NUMBERS LESSON 21
We will begin this lesson in Numbers 16:1 "Now Korah, the son of
Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the
sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took [men]:"
Korah was the leader of this group of rebellious Levites, the
sons of Eliab, and the son of Reuben.
Numbers 16:2 "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the
children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly,
famous in the congregation, men of renown:"
Each of these princes were leaders of thousands. Numbers 1:16
"These [were] the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes
of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel." These were well known
leaders of the various families. These 250 men were from just about
every tribe of the 12. To say they rose up before Moses, means against
Moses.
Numbers 16:3 "And they gathered themselves together against Moses
and against Aaron, and said unto them, [Ye take] too much upon you,
seeing all the congregation [are] holy, every one of them, and the
LORD [is] among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the
congregation of the LORD?"
It appears, a great deal of jealousy has arisen among these men
against Moses and Aaron. They regarded Moses as the spiritual and
secular leader of all of the Israelites. They certainly had that
right. The thing they were in error about, was who elevated Moses to
that position. They accused Moses of elevating himself to that
position of authority, when in fact, God elevated Moses to that
position. They felt they were just as capable as Moses, since they,
too, were from the chosen family of God. The LORD truly was among them
in the cloud by day, and the fire by night. It was God, however, who
called Moses to such a position of leadership. Moses had not even
asked for the job.
Numbers 16:4 "And when Moses heard [it], he fell upon his face:"
Moses fell upon his face, not for himself, but for them. He knew
this would anger God.
Numbers 16:5 "And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company,
saying, Even to morrow the LORD will shew 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."
Korah was a close relative of Moses, and perhaps, because he was
of the same tribe as Moses, he felt he was as close to God as Moses.
It can easily be assumed from this, that Korah actually wanted to be
high priest. Korah's pride has gotten him, and all of his followers,
in trouble. God, throughout the Bible, has separated those who are
His, like he did for Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Always, those
who are separated out, who do not belong to God, are killed.
Numbers 16:6 "This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his
company;"
Only priests could burn the holy oil to God. Perhaps, this is why
Moses chose this particular test. If God does not kill them for
impersonating a priest, then they are right. The smoke that came from
the censers symbolized the prayers that rise to heaven.
Numbers 16:7 "And put fire therein, and put incense in them
before the LORD to morrow: 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."
Moses tells them, here, that God chooses who the priests are.
They cannot proclaim themselves as priests. If they think Moses and
Aaron have taken this authority for themselves, what do they think
they are trying to do?
Numbers 16:8 "And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye
sons of Levi:"
They are warned by Moses, here, to listen carefully. He
recognizes them as sons of Levi, it appears it is a prayer from Moses
for them to change their minds, before they get in serious trouble.
Numbers 16:9 "[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?"
It appears, they had thought the job God had given them to be of
lesser importance, than the job He had given Moses and Aaron. God,
Himself, had called them to the job they had been doing. It is as if,
they are questioning God.
Numbers 16:10 "And he hath brought thee near [to him], and all
thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood
also?"
God had set them aside from the entire congregation for the job
He had called them to do. They believe themselves to be above doing
the menial labor of carrying the tabernacle from place to place. They
want to take the top position of priest.
Numbers 16:11 "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, says, "It is alright to murmur against me, but why Aaron"?
The Israelites gathered here, made up their mind that the priesthood
belonged to all Israelites.
Numbers 16:12 "And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the
sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:"
They are showing no respect for Moses, or his office. Perhaps,
Moses thought they were part of the problem, and sent for them.
Perhaps, he thought they might be able to stop the uprising. Why he
wanted them is not explained here. They were not part of the 250,
however.
Numbers 16:13 "[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 the
wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?"
They are blaming Moses with not going into the promised land of
milk and honey. They forget their spies advised against it, and
angered God. They are aware that they will die in the wilderness,
because God told the entire congregation. I am sure Moses did not want
to rule over them at all. The position of leadership was thrust upon
him by the LORD.
Numbers 16:14 "Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that
floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and
vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come
up."
They fear that Moses will blind the 250 who did come up, and they
do not want to be punished, the same as them. They are complaining,
however, that they did not get their promised inheritance.
Numbers 16:15 "And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD,
Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them,
neither have I hurt one of them."
As absolute ruler of these people, Moses could have taken
everything they owned, but he did not. The ass was the least valuable
of all the animals. That is why he said, he had not taken even an ass.
Moses was angry, because of the false accusations against him. Moses,
in his anger, asks God not to accept their offerings.
Numbers 16:16 "And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy
company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:"
After Moses has finished speaking with the Reubenites, he goes
back to the same statement as before. Come tomorrow, and let God judge
between those He has chosen as leaders.
Numbers 16:17 "And take every man his censer, and put incense in
them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred
and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each [of you] his censer."
How each man had a censer, I do not know. This perhaps was
something they used as a censer; some bronze metal pan, where fire
could burn the oil. Notice, 250 of them brought their censers and
Aaron brought his censer. This is to determine who is priest.
Numbers 16:18 "And they took every man his censer, and put fire
in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron."
They had become so filled with themselves, that they were not
afraid to burn the incense in the censers. They came to the door of
the tabernacle, as Moses had requested.
Numbers 16:19 "And Korah gathered all the congregation against
them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the
glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation."
All of the congregation gathers around the door of the
tabernacle, and God appears to them all. His glory meant that He was
surrounded by fire and smoke, so the people saw the smoke. This will
leave no doubt that the separation is by the LORD, Himself.
Numbers 16:20 "And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron,
saying,"
Even though the congregation is there, the LORD speaks to Moses
and Aaron.
Numbers 16:21 "Separate yourselves from among this congregation,
that I may consume them in a moment."
God wants Moses and Aaron to move away from the people, so He can
kill all of them.
Numbers 16:22 "And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God,
the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou
be wroth with all the congregation?"
This is Moses and Aaron who fell on their faces, and begged for
the congregation's lives. Notice, the God of the spirits of all flesh.
It is our spirit that worships God. Moses asks God to kill the leader
of this uprising, and let the others live.
Numbers 16:23 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
This means that instantly the LORD answered Moses.
Numbers 16:24 "Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up
from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."
Korah was the one who instigated this uprising, and came, and
accused Moses. Dathan and Abiram were those rebellious, who refused to
come when Moses called them to the tabernacle. The Lord said,
"everyone get away from them".
Numbers 16:25 "And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram;
and the elders of Israel followed him."
If they would not come to Moses, Moses went to them. These elders
were the 70 men God had chosen to help Moses.
Numbers 16:26 "And he spake unto the congregation, saying,
Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch
nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins."
This was absolute separation from them, and everything they own.
All of it is doomed.
Numbers 16:27 "So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah,
Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and
stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and
their little children."
The congregation fled from Korah, Dathan, and Abiram's tents.
Only those of their immediate family were left with them.
Numbers 16:28 "And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD
hath sent me to do all these works; for [I have] not [done them] of
mine own mind."
All of those who are chosen to do a specific task for God, are
not operating in their own power. It is God working through them. All
they do is submit to the will of God in their lives. Now, God will
prove to everyone that Moses is His leader upon the earth.
Numbers 16:29 "If these men die the common death of all men, or
if they be visited after the visitation of all men; [then] the LORD
hath not sent me."
Moses sets the rules for believing these men. If they live a full
life, and do not die suddenly, then they are of God. If they do not
die suddenly, then God did not send Moses.
Numbers 16:30 "But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth
open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that [appertain] unto
them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand
that these men have provoked the LORD."
The new thing, here, is speaking of instant expulsion from this
earth. They have angered God. The reason it is important for their
entire family to be destroyed, is so the entire uprising will stop.
Numbers 16:31 "And it came to pass, as he had made an end of
speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that [was]
under them:" Numbers 16:32 "And the earth opened her mouth, and
swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that
[appertained] unto Korah, and all [their] goods."
This was similar to an earthquake, but since it was on the
request of Moses, it is supernatural. The ground just opens up where
these evil people are. The area, which each of the three men ruled
just went into a giant hole in the ground. The people, and everything,
and everyone that belonged to them perished instantly.
Numbers 21 Questions
1. Who was the leader of this rebellious group?
2. Who were with him in this rebellion?
3. How many princes came with him?
4. What did they accuse Moses of?
5. They regarded Moses as the _________ and ________ leader.
6. What did they believe about all Israel?
7. How was the LORD with them?
8. Why did Moses fall upon his face?
9. Korah was a close relative of _________.
10. What is another example of God destroying those who are not His.
11. Only _________ could burn incense.
12. When they burn the incense, they are ___________ the priest.
13. Moses recognizes them as sons of ______.
14. What had God called them to do?
15. When they want to do another job, they are _________ God.
16. What were they really wanting from Moses?
17. What two men did Moses call to the tabernacle?
18. Did they come?
19. What accusation did these two make against Moses.
20. They were fearful Moses would _______ the 250.
21. What time did God put on the test?
22. When they burned the incense, what was determined?
23. Where did God meet with them?
24. Who did God speak to?
25. Why did God want Moses to separate from the congregation?
26. Quote Numbers chapter 16 verse 22.
27. Who went with Moses to Dathan and Abiram?
28. What did Moses tell the congregation to do?
29. What would prove these men to be of God?
30. What would prove that they were not on God's side?
31. What happened to them?
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