In the time after the Israelites were led out of Egypt, a man named Korah, a descendant of Levi, rose up in opposition against Moses, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, who were descendants of Reuben. They gathered 250 prominent men of Israel, all leaders within the assembly, challenging Moses and Aaron’s leadership. They declared to Moses and Aaron, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, with the Lord among us. Why do you elevate yourselves above us?”

Upon hearing this, Moses fell to his knees, a gesture of humility and prayer. He responded to Korah and his followers, promising that by morning, the Lord would reveal who truly belonged to Him and who was holy enough to approach Him. Moses proposed a test: Korah and his followers were to bring their censers filled with fire and incense, and present them before the Lord, just as Moses and Aaron would. The one chosen by God would be accepted as holy.

Despite Moses reminding them of their role as Levi’s sons set apart for God’s service, Dathan and Abiram refused to meet him, accusing Moses of leading them away from a rich land, presumably Egypt, to die in the wilderness and seizing the leadership role for himself. Hearing this, Moses was deeply anguished and pleaded with the Lord to reject their offerings.

The following day, all the dissenters presented their censers at the Entrance to the Tent of Meeting, along with Moses and Aaron. The glory of the Lord appeared to the whole assembly. The Lord, angry with the situation, asked Moses and Aaron to separate themselves from the congregation so He could instantly destroy them all. Moses and Aaron immediately fell to their knees and interceded for the people, pleading with God to spare the entire assembly for the sins of a few.

God commanded Moses to instruct the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. As Moses announced to the assembly that God would show His power by causing the earth to open up and swallow the rebels alive, the ground under the dissenters split apart. They fell into the opening, along with all their possessions, and the earth closed back up over them. Thus, they perished, and the rest of the Israelites fled in fear.

A fire then burst forth from the Lord, consuming the 250 men who had followed Korah in rebellion. And thus, God’s judgment was carried out.

But the following day, the Israelites accused Moses and Aaron, saying, “You have killed the Lord’s people!” God, in his anger, unleashed a plague. As the people started dying, Moses asked Aaron to make atonement for the people. Aaron quickly grabbed his censer, put in fire from the altar and incense, and rushed to stand between the living and the dead. As a result, the plague was stopped.

Overall, 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who died because of Korah’s rebellion. In the end, God’s chosen ones, Moses and Aaron, stood as leaders of the people, anointed by God Himself. The rebellion exemplified the danger of rebelling against the Lord’s anointed, and the story became a cautionary tale for all of Israel.