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Thereading is Numbers chapter 16
ByDan and Brenda Cathcart
Inthe last Torah portion, the children of Israel refused to go into the land thatGod promised to give to them. As a result, the entire generation that came outof Egypt would remain in the wilderness for forty years and die there neverseeing the fulfillment of God’s promise. However, exactly forty years fromtheir deliverance, the next generation would go into the land. The rejection ofthe land occurred in the fifth month of the second year from their deliverancefrom Egypt. That leaves thirty-eight years and seven months to go before thenew generation would enter the land. The Torah relates only one event thatoccurred during these years before it picks up the story of the journey to theland on the first day of the first month of the beginning of the fortieth yearwith the death of Miriam. The event that was recorded during the time betweenthe second and fortieth years in the wilderness was the rebellion against Mosesand Aaron led by their cousin Korach. Why did God preserve this event out ofall the events that must have happened during these years? What is Godcommunicating to future generations of Israel and to us thousands of yearslater?
Weare not told the date of Korach’s rebellion, but biblical commentators whospeculate on the timing believe it happened shortly after the children ofIsrael were sentenced to live out their lives in the wilderness. At that time,Moses and Aaron relayed God’s judgment for their grumbling and rebellion.
Numbers 14:26-29 NAS95 26 The LORDspoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 "How long shall I bear with this evilcongregation who are grumbling against Me? I have heard the complaints of thesons of Israel, which they are making against Me. 28 "Say to them, 'As Ilive,' says the LORD, 'just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will surelydo to you; 29 your corpses will fall in this wilderness, even all your numberedmen, according to your complete number from twenty years old and upward, who havegrumbled against Me.
Noticethat the word of the LORD came through both Moses and Aaron. After hearingthese words from Aaron and Moses, the armies of Israel tried to take the landby their own strength. They were soundly defeated and driven away from Kadesh whichwas in the wilderness of Paran. In this context, several questions need to beasked. What future did this generation see for themselves? Where would they gonow that they couldn’t take the land of the Canaanites? Did Korach believe thatGod really said they would die in the wilderness?
Thecomplaints began with Korach, a Levite of the family of Kohath.
Numbers 16:1-2 MKJV 1 Now Korah, theson of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, took both Dathan and Abiram,the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben; 2 even they roseup before Moses with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty rulersof the assembly, elect men in the congregation, men who were well-known.
Theroot of Korach’s discontent may have been that he was passed over for the roleof captain of the Kohathites in favor of Elizaphan, the son of Kohath’syoungest son.
Korachwins over three leaders of the tribe of Reuben: Dathan, Abiram, and On, to hiscause. Together, they influenced two hundred fifty more men who were allwell-known leaders in the congregation. This rebellion which started in theinner camp of the Levites spread to the south side of the camp where the tribeof Reuben was the leading tribe. From there it spread throughout the camp. Whenthe rebellion was fully formed, they confronted Moses and Aaron and broughttheir charges against them.
Numbers 16:3 NKJV 3 They gatheredtogether against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too muchupon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and theLORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of theLORD?"
Justlike the serpent in the Garden of Eden twisted God’s words when he tempted Adamand Eve, Korach used a twisted version of the truth to support an outrightfalse statement. The opening statement accused Moses and Aaron of exaltingthemselves above the rest of the congregation through their offices of highpriest and leader. This goes back to Mt. Sinai when God spoke the ten words toall of the congregation. At that time, the children of Israel were sofrightened that they implored Moses to speak to God for them.
Exodus 20:18-19 NKJV 18 Now all thepeople witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of thetrumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembledand stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, "You speak with us, and wewill hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die."
Inthe case of Moses, first God, and then, the children of Israel appointed Mosesto speak to God. God emphasizes Moses’ status with Him when Aaron and Miriamcomplained that Moses set himself apart from them.
Numbers 12:6-8 NKJV 6 Then He said,"Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, makeMyself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. 7 Not so with Myservant Moses; He is faithful in all My house. 8 I speak with him face to face,Even plainly, and not in dark sayings; And he sees the form of the LORD. Whythen were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?"
Asfor Aaron, God chose Aaron while they were still in Egypt. He was the one Godchose to go out and meet Moses on Mt. Sinai and accompany him back to Egypt.God’s choice of Aaron and Moses was confirmed when the fire of God consumed theoffering on the altar when Aaron and Moses entered the tabernacle together, andthen exited and blessed the people.
Leviticus 9:23-24 NKJV 23 And Mosesand Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed thepeople. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, 24 and fire cameout from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on thealtar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Korach’soutright false accusation that Moses and Aaron exalted themselves to positionsof authority is supported by a perversion of the truth. Korach states that allof the congregation is holy. It is true that the children of Israel were calledto be a holy nation and a kingdom of priests.
Exodus 19:5-6 NKJV 5 'Now therefore,if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be aspecial treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 'And youshall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the wordswhich you shall speak to the children of Israel."
However,Korach failed to pay any attention to the requirement that they must obey God’svoice in order to be holy to the LORD!
Thesecond supporting statement, that God is among the entire congregation is,again, true. However, when the tabernacle was set up, not even Moses could drawnear. In order to draw near, the children of Israel had to go through thepriesthood and bring the proper offerings! Even the arrangement of the camp wasto protect the sanctity of the tabernacle and preserve the lives of the people.Korach chose to ignore these restrictions that even though God dwelled amongthem, they couldn’t casually draw near to Him. The British Family Biblecomments on these claims by Korach.
Every word of this speech was afalsehood. Instead of “lifting himself up,” Moses humbled himself, “Who am I?”It was God who lifted him up over Israel. And Israel was as “holy,” as Moseswas ambitious. What holiness was there in so much infidelity, fear, idolatry,mutiny, disobedience?... They were still fresh from their last obstinacy; andyet these flatterers say, “All Israel is holy.”[i]
Mosesrecognized that Korach’s complaint was not really against either him or Aaron;it was against the LORD. He refers Korach’s argument to the LORD.
Numbers 16:4-7 NKJV 4 So when Mosesheard it, he fell on his face; 5 and he spoke to Korah and all his company,saying, "Tomorrow morning the LORD will show who is His and who is holy,and will cause him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses He will causeto come near to Him. 6 "Do this: Take censers, Korah and all your company;7 "put fire in them and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow, andit shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses is the holy one. You take toomuch upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!"
Mosesturns the accusation of Korach back on Korach and his supporters. Hespecifically addresses the sons of Levi among the rebels. God had alreadyhonored and set apart the entire tribe of Levi to serve the priests andtabernacle on behalf of the rest of Israel, yet these Levites wanted a greaterhonor; they wanted the priesthood.
Numbers 16:8-11 NKJV 8 Then Moses saidto Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi: 9 "Is it a small thing to youthat the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, tobring you near to Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and tostand before the congregation to serve them; 10 "and that He has broughtyou near to Himself, you and all your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you? Andare you seeking the priesthood also? 11 "Therefore you and all your companyare gathered together against the LORD. And what is Aaron that you complainagainst him?"
Thetest of who is holy is reminiscent of events at the dedication of thetabernacle when Nadab and Abihu offered incense to the LORD using strange fire.The fire of God came out and consumed Nadab and Abihu.
Aftersingling out the Levites among the followers of Korach, Moses, then, turned hisattention to Dathan and Abiram of the tribe of Reuben. When Moses calls forthem, they refuse to appear before Moses implying that it is his leadership thatthey are rejecting not God’s leadership.
Numbers 16:12-14 NKJV 12 And Mosessent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We willnot come up! 13 "Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of aland flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you shouldkeep acting like a prince over us? 14 "Moreover you have not brought usinto a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields andvineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up!"
Moseshad asked the Levites if it was a “small thing” that God had separated them outto draw near to Him and do the work of the tabernacle. Dathan and Abiram returnthe question to Moses asking if it was a “small thing” that Moses, not God, butMoses, brought them out of Egypt and didn’t bring them into the Promised Land. Whenthe ten spies told the congregation that they couldn’t defeat the armies ofCanaan, the people complained that God had brought them out of Egypt to killthem. They called for new leadership.
Numbers 14:3-4 NKJV 3 "Why hasthe LORD brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives andchildren should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return toEgypt?" 4 So they said to one another, "Let us select a leader andreturn to Egypt."
Itseems that Dathan and Abiram are pursuing this call for a new leader. Who wouldbe better to lead the children of Israel than Dathan and Abiram the descendantsof Jacob’s first son Reuben? They blamed Moses for not taking them into thePromised Land when it was their own fault that they rejected the land! As afurther insult against God, Dathan and Abiram slandered God by calling Egypt aland flowing with milk and honey! Joshua and Caleb, while remonstrating withthe children of Israel to take the land, refer to the land as a land of milkand honey.
Numbers 14:8 NKJV 8 "If the LORDdelights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, 'a landwhich flows with milk and honey.'
Dathanand Abiram refused to participate in the test of who is holy and who could drawnear to God.
Thenext morning, the two hundred fifty men along with Aaron gathered to offerincense to the LORD. Korach gathered all the congregation to watch theproceedings.
Numbers 16:17-19 NKJV 17 "Leteach take his censer and put incense in it, and each of you bring his censerbefore the LORD, two hundred and fifty censers; both you and Aaron, each withhis censer." 18 So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incenseon it, and stood at the door of the tabernacle of meeting with Moses and Aaron.19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of thetabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all thecongregation.
Noticethat it is the two hundred fifty men who attempt to offer incense while theleaders of the rebellion stand back and watch! When God saw the congregationgathered together against Moses and Aaron, it angered Him so much that He wasready to destroy the entire congregation. After Moses plead with God to onlydestroy the guilty, Moses went to the tents of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram. Korachand the congregation went with him.
Numbers 16:25-27 NKJV 25 Then Mosesrose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26And he spoke to the congregation, saying, "Depart now from the tents ofthese wicked men! Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all theirsins." 27 So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan, andAbiram; and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents,with their wives, their sons, and their little children.
Mosesasked God to destroy Korach, Dathan, and Abiram in such a way that thecongregation would know without a doubt that it was God who was bringingjudgment on them, not Moses. God responded by opening the earth and swallowingthem up.
Numbers 16:31-33 NKJV 31 Now it cameto pass, as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground split apartunder them, 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with theirhouseholds and all the men with Korah, with all their goods. 33 So they and allthose with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed over them, andthey perished from among the assembly.
Atthe same time, the other two hundred fifty rebels along with Aaron were at thedoor of the tabernacle preparing to offer incense. The fire of the LORD cameout and consumed them just like it had done to Nadab and Abihu.
Numbers 16:35 NKJV 35 And a fire cameout from the LORD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offeringincense.
Goddramatically demonstrated who was His, who was holy, and who could drawn nearto Him! Of those offering incense, only Aaron remained alive. The children ofIsrael could not draw near to God without going through Aaron and his sons, thechosen priests who were holy to the LORD. We, as believers in Yeshua as ourhigh priest, cannot draw near to God without Going through Yeshua. Without Him,it is as if we are offering strange fire to the LORD.
Thenext day, the people, reeling from the destruction of Korach, Dathan, Abiram,and two hundred fifty of their leaders, lashed out once more against Moses.They blamed Moses for killing the people of the LORD.
Numbers 16:41 NKJV 41 On the next dayall the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses andAaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the LORD."
Theycould not accept their own guilt in supporting Korach and his rebellion.Perhaps, they could not accept the consequences of their own actions when theyrejected the land. God’s anger was roused against the congregation in the formof a plague which began to rage through the congregation.
Numbers 16:46-48 NKJV 46 So Moses saidto Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense onit, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; forwrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun." 47 Then Aarontook it as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and alreadythe plague had begun among the people. So he put in the incense and madeatonement for the people. 48 And he stood between the dead and the living; sothe plague was stopped.
Aaron’sact of bringing the smoke and scent of the incense into the congregation tostop the plague emphasized that Aaron is the one who belonged to God, who washoly, and who could draw near to God. The previous day, God’s fire consumed allthose who brought the incense contrary to God’s instructions. Now, the incenseoffered by Aaron, brings their deliverance from the plague! To drive this pointhome, the leader of each tribe was instructed to bring the staff of theiroffice to lay before the LORD in the tabernacle where God would choose thestaff of the man that God chose. Aaron’s staff came to life!
Numbers 17:8 NKJV 8 Now it came topass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, andbehold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forthbuds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds.
Thechildren of Israel would not be selecting a new leader and returning to Egypt.They would remain in the wilderness and die there according to their own words.Aaron and his sons would remain priests before the LORD. The Levites wouldretain their position as servants doing the work of the tabernacle. The Leviteswere taken in the place of the firstborn to belong to God. They were chosen tobe holy to God and to draw near to Him. Leadership of the children of Israelwould change. The book of Judges shows that God selected judges from many ofthe tribes, but the priesthood would remain unchanging.
Thisis the last event the scriptures record about the generation of the children ofIsrael that came out of Egypt. It closes out God’s dealings with them. Theystarted out of Egypt with such hope and promise, but they fell short. They didnot enter the Promised Land. However, God’s promise remains. Yehovah is God;there is no other. He will rule over His people.
StudyQuestions:
2. The test of who was holy established whoGod would accept bringing the offering of incense. What does God say about the offering ofincense? What is the significance of God choosing this act as the test? What isthe connection with Nadab and Abihu?
3. Korach, Dathan, and Abiram were swallowedup by the earth. Where else do we see someone swallowed up by the Earth? Howare the situations similar to this one? What is significant about this means ofdeath?
GeneralPortion Questions
4. The rest of the Torah portion that is notabout Korach’s rebellion includes instructions for the duties of the priestsand Levites, as well as the responsibilities of the children of Israel towardthe priests and the Levites. What is the significance of these instructionsplaced here in the Torah?
5. Of all the events that must have occurredduring the thirty-eight years before God began to bring the next generationinto the Promised Land, why did God choose to have the rebellion of Korachincluded in the Torah? What is the overarching message that God iscommunicating by including this event?
6. What other insights did you gain from this teaching? What indicators are there inthis Torah Portion that point to Messiah Yeshua?
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