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!
13. You have brought us out of a land where much food grows. You brought us to the desert to kill us. And now you want to order us around.
14. You haven’t brought us into a land where much food grows. You haven’t given us any land with fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? No! We will not come!”
15. Then Moses became very angry. He said to the Lord, “Don’t accept their gifts. I have not taken anything from them, not even a donkey. I have not done wrong to any of them.”
16. Then Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers must stand before the Lord tomorrow. And Aaron will stand there with you and them.
17. Each of you must take your pan and put incense in it. Present these 250 pans before the Lord. You and Aaron must also present your pans.”
18. So each man got his pan and put burning incense in it. Then they stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the Meeting Tent.
19. Korah gathered all his followers who were against Moses and Aaron. And they stood at the entrance to the Meeting Tent. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to everyone.