Great Rebellion
313
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
By God’s appointment these men had been entrusted with special
honors. They had been of that number who, with the seventy elders,
went up with Moses into the mount and beheld the glory of God. They
saw the glorious light which covered the divine form of Christ. The
bottom of this cloud was in appearance like the “paved work of a
sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.”
These men were in the presence of the glory of the Lord and did eat
and drink without being destroyed by the purity and unsurpassed glory
[344]
that was reflected upon them. But a change had come. A temptation,
slight at first, had been harbored; and as it was encouraged it had
strengthened until the imagination was controlled by the power of
Satan. These men upon the most frivolous pretense ventured upon
their work of disaffection. At first they hinted and expressed doubts,
which took so readily with many minds that they ventured still further.
And being more and more confirmed in their suspicions by a word
from one and another, each expressing what he thought of certain
things which had come under his notice, these deluded souls really
came to believe that they had a zeal for the Lord in the matter and that
they would not be excusable unless they carried out to the full their
purpose of making Moses see and feel the preposterous position he
occupied toward Israel. A little leaven of distrust and of dissension,
envy, and jealousy was leavening the camp of Israel.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram first commenced their cruel work upon
the men to whom God had entrusted sacred responsibilities. They were
successful in alienating two hundred and fifty princes who were famous
in the congregation, men of renown. With these strong and influential
men on their side, they felt sure of making a radical change in the
order of things. They thought they could transform the government of
Israel and greatly improve it from its present administration.
Korah was not satisfied with his position. He was connected with
the service of the tabernacle, yet he desired to be exalted to the priest-
hood. God had established Moses as chief governor, and the priesthood
was given to Aaron and his sons. Korah determined to compel Moses
to change the order of things, that he might be raised to the dignity
of the priesthood. To be more sure of accomplishing his purpose, he
drew Dathan and Abiram, descendants of Reuben, into his rebellion.