Numbers 16:20-35

New International Version

²⁰ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ²¹ “Separate yourselves^(A) from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”^(B)

²² But Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(C) and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things,^(D) will you be angry with the entire assembly^(E) when only one man sins?”^(F)

²³ Then the Lord said to Moses, ²⁴ “Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’”

²⁵ Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel^(G) followed him. ²⁶ He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men!^(H) Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away^(I) because of all their sins.^(J)” ²⁷ So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.^(K) Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children^(L) and little ones at the entrances to their tents.^(M)

²⁸ Then Moses said, “This is how you will know^(N) that the Lord has sent me^(O) to do all these things and that it was not my idea: ²⁹ If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me.^{(P) 30} But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth^(Q) and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead,^(R) then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.^(S)”

³¹ As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart^{(T) 32} and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them^(U) and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. ³³ They went down alive into the realm of the dead,^(V) with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. ³⁴ At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”

³⁵ And fire came out from the Lord^(W) and consumed^(X) the 250 men who were offering the incense.