Numbers 16: Korah's Rebellion

Korah, a Levite, with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 leaders, rises up against Moses and Aaron, claiming everyone is holy. Moses calls for a test with incense before God. The ground opens and swallows the rebels' households, and fire consumes the 250. The next day the people grumble, a plague begins, and Aaron runs with incense to stand between the dead and the living, and the plague stops.

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World English Bible · 50 verses

¹ Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took some men.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² They rose up before Moses, with some of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourself, since all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them! Why do you lift yourselves up above Yahweh’s assembly?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ When Moses heard it, he fell on his face.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ He said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning, Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, he will cause to come near to him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ Do this: have Korah and all his company take censers,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow. It shall be that the man whom Yahweh chooses, he shall be holy. You have gone too far, you sons of Levi!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of Yahweh’s tabernacle, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh! What is Aaron that you complain against him?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, “We won’t come up!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but you must also make yourself a prince over us?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ Moreover you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We won’t come up.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, “Don’t respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company go before Yahweh, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Each man take his censer and put incense on it, and each man bring before Yahweh his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each with his censer.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ They each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Korah assembled all the congregation opposite them to the door of the Tent of Meeting. Yahweh’s glory appeared to all the congregation.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!’”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then Yahweh hasn’t sent me.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁰ But if Yahweh makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belong to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³¹ As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³² The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³³ So they, and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁴ All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁵ Fire came out from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁷ “Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire away from the camp; for they are holy,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁸ even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before Yahweh. Therefore they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³⁹ Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which those who were burned had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁰ to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Yahweh, that he not be as Korah and as his company; as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴¹ But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed Yahweh’s people!”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴² When the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the Tent of Meeting. Behold, the cloud covered it, and Yahweh’s glory appeared.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴³ Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁴ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁵ “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!” They fell on their faces.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁶ Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer, put fire from the altar in it, lay incense on it, carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from Yahweh! The plague has begun.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁷ Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the middle of the assembly. The plague had already begun among the people. He put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁸ He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴⁹ Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, in addition to those who died about the matter of Korah.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵⁰ Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stopped.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

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Numbers 16 · Preschool

Aaron Stops the Sickness

Name Date

Color Aaron holding the incense! He helped save the people.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”

Numbers 16:48 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Say: Aaron ran to help the people. Jesus helps us too.

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Numbers 16 · Grade 4

Who Does God Choose?

Name Date

Read and Think

Korah, a Levite, joined with Dathan and Abiram of Reuben and 250 well-known leaders. They accused Moses and Aaron of lifting themselves up. Moses reminded the Levites that God had already given them a special place of service. Was it a small thing? Yet they wanted the priesthood also.

Moses set up a test. Each man would bring a censer with incense before Yahweh, and God would show whom He chose. Moses also said that if the ground opened and swallowed the rebels, the people would know Yahweh had sent him. The ground split apart, and the rebels' tents went down. Fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the 250 men.

Even after this, the people blamed Moses and Aaron for the deaths, and a plague began. Aaron did not run away. He ran into the danger with incense and made atonement. The plague stopped. The rebels had grabbed for honor, but Aaron humbly served to save others.

Show What You Know

Who joined Korah?
What test did Moses set up?
How did the people respond the next day?
How was Aaron different from the rebels?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

KorahFireGodincenseAaron

, a Levite, joined with Dathan and Abiram of Reuben and 250 well-known leaders.
They accused Moses and of lifting themselves up.
Moses reminded the Levites that had already given them a special place of service.
Each man would bring a censer with before Yahweh, and God would show whom He chose.
came out from Yahweh and consumed the 250 men.

Think About It

Why is it dangerous to be jealous of someone else's role?
How can you be like Aaron, helping others even when it is hard?

Memory Verse

“He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.”

Numbers 16:48 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the leaders You give us. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Why was complaining against Aaron really complaining against God?
How is Jesus like Aaron, standing between us and death?

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Numbers 16 · Grade 5

Between the Dead and the Living

Name Date

Read and Think

Korah the son of Izhar, a Levite of the family of Kohath, led a revolt with Dathan and Abiram of Reuben and 250 princes of the congregation. Their charge sounded spiritual: All the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them. Why do you lift yourselves up? Moses answered, In the morning, Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy. He exposed their real aim: Do you seek the priesthood also? Their grumbling against Aaron was really against Yahweh.

Dathan and Abiram refused to come and accused Moses of bringing them out of a land flowing with milk and honey, the very words used of Canaan. Moses declared that if the ground opened, the people would know Yahweh had sent him. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with their households, and fire consumed the 250 offering incense. Their bronze censers became a covering for the altar, a sign that only Aaron's offspring were to burn incense. Numbers 26:11 later notes that the sons of Korah did not die, and some of their descendants are named in the titles of several Psalms.

The next day the whole congregation murmured, You have killed Yahweh's people. Wrath went out and a plague began. Moses sent Aaron with fire from the altar and incense. Aaron ran into the middle of the assembly, made atonement, and stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. Hebrews 7:25 says Jesus always lives to make intercession for those who come to God. Like Aaron, but far greater, He stands between us and death.

Show What You Know

What did Korah's group claim?
What were they really seeking?
What did the censers become?
What does Numbers 26:11 add?
How does Hebrews 7:25 connect to Aaron's action?

Crossword

Across

Aaron stopped it.
A pan for incense.
God would show whom He chose.

Down

Stood between the living and dead.
Burned in the test.
A Levite who rebelled.

Think About It

Korah's words sounded spiritual but hid pride. How can we check our own motives?
How does knowing Jesus intercedes for you give you hope?

Memory Verse

He said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning, Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, he will cause to come near to him.

Numbers 16:5 (WEB)

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Prayer

Dear God, thank You for the leaders You give us. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

What is the difference between serving God and wanting to be seen?
How can you be thankful for the job God has given you?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?

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Numbers 16: Korah's Rebellion

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Aaron Stops the Sickness

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Aaron Helps

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Mini Maze

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Standing in the Gap

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Korah's Rebellion

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Aaron Runs to Help

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Rebellion Against God's Choice

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Korah's Rebellion

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Who Does God Choose?

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Between the Dead and the Living

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Crossword

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