In
Numbers 16, Korah (a Levite) and Dathan and Abiram (from the tribe of Reuben)
led a company of 250 Levites in an uprising against Moses’ leadership and
Aaron’s priesthood. “Wherefore lift ye
up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord (v. 3)?” These Levites had a position in the Lord’s
service but were not content with the position they were given.
(Explanation:
God selected Aaron and his descendants to fill the office of the
priesthood. Aaron was a Levite. Thus, all the priests were Levites. The Levitical priesthood of Hebrews 7:11 is
that of Aaron’s descendants. But not all
the Levites were priests. There were
many families besides Aaron’s in the tribe of Levi. These Levites were selected
by God and separated by God for the service of the tabernacle and the service
of the priests. But they did not offer
sacrifices or perform the other priestly duties. This is what angered the group in Numbers
16.)
The
test that was to determine whether Moses and Aaron had lifted themselves up
above the congregation of the Lord (the charge of vv. 3, 13) or if it was the
Lord who had done so involved Korah, the 250 Levites, and Aaron all taking
censers, with fire and incense, and standing before the door of the
tabernacle. It is unclear to me what the
purpose of the censers was or how the determination was expected to be made,
but when the Lord appears, He makes His selection very clear, saying to Moses
and Aaron in verse 21, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that
I may consume them in a moment,” and in verse 24, “Speak unto the congregation,
saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
You’re
probably familiar with what happens next.
