Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
25
them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of
the Lord?”
Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and two hundred and fifty princes
who had joined them, first became jealous, then envious, and next
rebellious. They had talked in regard to Moses’ position as ruler of the
people, until they imagined that it was a very enviable position, which
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any of them could fill as well as Moses. And they gave themselves up
to discontent, until they really deceived themselves, and one another, in
thinking that Moses and Aaron had placed themselves in the position
which they occupied to Israel. They said that Moses and Aaron exalted
themselves above the congregation of the Lord, in taking upon them
the priesthood and 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 people, who were equally favored with God’s peculiar
presence and protection.
As Moses listened to the words of Korah, he was filled with an-
guish, and fell upon his face before the people. “And he spake unto
Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow the Lord will
show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near
unto him, even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come near
unto him. This do, take you censers, Korah, and all his company, and
put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow;
and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be
holy. Ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And Moses said
unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi. Seemeth it but a small
thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the
congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself to do the service
of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to
minister unto them? And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy
brethren the sons of Levi with thee. And seek ye the priesthood also?
For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together
against the Lord. And what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?”
Moses told them that Aaron had assumed no office of himself; that
God had placed him in the sacred office.
Dathan and Abiram said, “Is it a small thing that thou hast brought
us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in
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the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?