Korah was a Levite who led a rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. He challenged the Levitical priesthood and demanded that the entire people be regarded as equally holy. His rebellion ended dramatically when the earth opened up and swallowed him and his co-conspirators.
Korah gathered 250 leaders from the congregation and challenged the authority of Moses and Aaron, claiming that the entire congregation was holy and that Moses had exalted himself.
1Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, took action, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben.
2They rose up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty men of Israel, leaders of the community, appointed members of the assembly, men of reputation.
3They gathered against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"
Moses challenged Korah and his followers to come forward with their incense burners the next day, so that the Lord Himself could show whom He had chosen.
17Each man is to take his censer and put incense on it—two hundred and fifty censers in all—and present it before the LORD. You and Aaron are each to bring your censer as well."
19When Korah had gathered the whole community against them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the entire community.
The earth opened its mouth and swallowed Korah, Dathan, and Abiram along with their families and everything they owned. They went down alive into Sheol.
11Woe to them! For they have taken the way of Cain, they have thrown themselves into Balaam's error for profit, and they have perished in Korah's rebellion.