Chapter 35—The Rebellion of Korah
This chapter is based on
Numbers 16
and
17
.
The judgments visited upon the Israelites served for a time to
restrain their murmuring and insubordination, but the spirit of rebellion
was still in the heart and eventually brought forth the bitterest fruits.
The former rebellions had been mere popular tumults, arising from
the sudden impulse of the excited multitude; but now a deep-laid
conspiracy was formed, the result of a determined purpose to overthrow
the authority of the leaders appointed by God Himself.
Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the
family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and
influence. Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had
become dissatisfied with his position and aspired to the dignity of the
priesthood. The bestowal upon Aaron and his house of the priestly
office, which had formerly devolved upon the first-born son of every
family, had given rise to jealousy and dissatisfaction, and for some
time Korah had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and
Aaron, though he had not ventured upon any open act of rebellion. He
finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the civil and
the religious authority. He did not fail to find sympathizers. Close
to the tents of Korah and the Kohathites, on the south side of the
tabernacle, was the encampment of the tribe of Reuben, the tents
of Dathan and Abiram, two princes of this tribe, being near that of
Korah. These princes readily joined in his ambitious schemes. Being
descendants from the eldest son of Jacob, they claimed that the civil
authority belonged to them, and they determined to divide with Korah
the honors of the priesthood.
The state of feeling among the people favored the designs of Korah.
In the bitterness of their disappointment, their former doubts, jealousy,
and hatred had returned, and again their complaints were directed
against their patient leader. The Israelites were continually losing sight
[396]
of the fact that they were under divine guidance. They forgot that the
347