So many times before the children of Israel would anger God to the point that he wanted to kill off all the people. However Moses would step in and plead with God, and God would have a change of mind. In this chapter we will see one of the sons of Levi try to undermine the work of Moses and Aaron, and those that join him will pay with their lives. In this chapter we will cover the Rebellion of Korah, and those that joined in with him in the rebellion.

Numbers 16:1 "Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:"

The word Korah in the Hebrew means "ice". Korah's father Izhar was the brother of the Moses, Miriam and Aaron's father. So Korah was the first cousin to Moses, and the one that was starting all the gossip that would cause so much trouble in the camp. This was a squabble within family members. Miriam, Moses and Aaron were of the family of the Kohathites.

Numbers 15:32 recorded the first of the three events cursed in the camp of the of the children of Israel. The man that went out and picked up sticks on the Sabbath, and for that, God had the young man stoned to death. The second is found here in Numbers 16; the usurpation or undermining of God's anointed, Moses, by these four men. Korah was the first cousin of Moses and Aaron, and Dathan, Abiram, Eliab, and On were all of the tribe of Reuben. The reason these five men were drawn together, is that Korah and the sons of Reuben all camped on the south side of the camp; they were neighbors, and these men listened to the nonsense that Korah put out, and gave him support in his rebellion.

We read what God thought of people trying to undermine His Anointed, Moses, in Numbers 12: when Miriam talked Aaron into complaining to Moses about his abilities. God sent Leprosy upon Miriam. And Moses and Aaron pleaded with God to take the Leprosy from her. So this chapter is a second lesson on talking too loosely about one of God's anointed: a person of leadership over God's people.

The rebellion started with Korah, and his four neighbors coming together with lose talk that turned into gossip in the south camp. This lose talk spread to other leaders throughout the other camps on the east, north and west sides. It came to a point to where two hundred and fifty men rose up to take action against Moses.

Numbers 16:2 "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:"

These two hundred and fifty men were all leaders of their tribes, but they listened to the rebellious gossip that was spreading like wildfire and they believe what was being said. Sure part of what was said might have been true, but that was the kindling that started this fire of rebellion. This gossip reached the princes in the camp and they appointed themselves as a committee to bring the problem before Moses personally. Remember though that the number of Israelites numbered well over two million, so these men did not represent the people, but themselves and their rebellious position.

When gossip starts in a church by one individual, and is picked up by a few itching ears, and spread to more itching ears to where it reaches a many. In time those people in the church start to believe their own gossip, and take action against God's appointed in charge of the congregation. There is nothing new under the sun, as Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 1:9; "The thing that hath been , it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun." Do you get what he was trying to say? Just as it happened in these early days to the children of Israel, it will happen in your church and community today, in these end times.

So what is important is that we understand how it could happen, gossip building off some spattering of truth, and molded into a lie, to where people get swept away in rebellion against the men and women that God has appointed over His people.

Numbers 16:3 "And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, "Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?"

These two hundred and fifty men of leadership plotted together against Moses and Aaron, and then with this planned attack, they came to face Moses and Aaron all together as a unit. These men forgot one thing though, and that was that there were conditions before Israel could be called a holy nation. Remember what started all this rumbling in the first place. There were ten times when things were not going right, named in a prior chapter, and then to top it off, when ten spies returned with bad reports of the land, the people believed the lies of the ten men rather than trusting in the Lord that He would go before them, and give them the land. They lost their faith in God, and relied on themselves instead of trusting in the Lord. Because of their lack of faith, God withdrew Himself from them, and told Moses to tell the congregation that all the people over the age of twenty would die in the wilderness, and not enter into the promise land.

Exodus 19:5 "Now there, if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people: for all the earth is Mine."

There was an assumption that the entire congregation of Isralites were "holy", and in the Strong's Hebrew dictionary, this "Holy" is # 6918. "Kadowash, kaw-doshe'; from 6942, sacred (ceremonially, or morally), as a noun, God (by eminence), a saint, an angel, or sanctuary." The children of Israel as a congregation that followed the instructions of God were holy as they made their offerings and sacrifices, they were set aside by God as His People, yet this little band of gossipers and trouble makers led by Korah, and his neighbors were definitely not holy and set aside unto YHVH. Their action was against God's appointed, Moses and Aaron and the way that God was leading them. Remember that Moses did nothing unless God told him to do it first, and Aaron followed the instructions of God.

So what was Moses' reaction to all this rebellion in the camp?

Numbers 16:4 "And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:"

Moses did not react with his own words; but he took it directly to the Lord. This was not a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, but a rebellion against God. Moses told the people what God said would happen because of their disobedience, and not following his instruction to enter into the promise land. The people here did not see that what Moses said and did was done because God told him to do it; all they could see was Moses and Aaron. So Moses and Aaron got all the blame for their lack of faith.

Numbers 16:5 "And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, "Even to morrow the Lord will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him."

Moses did nothing that day, but told Korah and his rebellious group of leaders to come back tomorrow, and we will deal with this. Moses wanted to take it to the Lord, for instructions as to what to say.

Numbers 16:6 "This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company:"

Numbers 16:7 "And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi."

Notice that Moses is directing this instruction to those sons or mind of the tribe of Levi that are suppose to be the spiritual leaders, and letting them know that a real test is coming. Remember what happened with two of the sons of Aaron took strange fire and put it on the altar of God. Leviticus 10:1 "And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He commanded them not."

Nadab and Abihu were the two oldest sons of Aaron, and they were anointed and set apart for service before the Lord. God told them to that the only fire that could be used at the altar of God was from the fire that God put there on the Altar. They were creative and brought live coals from the fireside back home, which went directly against the order that God made through Moses and Aaron. They mixed heathen ways with God's ways and He did not like it.

Leviticus 10:2 "And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

If you want God's wrath down on you, then go messing around with God ways, and God's appointed leaders.

Leviticus 10:3 "Then Moses said unto Aaron, "This is it that the Lord spake, saying, `I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified.' " "

Do you get what this is saying? When YHVH Father speaks, He expects us to listen. When YHVH Father appoints and anoints someone to service, He will be the one that chooses who it will be. The Holy Spirit opens our minds to His direction today, sure, but He spoke from the holy of holies, and the mercy seat to Moses. Direction were given to Moses, passed on to Aaron, and on to the congregation, and Korah and these men standing before Moses didn't like the chain of command.

Moses told Korah and the men of the Levites, as well as these two hundred and fifty leaders to take their censers and put their coals and incense in them and bring them to the tabernacle tomorrow. We know exact how this is going over with God, for we say it earlier with Nadab and Abihu, those priests, the sons of Aaron.

Numbers 16:8 "And Moses said unto Korah, "Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi:"

Numbers 16:9 "Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?"

Moses is reminding Korah before he brought this strange fire to the tabernacle, that what he was not a small thing before God. Moses could see that the position of priest, and all that was done to Anoint and separate the priests from the people in the congregation meant little to Korah. This was a sacred thing to minister to the people, and Korah and those Levites with him in rebellion thought of it as nothing more than a job. When God separates you from the rest of the people and gives you understanding that they do not have, there is a responsibility to that calling, and it meant so little ot Korah.

Numbers 16:10 "And he hath brought thee near to Him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?"

Leviticus 8:1 - 36 dealt with the priesthood, the Consecration of the Levitical priest that took place to separate the priest from the congregation, and make him special before God. Moses took the priest before the congregation, and washed them with water; put each mantle of clothes on them; the robe; the ephod, the girdle; the breastplate with the Urim and Thummim; and then put the mitre upon his head with the golden plate, and it became the holy crown. Korah and these priests of Levi with him went through that consecration ceremony, and they listened to the duties of Ministration that went along with their commission, yet it meant so little to them. Moses reminded Korah that he and those sons of Levi asked and sought their position in the priesthood.

Numbers 16:11 "For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?" "

It is the next day, and Moses is asking Korah to tell him what is the problem that would cause you to murmur against Moses. You knew that what I and Aaron did is directed by God, so why are you here? Do you know what Aaron's duties before God is?

Numbers 16:12 "And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Elab: Which said, "We will not come up:"

Now on the second day, Dathan and Abiram did not show up for the meeting at the tabernacle, so Moses sent for them. They both refuse to come.

Numbers 16:13 "Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?"

In response the blamed Moses for all the things that went wrong, the forgot the bondage that the Israelites were under back in Egypt, and because of the false reports of the ten bad spies, they thought of those days of bondage as greater and more prosperous that living in Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. As we read in Numbers 13:31 - 33 those ten spies gave their evil report of the land and the people, and the Israelites believed them and rebelled. They cried all night, and sought to stone Moses and Aaron in the morning. The Lord took delight in setting up the land and making it right for them, yet the people refuse to have the faith that God would deliver them as He promised them. You can basically see the mind of the people through the words of Dathan and Abiram. The people blamed Moses and Aaron for their lack of faith in God keeping His Word.

Stop and look around us today, where our people lay all the blame for the things that are coming over our country. The loss of Jobs; the evil in the streets, the godless acts that are being done both in schools and homes; They have taken God out of their life and removed any faith in His Word, and they blame everyone around them for the evil that comes down on their own heads. God said that He would protect us when we follow His Ways, but most Christians today like to set their own ways, do their own thing, create their own little gods, and then they get to a point with the bondage of this world looks far better that the promises and security of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Numbers 16:14 "Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up." "

These two little cry babies are blaming Moses, the one this message is directed to, for all the things that have gone wrong. They are telling Moses, "you can put out our eyes, but we will not come."

Numbers 16:15 "And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, "Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them."

The point to this verse is watch out what you say, for God has a way of letting you select the punishment that comes down on your own head. The offering spoken of here was the gift offering, the "Minchah", which was given to secure favor with the Lord. In that these men would not come, Moses told the Lord; "Do not respect the offerings of these men: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them." Moses is asking God to turn his back on these men that are rebelling against the Lord.

Numbers 16:16 "And Moses said unto Korah, "Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:"

Numbers 16:17 "And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer." "

These men are so ignorant that they have forgotten what happened to Aaron's two oldest sons, Nadab and Abihu when they tried to bring strange fire into the Tabernacle. They were killed instantly.

Numbers 16:18 "And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron."

These men are bringing in their own fire hot coals from back home into the tabernacle of God. They are mixing the fire of the world with the fire from God; mixing their ways with God's ways, and it just doesn't work.

When you take the bread of God's Word and mix leaven from the heathen customs, you are going against the ways of our Heavenly Father. Jesus gave this lesson in Matthew 16:11, after Disciples had gathered up the leftover bread from feeding the five thousand. It was a lesson to them about mixing thought, about being deceived; "How is it that ye do not understand, that I speak it not to you concerning the bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?"

Just as the lose talk that started with Korah, promoted through Dathan, Abiram, and On to these two hundred and fifty other leaders, in a very short time the truth was completely distorted and turned around. Truth became fiction; bad became good, and good bad. Friend, it is just as true today as it was in Moses day, and in Jesus day, for if you allow the gossipers tongues move freely in your congregation, false fire will destroy the truth in your group.

Numbers 16:19 "And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation."

This leaven had spread to where the entire congregation is present for this meeting, and God was there to make Himself known to them. The full splendor of the Lord was present for all to see and hear. God is now giving instruction to Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16:20 "And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,"

Numbers 16:21 " "Separate yourselves from among these congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."

We saw what happened the last time two men brought their censers into the Tabernacle with strange fire in Leviticus 10:1-3, and God was about to do the same to this tribe of two hundred and fifty rebellious men, and those that came with them. He struck Aaron's two sons dead. Do you think God like troublemakers? Think again!

Numbers 16:22 "And they fell upon their faces, and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be wroth with all the congregation?"

Moses and Aaron fell to their faces on the ground and pleaded with God to spare the congregation of the wrath that was to follow. There were many ignorant, innocent followers that came tagging along, because they followed the crowd on that day.

Did you get the picture and try to apply it to our day. We are living in the end times, and the coming of the deceiver, Satan in his role as Antichrist. Many Christians are going to do exactly as this congregation did, and tag along, bow to the wrong Christ in ignorance, and in obedience to their traditions of men, give service to the one they think is the True Christ, who in fact is Satan.

I'm sure that these men that came against Moses thought in their minds that they were doing the right thing, Yet we see here what God thinks of them, Our Heavenly Father YHVH wants to kill them all.

Numbers 16:23 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 16:24 " "Speak unto the congregation, saying, `Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.' " "

The tabernacle of these three men, are their tents, their homes where their wives and kids are. God is telling the congregation of all the people to separate themselves from these men's tents for something is going to happen.

Numbers 16:25 "And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him."

Numbers 16:26 "And he spake unto the congregation, saying, "Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be consumed in all their sins." "

The people of Israel have now been warned by God through the mouth of Moses, to get away from these wicked men's tents and touch nothing that belongs to these men that were in rebellion. If you have something that belongs to them, then when the wrath of God comes down on them, it will come down on you also.

Numbers 16:27 "So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children."

I can see the other neighbors of the these men heading home to take up their tents and get it and their families out of the way. They saw what happened to the two sons of Aaron, that brought strange fire into the tabernacle, and when Korah Dathan and Abiram brought their censers with incense and strange fire to the tabernacle, they know what was about to happen.

Numbers 16:28 "And Moses said, "Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them in mine own name."

Moses is letting all the people know that every thing that he has said and done: from the plagues of Egypt, to the parting of the Red Sea, to the flowing of the water out of the rock, and the manna and quail that were given when there was no food was done by God. All the laws and instructions from mount Sinai, to the guidance through the wilderness was at the mouth of YHVH the Almighty. It was not done by Him, but in and by the hand of God.

All gifts that any person that names the name of our Lord Jesus Christ has, received them for their service to God. They are not yours to lay claim to, and this verse that Moses is stating applies to anyone of Christ, that calls themselves a Christian; for all gifts come from the Father. If you use your gift in the name of the Lord and claim credit for the results of the Holy Spirit working in and through you, you are nothing but a common thief.

The Problem with Korah, Dathan and Abiram is that they want to share some of the credit that Moses is getting, for they could not see the hand of God in those things. They want the priesthood to become a democracy, and that is not the way that it works. God sets the course, gives the laws and instructions through His Word, and demands that those set of instructions are followed. When they are not; then it was time for sacrifices and offerings. However, when man thinks that he wants to alter God's ways, and mix and change God's ways, then man is in trouble. Then God separates Himself from them, and those that tried to do it their way are in deep trouble.

Remember that there are some two and a half million people that are numbered as Israelites. From that number, Korah, Dathan and Abiram, got their little party that grew to two hundred and fifty leaders, and they went to challenge Moses' authority before the congregation. Korah was at the center of it all, for he was a priest, and the others held positions of authority amongst their people of the different tribes. These men want to change God's ways into a democracy, where the people set the standards to govern themselves. Now bring this to the New Testament time.

When our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Cross as the unblemished sacrificial Lamb for one and all times, These laws and commandments of God still exist, only the statutes and ordinances that dealt with blood sacrifices were fulfilled in the blood of Jesus the Christ [the Anointed One]. The Way was set by God, and as the people accepted that way through their repentance in Jesus' name, they became a member in that body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul addressed this this body of Christ in Romans 12:3-8.

Romans 12:3 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

God has a place for each of in His ministry, and some hold more responsibility than others. If God places anyone over His people, He expects that person to be responsible to the duties that he or she has been placed. Only one person should receive all the praise, and that is not you, but our Lord Jesus Christ.

Revelation 4:11 "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created."

You are a created being, and what ever glory and honor, or power that you possess is within you because God put that gift there. He gets the glory and honor for what you do, and when you try to take that to yourself, you become a thief. You were created for one purpose, and that is to give God pleasure, so stop and ask yourself; what pleasure have I given Him lately.

Old Korah lost sight of his position, sure Moses anointed him and set him up in the priesthood, and what did he do with his position? He went out to other leaders of the people, and formed their new denomination, they wanted to reestablish God's ways into a democracy where they decided the direction of people. They got tired of listening to God through the mouth of Moses, and wanted a part in what was done. Did God take pleasure in their ways and ideas, in attacking Moses, the man that He placed in charge? O course not. The Apostle Paul goes on to say;

Romans 12:4 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:"

The body of Christ has many members all over the world, and in each church there are many different positions. Though their may be many different races and abilities in this body, they all became Christians through one way, and that way is by their faith, and believe in repentance through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. They all believe that Jesus lived the perfect unblemished life, and voluntarily took the suffering and went to the Cross to pay for the sins of those that would believe on Him. The key to this faith is when you come to understand that Jesus is the Son of God; That He came into this world just as you and I did, by the birthing process. That is the only way that He could become the perfect sacrifice for our sins..

Romans 12:5 "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

A body has many members, the legs, the eyes, the arms and hair, nose and so on. One thing is true though, when the arm hurts, the whole body hurts; when the eye goes blind the whole body suffers the effect of the eyes. Get it? Each member of the body is just as important and vital to the well being of the body as the other parts. Some may look more respectable, but all are necessary.

The One thing that we all can do though, is plant seeds of truth from God's Word to those around us. No, we don't have to do a sales job of the person, but plant the seed. The Holy Spirit causes that seed that you planted to germinate, and grow, we each have our own duty. God uses some as Pastors and Teachers, and some as singers, and lay persons that have their duties, however God will use each person to draw other to Him.

Romans 12:6 "Having them gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;"

Korah lost sight of this fact that his gift was assigned to him by God, as a son of Levi. If you are a preacher of teacher, they you have a gift to do what many others can't do, and there is a responsibility to that position. God holds you to a higher degree than He would one that was in the position of presenting His Word.

We are living in a critical time, for our generation is living in the latter day, and the signs of the end times are going on all around us. However if you have discarded the book of Revelation, and most of the Old Testament that gives us the events of our day, to prepare us for the coming of the false Christ, than you are much the same as old Korah here in Moses day. We will see what God had in store for Korah and his followers.

Numbers 16:29 "If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the Lord hath not sent me.

Moses is telling the congregation to keep an eye on the way that these men die, for if they die a death as all other men do, or if they are allowed to continue in their office of priest ("visited after the visitation"), as they had been, "then the Lord hath not sent me" Moses is telling the congregation to watch what happens to these men.

Numbers 16:30 "But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord."  

Numbers 16:31 "And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:"

Numbers 16:32 "And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods."

The congregation got the message when the earth opened and Korah, his family and goods, and the trouble makers that followed him disappeared into the ground.

Numbers 16:33 "They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation."

The earth just opened up and swallowed them up, and closed up right after they disappeared. No the congregation would not have to listen to their idle talk and gossip any more. They tried to turn the congregation against Moses and Aaron, and Moses knew that they had lost sight of what happened to Aaron's two sons that also were consumed because of the fire they brought to the tabernacle.

Numbers 16:34 "And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up also."

Numbers 16:35 "And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense."

The moment that the earth had taken Korah, and his three friends, fire came down from heaven from the Lord and consumed away every one of the two hundred and fifty leaders that had picked up the cause to make trouble for Moses and the Lord.

Numbers 16:36 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 16:37 "Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed."

The censers were hallowed, but not the burning coals that were in the censers. God ordered those coals to be dumped outside the camp.

Numbers 16:38 "The censers of the sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel." "

Numbers 16:39 "And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:"

Numbers 16:40 "To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses."

These censers that were made into a covering for the altar of God, because a reminder to those that came near, of what happened to those rebellious against God, and Moses. This this have a lasting effect on the people?

Numbers 16:41 "But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "We have killed the People of the Lord." 

The next day the murmuring started all over again, complaining and bickering against Moses and Aaron. They were saying that it was Moses and Aaron that had killed those two hundred and fifty wicked leaders. That was the start of the whole trouble, doubting the men that God had set over then.

Numbers 16:42 "And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord appeared."

The moment that Moses heard the murmuring going on, he knew that God would not stand for it, and and he and Aaron headed for the tabernacle to meet with God.

Numbers 16:43 "And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation."

Numbers 16:44 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,"

Numbers 16:45 " Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell on their faces."

God was in no mood for putting up with this any longer, and He was going to destroy the people. All of them. And Moses and Aaron fell on their faces and pleaded with God.

Numbers 16:46 "And Moses said unto Aaron, "Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the Lord; the plague is begun."

The Atonement that was made is given in Exodus 29:33; for it was to consecrate and to sanctify them from the sins that had been committed.

Numbers 16:47 "And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begin amongst the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the People."

Aaron took the fire from off the altar of God, and put incense with it into the censer, and made an atonement for the people.

Numbers 16:48 "And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed."

Numbers 16:49 "Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah."

Take the 250 killed from verse 35, and the 14,700 = 14,950, or [13 X 1,150]. In Biblical Numerics, Appendix 10 of the Companion Bible, "13" represents rebellion, apostasy, defection and revolution. The first place this was used was in Genesis 14:4 when the fourteen peoples that made up the nation of the world under the king Chedor-laomer. this government stood for twelve years and on the thirteenth year, they all rebelled.

Then later in Genesis 17:25 was the second occurrence of this number 13 came to pass. Ishmael the son of Abraham that rebelled against Isaac was 13 years old when he was circumcised. But what is interesting is that the number 13 and all of its multiples, are seen in all numbers, and in the Gematria of all names and passages that are associated with the number, deal with rebellion; just as here in Numbers 16.

Numbers 16:50 "And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed."