Korah-An Envious Rebel

Korah was a Kohathite Levite, a first cousin of Moses and Aaron. Apparently , he was loyal to Jehovah for decades.  Korah was privileged to be among those who were miraculously delivered through the Red Sea, and he likely shared in executing Jehovah's judgment against the  calf-worshiping Israelites at Mount Sinai.  (Exodus 32:26) Eventually, however, Korah became the ringleader in an uprising against Moses and Aaron that included the Reuebenites Dathan, Abiram, and On, along with  250 Israelite chieftains.  That is enough of you," they said to Moses and Aaron,  "because  the whole assembly are all of them holy and Jehovah is in their midst.  Why, then, should you lift yourselves up above the congregation of Jehovah." -Numbers 16:1-3.

After years of faithfulness, why did Korah rebel?  Surely Moses' leadership of Israel was not oppressive, for he was "by far the meekest of all the men who were upon the surface of the ground." (Numbers 12:3)  Yet, it seems that Korah envied Moses and Aaron and resented their prominence, and this led him to  say-wrongly-that they had arbitrarily and selfishly lifted themselves up above the congregation. -Psalm 106:16. 

Part of Korah's problem very likely was that he did not cherish his own privileges in God's arrangement.  True, the Kohathite Levites, were not priests, but they were teachers of God's Law.  They also carried the furniture and utensils of the tabernacle when these had to be transported.  That was no insignificant task, for the holy utensils could be  handled only by individuals  who were religiously and morally clean.  (Isaiah 52:11)  Hence, when Moses confronted Korah, he was, in effect, asking, Do you view your assignment asw something so trivial taht you must also secure the priesthood?  (Numbers 16:9, 10)  Korah failed to realize that the greatest honor is serving Jehovah faithfully according to his arrangement-not the attaining of some special status or position. -Psalm 84:10. 

Moses invited Korah and his men to  gather the following morning at the tent of meeting with fire holders and incense. Korah and his men were not authorized to offer incense since they were not priests. If they came with fire holders and incense, this would clearly indicate  that these men still felt that they had a right to act as priests-even after having had an entire night to reconsider  the matter.  When the presented themselves the next morning, Jehovah  rightly expressed his wrath. As for the Rubenites,  "the earth opened its mouth and proceeded to swallow them up." The rest, including Korah, were consumed by fire from God.  (Deuteronomy 11:6; Numbers 16:16-35;  26:10)  Korah's presumptuousness led to the ultimate dishonor -God's disapproval !

Next time: Resist the "Tendency to Envy" 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2000