Numbers 16:1-14

¹Korah, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi tried to take over leadership, along with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, who were from the tribe of Reuben.

²They rebelled against Moses, and were joined by 250 well-respected Israelite leaders and members of the assembly.

³They joined together in opposition to Moses and Aaron, telling them, “You've taken too much power for yourselves! Every one of the Israelites is holy, and the Lord is among them. So why do you set yourselves above the Lord's assembly?”

⁴When Moses heard what they were saying, he fell facedown on the ground.

⁵Then he told Korah and all those with him, “In the morning the Lord is going to make it clear who is his and who is holy, and allow that person to approach him. He will only allow whoever he chooses to approach him.

⁶This is what you, Korah, and everyone with you are going to do. Take some incense burners,

⁷and tomorrow put incense in them and set it on fire in the presence of the Lord. Then the man the Lord chooses is the one who is holy. It is you Levites who are taking too much power for yourselves!”

⁸Moses also told Korah, “Listen, you Levites!

⁹Do you think it's something insignificant that the God of Israel chose you from all the other Israelites and allowed you to approach him and carry out the work in the Lord's Tabernacle, to stand before the Israelites and serve them?

¹⁰He has allowed you the privilege of approaching him, Korah, you and all the other Levites, but now you want to have the priesthood as well!

¹¹So in reality you and those who have joined you are fighting against the Lord—because who is Aaron that you should complain about him?”

¹²Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We're not going to appear before you!

¹³Haven't you done enough by taking us away from a land flowing with milk and honey in order to kill us out here in the desert? Do you have to make yourself a dictator as well, someone to rule us?

¹⁴On top of that you haven't taken us to a land flowing with milk and honey or given us fields and vineyards to own. Do you really think you can fool everyone? No, we will not attend!”