Numbers 16 – New American Standard Bible 2020 (NASB20)

Korah’s Rebellion

1 Now Korah ^H7141 the son ^H1121 of Izhar ^H3324, the son ^H1121 of Kohath ^H6955, the son ^H1121 of Levi ^H3878, with Dathan ^H1885 and Abiram ^H48, the sons ^H1121 of Eliab ^H446, and On ^H203 the son ^H1121 of Peleth ^H6431, sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205, took ^H3947 men,

2 and they stood ^H6965 before ^H6440 Moses ^H4872, [fn]together with some ^H376 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, 250 ^H3967 H2572 leaders ^H5387 of the congregation ^H5712 [fn]chosen ^H7148 in the assembly ^H4150, men ^H376 of renown ^H8034. 3 They assembled ^H6950 together against ^H5921 Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175, and said ^H559 to them, “[fn]You have gone far ^H7227 enough ^H7227! For all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712 are holy ^H6918, every ^H3605 one ^H3605 of them, and the LORD ^H3068 is in their midst ^H8432; so why ^H4069 do you exalt ^H5375 yourselves above ^H5921 the assembly ^H6951 of the LORD ^H3068?”

4 When Moses ^H4872 heard ^H8085 this, he fell ^H5307 on his face ^H6440; 5 and he spoke ^H1696 to Korah ^H7141 and all ^H3605 his group ^H5712, saying ^H559, “Tomorrow ^H1242 morning ^H1242 the LORD ^H3068 will make known ^H3045 who ^H834 is His, and who is holy ^H6918, and will bring ^H7126 that one near ^H7126 to Himself; indeed, the one whom ^H834 He will choose ^H977, He will bring ^H7126 near ^H7126 to Himself. 6 Do ^H6213 this ^H2088: take ^H3947 censers ^H4289 for yourselves, Korah ^H7141 and [fn]your whole ^H3605 group ^H5712, 7 and put ^H5414 fire ^H784 in them, and place ^H7760 incense ^H7004 upon them in the presence ^H6440 of the LORD ^H3068 tomorrow ^H4279; and the man ^H376 whom ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 chooses ^H977 shall be the one ^H6918 who ^H1931 is holy ^H6918. [fn]You have gone far ^H7227 enough ^H7227, you sons ^H1121 of Levi ^H3878!”

8 Then Moses ^H4872 said ^H559 to Korah ^H7141, “Hear ^H8085 now ^H4994, you sons ^H1121 of Levi ^H3878: 9 Is it too ^H4480 small ^H4592 an honor for you that the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478 has singled ^H914 you out ^H914 from the congregation ^H5712 of Israel ^H3478, to bring ^H7126 you near ^H7126 to Himself, to perform ^H5647 the service ^H5656 of the tabernacle ^H4908 of the LORD ^H3068, and to stand ^H5975 before ^H6440 the congregation ^H5712 to minister ^H8334 to them; 10 and that He has brought ^H7126 you near ^H7126, Korah, and all ^H3605 your brothers ^H251, sons ^H1121 of Levi ^H3878, with you? But are you seeking ^H1245 the priesthood ^H3550 as ^H1571 well ^H1571? 11 Therefore ^H3651 you and your whole ^H3605 group ^H5712 are the ones gathered ^H3259 together against ^H5921 the LORD ^H3068; but as for Aaron ^H175, [fn]who ^H4100 is he, that you grumble ^H3885 against ^H5921 him?”

12 Then Moses ^H4872 sent ^H7971 [fn]a summons ^H7121 to Dathan ^H1885 and Abiram ^H48, the sons ^H1121 of Eliab ^H446; but they said ^H559, “We will not come ^H5927 up ^H5927. 13 Is it [fn]not enough ^H4592 that you have brought ^H5927 us up ^H5927 out of a land ^H776 flowing ^H2100 with milk ^H2461 and honey ^H1706 to have us die ^H4191 in the wilderness ^H4057, but you would also ^H1571 appoint ^H8323 yourself as ^H8323 master ^H8323 over ^H5921 us? 14 Indeed ^H637, you have not brought ^H935 us into a land ^H776 flowing ^H2100 with milk ^H2461 and honey ^H1706, nor ^H3808 have you given ^H5414 us an inheritance ^H5159 of fields ^H7704 and vineyards ^H3754. Would you gouge ^H5365 out ^H5365 the eyes ^H5869 of [fn]these ^H1992 men ^H376? We will not come ^H5927 up ^H5927!”

15 Then Moses ^H4872 became ^H2734 very ^H3966 angry ^H2734 and said ^H559 to the LORD ^H3068, “Pay ^H6437 no ^H408 attention ^H6437 to their offering ^H4503! I have not taken ^H5375 a single ^H259 donkey ^H2543 from them, nor ^H3808 have I done ^H7489 harm ^H7489 to any ^H259 of them.” 16 Moses ^H4872 said ^H559 to Korah ^H7141, “You and all ^H3605 your group ^H5712 be present ^H1961 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 tomorrow ^H4279, you and they along with Aaron ^H175. 17 And each ^H376 of you take ^H3947 his censer ^H4289 and put ^H5414 incense ^H7004 on [fn]it, and each ^H376 of you bring ^H7126 his censer ^H4289 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068, 250 ^H3967 H2572 censers ^H4289; also you and Aaron ^H175 shall each ^H376 bring his censer ^H4289.” 18 So they took ^H3947, each ^H376 one ^H376 his own censer ^H4289, and put ^H5414 fire ^H784 on [fn]it, and placed ^H7760 incense ^H7004 on [fn]it; and they stood ^H5975 at the entrance ^H6607 of the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150, with Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175. 19 So Korah ^H7141 assembled ^H6950 all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712 against ^H5921 them at the entrance ^H6607 of the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150. And the glory ^H3519 of the LORD ^H3068 appeared ^H7200 to all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712.

20 Then the LORD ^H3068 spoke ^H1696 to Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175, saying ^H559, 21 “Separate ^H914 yourselves from among ^H8432 this ^H2088 congregation ^H5712, so that I may consume ^H3615 them instantly ^H7281.” 22 But they fell ^H5307 on their faces ^H6440 and said ^H559, “God ^H410, the God ^H430 of the spirits ^H7307 of [fn]humanity ^H3605 H1320, when one ^H259 person ^H376 sins ^H2398, will You be ^H7107 angry ^H7107 with the entire ^H3605 congregation ^H5712?”

23 Then the LORD ^H3068 spoke ^H1696 to Moses ^H4872, saying ^H559, 24 “Speak ^H1696 to the congregation ^H5712, saying ^H559, ‘Get ^H5927 away ^H5927 from the areas around ^H5439 the [fn]tents ^H4908 of Korah ^H7141, Dathan ^H1885, and Abiram ^H48.’”

25 Then Moses ^H4872 arose ^H6965 and went ^H1980 to Dathan ^H1885 and Abiram ^H48, with the elders ^H2205 of Israel ^H3478 following ^H1980 H310 him, 26 and he spoke ^H1696 to the congregation ^H5712, saying ^H559, “Get ^H5493 away ^H5493 now ^H4994 from the tents ^H168 of these ^H428 wicked ^H7563 men ^H376, and do not touch ^H5060 anything ^H3605 that belongs to them, or ^H6435 you will be swept ^H5595 away ^H5595 in all ^H3605 their sin ^H2403!” 27 So they moved ^H5927 away ^H5927 from the areas around ^H5439 the [fn]tents ^H4908 of Korah ^H7141, Dathan ^H1885, and Abiram ^H48; and Dathan ^H1885 and Abiram ^H48 came ^H3318 out ^H3318 and stood ^H5324 at the entrances ^H6607 of their tents ^H168, along with their wives ^H802, their sons ^H1121, and their little ^H2945 ones ^H2945. 28 Then Moses ^H4872 said ^H559, “By this ^H2088 you shall know ^H3045 that the LORD ^H3068 has sent ^H7971 me to do ^H6213 all ^H3605 these ^H428 deeds ^H4639; for it is not [fn]my doing ^H4480 H3820. 29 If ^H518 these ^H428 men ^H428 die ^H4191 [fn]the death ^H4194 of all ^H3605 mankind ^H120, or [fn]if they suffer ^H6485 the fate ^H6486 of all ^H3605 mankind ^H120, then the LORD ^H3068 has not sent ^H7971 me. 30 But if ^H518 the LORD ^H3068 [fn]brings ^H1254 about ^H1254 an entirely ^H1278 new ^H1278 thing ^H1278 and the ground ^H127 opens ^H6475 its mouth ^H6310 and swallows ^H1104 them with everything ^H3605 that is theirs ^H1992, and they descend ^H3381 alive ^H2416 into [fn]Sheol ^H7585, then you will know ^H3045 that these ^H428 men ^H376 have been ^H5006 disrespectful ^H5006 to the LORD ^H3068.”

31 And as he finished ^H3615 speaking ^H1696 all ^H3605 these ^H428 words ^H1697, the ground ^H127 that was under ^H8478 them split ^H1234 open ^H1234; 32 and the earth ^H776 opened ^H6605 its mouth ^H6310 and swallowed ^H1104 them, their households ^H1004, and all ^H3605 the people ^H120 who ^H834 belonged to Korah ^H7141 with all ^H3605 their possessions ^H7399. 33 So they and all ^H3605 that belonged to them went ^H3381 down ^H3381 alive ^H2416 to [fn]Sheol ^H7585; and the earth ^H776 closed ^H3680 over ^H5921 them, and they perished ^H6 from the midst ^H8432 of the assembly ^H6951. 34 Then all ^H3605 Israel ^H3478 who ^H834 were around ^H5439 them fled ^H5127 at their [fn]outcry ^H6963, for they said ^H559, “The earth ^H776 might swallow ^H1104 us!” 35 Fire ^H784 also came ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the LORD ^H3068 and consumed ^H398 the 250 ^H3967 H2572 men ^H376 who were offering ^H7126 the incense ^H7004.

36 [fn]Then the LORD ^H3068 spoke ^H1696 to Moses ^H4872, saying ^H559, 37 “Tell ^H559 Eleazar ^H499, the son ^H1121 of Aaron ^H175 the priest ^H3548, that he shall pick ^H7311 up ^H7311 the censers ^H4289 from the midst ^H996 of the burned ^H8316 area ^H8316, because ^H3588 they are ^H6942 holy ^H6942; and you are to scatter ^H2219 the [fn]burning ^H784 coals ^H784 farther ^H1973 away ^H1973. 38 As for the censers ^H4289 of these ^H428 [fn]men ^H2400 who ^H2400 have sinned ^H2400 at the cost of their own lives ^H5315, have them made ^H6213 into hammered ^H7555 sheets ^H6341 as plating ^H6826 for the altar ^H4196, since ^H3588 they did present ^H7126 them before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068 and they are ^H6942 holy ^H6942; and they shall [fn]serve ^H1961 as a sign ^H226 to the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478.” 39 So the priest ^H3548 Eleazar ^H499 took ^H3947 the bronze ^H5178 censers ^H4289 which ^H834 the men who were burned ^H8313 had offered ^H7126, and they hammered ^H7554 them out ^H7554 as plating ^H6826 for the altar ^H4196, 40 as a reminder ^H2146 to the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 so ^H4616 that ^H4616 no ^H3808 [fn]layman ^H376 H2114, anyone who ^H834 was not of the [fn]descendants ^H2233 of Aaron ^H175, would approach ^H7126 to burn ^H6999 incense ^H7004 before ^H6440 the LORD ^H3068; then he would not become ^H1961 like Korah ^H7141 and his group ^H5712—just ^H834 as ^H834 the LORD ^H3068 had spoken ^H1696 to him [fn]through ^H3027 Moses ^H4872.

Murmuring and Plague

41 But on the next ^H4283 day ^H4283 all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 grumbled ^H3885 against ^H5921 Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175, saying ^H559, “You are the ones who have caused ^H4191 the death ^H4191 of the LORD’S ^H3068 people ^H5971!”

42 It came ^H1961 about ^H1961, however, when the congregation ^H5712 had assembled ^H6950 against ^H5921 Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175, that they turned ^H6437 toward ^H413 the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150, and behold ^H2009, the cloud ^H6051 covered ^H3680 it and the glory ^H3519 of the LORD ^H3068 appeared ^H7200. 43 Then Moses ^H4872 and Aaron ^H175 came ^H935 to the front ^H6440 of the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150, 44 and the LORD ^H3068 spoke ^H1696 to Moses ^H4872, saying ^H559, 45 “Get ^H7426 away ^H7426 from among ^H8432 this ^H2088 congregation ^H5712 so that I may consume ^H3615 them instantly ^H7281.” Then they fell ^H5307 on their faces ^H6440. 46 And Moses ^H4872 said ^H559 to Aaron ^H175, “Take ^H3947 your censer ^H4289 and put ^H5414 fire ^H784 in it from the altar ^H4196, and place ^H7760 incense ^H7004 on it; then bring ^H1980 it quickly ^H4120 to the congregation ^H5712 and make ^H3722 atonement ^H3722 for them, for wrath ^H7110 has gone ^H3318 out ^H3318 from the LORD ^H3068, the plague ^H5063 has begun ^H2490!” 47 Then Aaron ^H175 took ^H3947 it just ^H834 as ^H834 Moses ^H4872 had spoken ^H1696, and he ran ^H7323 into the midst ^H8432 of the assembly ^H6951; and behold ^H2009, the plague ^H5063 had begun ^H2490 among the people ^H5971. So he put ^H5414 on the incense ^H7004 and made ^H3722 atonement ^H3722 for the people ^H5971. 48 And he took ^H5975 his stand ^H5975 between ^H996 the dead ^H4191 and the living ^H2416, so that the plague ^H4046 was brought ^H6113 to ^H6113 a ^H6113 halt ^H6113. 49 But those who died ^H4191 by the plague ^H4046 were 14,700 ^{H702 H6240 H505 H7651 H3967} in number, besides ^H4480 H905 those who died ^H4191 on account ^H1697 of Korah ^H7141. 50 Then Aaron ^H175 returned ^H7725 to Moses ^H4872 at the entrance ^H6607 of the tent ^H168 of meeting ^H4150, for the plague ^H4046 had been brought ^H6113 to ^H6113 a ^H6113 halt ^H6113.