1. Korah, Dathan, Abiram and On turned against Moses. (Korah was the son of Izhar. Izhar was the son of Kohath, and Kohath was the son of Levi. Dathan and Abiram were brothers, the sons of Eliab. And On was the son of Peleth.) Dathan, Abiram and On were from the tribe of Reuben.
2. These 4 men gathered 250 other Israelite men and challenged Moses. They were well-known leaders chosen by the community.
3. They came as a group to speak to Moses and Aaron. The men said, “You have gone too far. All the people are holy. Every one of them is holy. And the Lord is with them. So why do you put yourselves above all the people?”
4. When Moses heard this, he bowed facedown.
5. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who belongs to him. The Lord will bring the one who is holy near to him. The Lord will bring to himself the person he chooses.
6. So Korah, you and all your followers do this: Get some pans for burning incense.
7. Tomorrow put fire and incense in them. Then take them before the Lord. He will choose the man who is holy. You Levites have gone too far.”
8. Moses also said to Korah, “Listen, you Levites.
9. The God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelites. He brought you near to himself. You do the work in the Lord’s Holy Tent. You stand before all the Israelites and serve them. Isn’t that enough?
10. The Lord has brought you and all your fellow Levites near to himself. Now you want to be priests.
11. You and your followers have joined together against the Lord. Your complaint is not against Aaron.”
12. Then Moses called Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!