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He arose sorrowful indeed； but calm and strong。 Divine guidance had been
granted him。 〃Even tomorrow；〃 he said； 〃the Lord will show 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。〃 The test was to be deferred
until the morrow； that all might have time for reflection。 Then those who
aspired to the priesthood were to come each with a censer； and offer incense
at the tabernacle in the presence of the congregation。 The law was very
explicit that only those who had been ordained to the sacred office should
minister in the sanctuary。 And even the priests； Nadab and Abihu； had
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been destroyed for venturing to offer 〃strange fire；〃 in disregard of a
divine command。 Yet Moses challenged his accusers； if they dared enter upon
so perilous an appeal； to refer the matter to God。
Singling out Korah and his fellow Levites； Moses said； 〃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？ And He hath brought thee near to Him； and all thy brethren the
sons of Levi with thee： and seek ye the priesthood also？ for which cause
both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the Lord。 And
what is Aaron； that ye murmur against him？〃
Dathan and Abiram had not taken so bold a stand as had Korah； and Moses；
hoping that they might have been drawn into the conspiracy without having
become wholly corrupted； summoned them to appear before him； that he might
hear their charges against him。 But they would not come； and they insolently
refused to acknowledge his authority。 Their reply； uttered in the hearing of
the congregation； was； 〃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？ 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。〃
Thus they applied to the scene of their bondage the very language in which
the Lord had described the promised inheritance。 They accused Moses of
pretending to act under divine guidance； as a means of establishing his
authority； and they declared that they would no longer submit to be led
about like blind men； now toward Canaan； and now toward the wilderness； as
best suited his ambitious designs。 Thus he who had been as a tender father；
a patient shepherd； was represented in the blackest character of a tyrant
and usurper。 The exclusion from Canaan； in punishment of their own sins； was
charged upon him。
It was evident that the sympathies of the people were with the disaffected
party； but Moses made no effort at self…vindication。 He solemnly appealed to
God； in the presence of the congregation； as a witness to the purity of his
motives and the uprightness of his conduct； and implored Him to be his
judge。
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On the morrow； the two hundred and fifty princes； with Korah at their head；
presented themselves； with their censers。 They were brought into the court
of the tabernacle； while the people gathered without； to await the result。
It was not Moses who assembled the congregation to behold the defeat of
Korah and his company； but the rebels； in their blind presumption； had
called them together to witness their victory。 A large part of the
congregation openly sided with Korah； whose hopes were high of carrying his
point against Aaron。
As they were thus assembled before God； 〃the glory of the Lord appeared unto
all the congregation。〃 The divine warning was communicated to Moses and
Aaron； 〃Separate yourselves from among this congregation； that I may consume
them in a moment。〃 But they fell upon their faces； with the prayer； 〃O God；
the God of the spirits of all flesh； shall one man sin； and wilt Thou be
wroth with all the congregation？〃
Korah had withdrawn from the assembly to join Dathan and Abiram when Moses；
accompanied by the seventy elders； went down with a last warning to the men
who had refused to come to him。 The multitudes followed； and before
delivering his message； Moses； by divine direction； bade the people；
〃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 warning was obeyed；
for an apprehension of impending judgment rested upon all。 The chief rebels
saw themselves abandoned by those whom they had deceived； but their
hardihood was unshaken。 They stood with their families in the door of their
tents； as if in defiance of the divine warning。
In the name of the God of Israel； Moses now declared； in the hearing of the
congregation： 〃Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all
these works； for I have not done them of mine own mind。 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。 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。〃
The eyes of all Israel were fixed upon Moses as they stood； in terror and
expectation； awaiting the event。 As he ceased speaking； the solid earth
parted； and the rebels went down alive into
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the pit； with all that pertained to them； and 〃they perished from among the
congregation。〃 The people fled； self…condemned as partakers in the sin。
But the judgments were not ended。 Fire flashing from the cloud consumed the
two hundred and fifty princes who had offered incense。 These men； not being
the first in rebellion； were not destroyed with the chief conspirators。 They
were permitted to see their end； and to have an opportunity for repentance；
but their sympathies were with the rebels； and they shared their fate。
When Moses was entreating Israel to flee from the coming destruction； the
divine judgment might even then have been stayed； if Korah and his company
had repented and sought forgiveness。 But their stubborn persistence sealed
their doom。 The entire congregation were sharers in their guilt； for all
had； to a greater or less degree； sympathized with them。 Yet God in His
great mercy made a distinction between the leaders in rebellion and those
whom they had led。 The people who had permitted themselves to be deceived
were still granted space for repentance。 Overwhelming evidence had been
given that they were wrong； and that Moses was right。 The signal
manifestation of God's power had removed all uncertainty。
Jesus； the Angel who went before the Hebrews； sought to save them from
destruction。 Forgiveness was lingering for them。 The judgment of God had
come very near； and appealed to them to repent。 A special； irresistible
interfere