Numbers 16:1-15

1Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites, took men

2and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders of the community, chosen from the assembly, famous men.

3And they assembled against Moses and Aaron, saying to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, seeing that the whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the community of the Lord?”

4When Moses heard it he fell down with his face to the ground.

5Then he said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning the Lord will make known who are his, and who is holy. He will cause that person to approach him; the person he has chosen he will cause to approach him.

6Do this, Korah, you and all your company: Take censers,

7put fire in them, and set incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses will be holy. You take too much upon yourselves, you sons of Levi!”

8Moses said to Korah, “Listen now, you sons of Levi!

9Does it seem too small a thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel to bring you near to himself, to perform the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the community to minister to them?

10He has brought you near and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you. Do you now seek the priesthood also?

11Therefore you and all your company have assembled together against the Lord! And Aaron – what is he that you murmur against him?”

12Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up.

13Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of the land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Now do you want to make yourself a prince over us?

14Moreover, you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you think you can blind these men? We will not come up.”

15Moses was very angry, and he said to the Lord, “Have no respect for their offering! I have not taken so much as one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them!”