Parashat Korach

Rebellion of Korah

16 Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, and sons of Reuben—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth— ² rose up against Moses and took 250 men from Bnei-Yisrael, men of renown who had been appointed to the council. ³ They assembled against Moses and Aaron. They said to them, “You’ve gone too far! All the community is holy—all of them—and Adonai is with them! Then why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of Adonai?”

⁴ When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.

⁵ Then he said to Korah and all his following saying, “In the morning Adonai will reveal who is His and who is holy. The one whom He will let come near to Him will be the one He chooses to come near to Him. ⁶ Do this, Korah and your whole following! Take for yourselves censers. ⁷ Put fire and incense into them in the presence of Adonai. Tomorrow the man that Adonai chooses will be the holy one! You sons of Levi are the ones who have gone too far!”

⁸ Moses also said to Korah, “Listen now, sons of Levi! ⁹ Isn’t it enough that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel to bring you near to Him to do the work of the Tabernacle of Adonai and to stand before the community to minister to them? ¹⁰ So He brought you close, along with all your fellow sons of Levi. But you are seeking the priesthood, too! ¹¹ Therefore you and all your following are banding together against Adonai! Who then is Aaron—that you are grumbling against him?”

¹² Then Moses sent word to call Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! ¹³ Isn’t it enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk and honey, only to kill us in the wilderness? And now you would lord it over us?