Great Rebellion
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spirit, professed great wisdom in discerning the true reason for their
trials and afflictions.
In this work of disaffection there was greater harmony and union
of views and feelings among these discordant elements than had ever
been known to exist before. Korah’s success in gaining the larger part
of the congregation of Israel on his side led him to feel confident that he
was wise and correct in judgment, and that Moses was indeed usurping
authority that threatened the prosperity and salvation of Israel. He
claimed that God had opened the matter to him and laid upon him the
burden of changing the government of Israel just before it was too late.
He stated that the congregation were not at fault; they were righteous;
that this great cry about the murmuring of the congregation bringing
upon them the wrath of God was all a mistake; and that the people
only wanted to have their rights; they wanted individual independence.
As a sense of the self-sacrificing patience of Moses would force
itself upon their memories, and as his disinterested efforts in their
behalf while they were in the bondage of slavery would come before
them, their consciences would be somewhat disturbed. Some were not
wholly with Korah in his views of Moses and sought to speak in his
behalf. Korah, Dathan, and Abiram must assign some reason before
the people why Moses had from the first shown so great an interest
for the congregation of Israel. Their selfish minds, which had been
debased as Satan’s instruments, suggested that they had at last found
out the object of the apparent interest of Moses. He had designed to
keep them wandering in the wilderness until they all, or nearly all,
should perish and he should come into possession of their property.
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the two hundred and fifty princes
who had joined them, first became jealous, then envious, and next
rebellious. They had talked in regard to the position of Moses as ruler
of the people until they imagined that it was a very enviable position
which any of them could fill as well as he. And they gave themselves
up to discontent until they really deceived themselves and thought that
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Moses and Aaron had placed themselves in the position which they
occupied in Israel. They said that Moses and Aaron exalted themselves
above the congregation of the Lord in taking upon them the priesthood
and the government, and that this office should not be conferred on
their house alone. They said that it was sufficient for them if they were
on a level with their brethren; for they were no more holy than the