Numbers 16:1-15

1Then Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, decided to speak against Moses. Eliab's sons, Dathan and Abiram, and Peleth's son, On, who were descendants of Reuben, were with him.

2Together with 250 leaders of the Israelites, they all turned against Moses. Those were famous men that the people had chosen as their leaders.

3They all came to Moses and Aaron and they said, ‘All the Israelites are special. The Lord has chosen all of us and he is with us all. So you should not say that you are better than the rest of the Lord's people.’

4When Moses heard that, he threw himself onto the ground.

5Moses said to Korah and to all the other men, ‘Tomorrow the Lord will show us who is truly special to him. He will show us who really belongs to him. He will make the person that he chooses come near to him.

6Now do this: Get some pots for yourselves, Korah and your group of friends.

7Put fire and incense in them, to burn in front of the Lord tomorrow. Then the Lord will choose the man who is holy. You make yourselves too important, you descendants of Levi!’

8Then Moses said to Korah, ‘Listen, you descendants of Levi.

9The God of Israel has caused you Levites to be separate from all the other Israelites. He has brought you near to himself, to work in the Lord's Tent. He has chosen you to stand in front of all the people to serve them. But it seems that this is not enough for you.

10He has brought you, Korah, and all the other descendants of Levi near to himself. But it seems that you want to be priests as well.

11You are not only speaking bad words against Aaron. You and all your group are complaining against the Lord!’

12Then Moses called Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, to come to him. But they said, ‘No, we will not come.

13You have brought us out of a country where there is plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone. You have brought us here, where we will die in the desert. But it seems that that is not enough for you. It seems that you want to be our master as well!

14You have certainly not brought us into a land where there is plenty of food and drink. You have not given to us fields and vineyards, for us and for our descendants. You cannot deceive all these men. We will not come up to meet with you!’

15Moses was angry. He said to the Lord, ‘Do not accept what these men offer to you. I did not take anything from them, not even one donkey! I did not do a wrong thing to any of them.’