korah did not die.
Even in God’s wrath, there is grace. Apparently some of Korah’s own children distanced themselves from the sin of their father and his rebellion. 1 Chronicles 9 lists among the returned exiles after the Babylonian captivity, descendants of Korah who again served at the temple. 11 Psalms, most of Psalms 42-49 and 84-88 are prefaced with ‘A Psalm of the sons of Korah’
Jesus
It’s interesting that this rebellion was a coalition of two different complaints; one political, one religious. Mark records
Mark 3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (cf.Mk.12:13)
Religious and political factions united in their rebellion against the one who humbled himself to become man.
Acts 4:25 …“‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Moses and Aaron’s prayer was “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” In John 11,
John 11:49 …Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram each died for his own sins; Jesus died for the sins of the nation, and more, for you, for me!
***
Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
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By Rodney Zedicher2026 04/12 Numbers 16:1-35; Rebels and Wrath Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20260412_numbers-16.mp3
The Backstory
We are in Numbers 16. Thus far God’s people have been rescued from slavery to Egypt, brought to Sinai, where they received God’s instructions, entered into a covenant relationship with God, broke that covenant, Moses prayed, God forgave, and they built the tent where God would dwell among them and be their God. They were organized around his central tent, 603,550 fighting men were numbered (Nu.1:46), and they set out across the wilderness to possess the promised land following the leading of the Lord’s pillar of cloud and fire. They grumbled along the way, but the Lord led them safely to the borders of the land. They sent 12 men to spy out the land, but only Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people to go up in obedience and possess the land; the other 10 said “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are” (Nu.13:31). The congregation attempted to kill Joshua and Caleb and choose another leader to lead them back to slavery. The glory of the Lord appeared in wrath and he threatened to wipe out all the people and start over with Moses, but Moses interceded, and God extended both mercy and justice; the 10 died in a plague, the congregation who rebelled were sentenced to fall over the next 40 years, but God promised to bring their children in to the land. The next day they again disobeyed, attempting to conquer the land in their own strength, and were defeated before their enemies.
In chapter 15, the Lord affirmed his promises by giving instructions for that next generation when they had come into the land ‘which I am giving you’ (Nu.15:2). He reminds them that there is sacrifice for unintentional sins, but for willful rebellion, there is no forgiveness. This law is applied to a man openly and willfully disobeying by gathering firewood on the Sabbath, who is killed by the congregation. The Lord instructs them to wear tassels with a blue cord to remind them of his laws, to remind them who they are and to whom they belong.
Numbers 16:1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. 2 And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men. 3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron…
Korah is a cousin of Moses and Aaron; his father Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi was brother to Amram son of Kohath son of Levi, father of Aaron and Miriam and Moses (Ex.6:18-23). Korah was a Kohathite Levite, entrusted with the holy responsibility of transporting God’s holy furniture of the Tabernacle, and stationed to the south of the Tabernacle (Nu.3:29-32).
Dathan and Abiram and On are of the tribe of Reuben, firstborn of Jacob and Leah, however Reuben forfeited his place of priority in the family by his sexual sin, sleeping with his father’s concubine (Gen. 35:22; 49:3-4). The tribe of Reuben was also camped south of the Tabernacle (Nu.2:10), although the Levites were camped closer, to serve as protection between the dangerous presence of YHWH and the rest of the tribes.
This chapter recounts two parallel rebellions, one political and one religious, rising up against the Lord’s appointed leaders.
Korah; Equal Religious Access
Numbers 16:3 They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all in 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?”
As often is the case, there was some truth mixed in to give a foundation of credibility to their accusations. The last chapter instructed all the people to wear tassels with a cord of blue to remind them that they were all to be holy to the Lord; identifying them visibly with the color of the tabernacle and the priests.
Numbers 15:39 And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them, not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes, which you are inclined to whore after. 40 So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God. 41 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the LORD your God.”
Back in Exodus 19, the Lord said:
Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen …how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
It was true that all in the congregation were to be holy, set apart to the Lord. It was true that YHWH had his tent in the midst of their camp. But it did not follow that all had equal access to the holy places. Those who were unclean were to be put outside the camp. The priests, exclusively descendants of Aaron, were set apart by specific outfits and by the proscribed rituals of cleansing, sacrifices and anointing. If you’ve followed the story thus far, it should be blatantly obvious that Moses and Aaron did not exalt themselves above the assembly; Moses specifically was reluctant to answer God’s call to leadership, and burdened by the weight of leadership, was more than happy to share some of that responsibility with those the Lord brought alongside him.
Moses’ Intercession and Plea; Korah and the 250
Numbers 16:4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, 5 and he said to Korah and all his company, “In the morning the LORD will show who is his, and who is holy, and will bring him near to him. The one whom he chooses he will bring near to him. 6 Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company; 7 put fire in them and put incense on them before the LORD tomorrow, and the man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”
Moses falls on his face in a posture of humility and intercession before the Lord; how do you argue with a leader who is on his face? There was no point in arguing his case or reasoning with these rebels. Moses would leave it to the Lord to make clear his own choice. And God has every right to choose for himself who he will bring near. It is never a popularity contest; never a matter of taking the office to oneself out of personal ambition or a jealous desire for power. Moses turns their words back on them; ‘you have gone too far, sons of Levi!’
Numbers 16:8 And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9 is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the LORD and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, 10 and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also? 11 Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?”
Korah was of the division of the Kohathites, entrusted with the care of God’s holy furniture, the ark of the covenant, the altar of incense, the table of the bread of the presence, the lampstand, the bronze altar and washbasin. They were given a high and holy calling, but they were not satisfied with that; they wanted more. Their responsibilities on the journey should have reminded them of the danger of drawing near to God unbidden; the priests were to prepare all these holy articles by wrapping them in the curtains and coverings and inserting the carrying poles so that the Kohathites would not inadvertently look at them and die (Nu.4:4-20). Like Eve in the garden, they failed to view God’s boundaries as gracious protection to keep them safe, but rather as undue restrictions to keep from them something they desired.
Leadership Complaint; Dathan and Abiram
Attention now turns to the complaint directed primarily against Moses and his authority.
Numbers 16:12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We will not 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, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? 14 Moreover, you have not 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 will not come up.”
This is the height of arrogance! Moses and Aaron, dealing with the 250 Kohathites at the entrance to the east of the Tabernacle, now sends for Dathan and Abiram to come, and they refuse even to appear. They send back a rebuttal that calls evil good and good evil. They label the land of slavery with the Lord’s description of his promised land; ‘a land flowing with milk and honey’. They dredge up the tired accusation ‘you have brought us up’ (no, it was the Lord who brought you up) ‘to kill us in the wilderness.’ The reason they were not now enjoying their inheritance, experiencing the Lord’s promised land, flowing with milk and honey, (which even the evil spies affirmed that it was) is because they had refused to obey the word of the Lord through Moses. And the absurd accusation that Moses had made himself a prince over them! They accuse Moses of lying, in our terms trying to pull the wool over their eyes. They flatly reject Moses’ authority.
Numbers 16:15 And Moses was very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them.”
This is one of the things Samuel will later warn Israel of in their desire for a king to rule over them (1Sam.8:11-18). Moses is free of any motive of greed or self-promotion.
Korah’s Attempt to Usurp the Office of Priest
Numbers 16:16 And Moses said to Korah, “Be present, you and all your company, before the LORD, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. 17 And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the LORD his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” 18 So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
The flagrant arrogance of this act; had they forgotten Nadab and Abihu (Lev.10:1-3; Nu.3:4), the first two sons of Aaron, legitimately descendants of Aaron, fully authorized to serve as priests who offered incense with strange fire and were consumed by the fire of the Lord? But in this there is an opportunity to reflect, to remember, to turn, to repent. Tomorrow.
Numbers 16:19 Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation. 20 And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.”
The Lord comes to the defense of those who are unjustly attacked.
Moses and Aaron’s Intercession in YHWH’s Courts
Numbers 16:22 And they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” 23 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
Moses and Aaron again prostrate themselves on the ground in prayer for God’s mercy. This is reminiscent of Abraham’s prayer ‘Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? … Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Gen.18:23,25). Not that any in the congregation were truly righteous, but the Lord again extends mercy; tell the congregation to get away from their dwellings!
Judgment and Mercy; Dathan and Abiram’s Tents (where’s On?)
Numbers 16:25 Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” 27 So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
This is a tragic display of the consequences of a hard heart. They had opportunity to come before Moses but they refused. Now God’s judgment would extend to their whole household. They were united in their willful rebellion. They all came out and stood defiantly at their doors. The call to ‘depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men’ would have been a final call to even those with them in their tents. At the beginning of the chapter, On the son of Peleth, also a son of Reuben is mentioned alongside Dathan and Abiram, but he is not mentioned again in the narrative. What happened to him? Was he included with them? Did he wake up to the folly of rebellion, turn and distance himself from them and escape their judgment? We aren’t told.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. 29 If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the LORD has not sent me. 30 But if the LORD creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the LORD.” 31 And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. 32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. 34 And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
Moses discerned that their disrespect of him as leader was at its root despising the authority of the Lord. It was more than a rejection of their human leaders; it was a rejection of the God who appointed them. And the Lord defended his own honor. The earth swallowed them up; they went down alive to the grave.
Wrath on Religious Rebels at the Tabernacle
Moses, along with the elders of Israel had gone to the south side of the camp, where Dathan and Abiram’s tents were pitched. Meanwhile, back at the entrance to the tabernacle, with Aaron;
Numbers 16:35 And fire came out from the LORD and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
Just like Nadab and Abihu, fire came out from the Lord and consumed the rebels.
Grace
Numbers 26, reflecting on these events, warning not to contend against the Lord and against his anointed leaders, tells us
Numbers 26:11 But the sons of Korah did not die.
Even in God’s wrath, there is grace. Apparently some of Korah’s own children distanced themselves from the sin of their father and his rebellion. 1 Chronicles 9 lists among the returned exiles after the Babylonian captivity, descendants of Korah who again served at the temple. 11 Psalms, most of Psalms 42-49 and 84-88 are prefaced with ‘A Psalm of the sons of Korah’
Jesus
It’s interesting that this rebellion was a coalition of two different complaints; one political, one religious. Mark records
Mark 3:6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (cf.Mk.12:13)
Religious and political factions united in their rebellion against the one who humbled himself to become man.
Acts 4:25 …“‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— 27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Moses and Aaron’s prayer was “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” In John 11,
John 11:49 …Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad.
Korah, Dathan, Abiram each died for his own sins; Jesus died for the sins of the nation, and more, for you, for me!
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org