Korah's Rebellion

1 At that time he gave him commandment concerning the fringes; and then Korah rebelled,⁠a and 200 men with him, and they said, “What if a law we cannot bear has been ordained for us?” 2 God was angry and said, “I commanded the earth, and it gave me man; and to him were born at first two sons. The elder rose up and killed the younger, and the earth hurried and swallowed his blood. But I drove out Cain and cursed the earth and said to Sion, ‘You shall no longer swallow up blood.’ And now the thoughts of men are greatly polluted. 3 “I will command the earth, and it will swallow up body and soul together, and their dwelling will be in darkness and destruction; and they will not die but will waste away until I remember the world and renew the earth. Then they will die and not live, and their life will be taken away from the number of all men; nor will Hell vomit them up again, and destruction will not remember them, and their departure will be like that of the tribes of the nations of whom I said, ‘I will not remember them,’ that is, the camp of the Egyptians and the people I destroyed with the water of the flood. The earth will swallow them, and I will do no more to them.” 4 When Moses spoke all these words to the people, Korah and his men were still unbelieving. And Korah sent to call his seven sons, who were not in counsel with him. 5 But they sent him this answer, “Just as the painter does not produce an image by his art unless he is first instructed, so we also, when we received the law of the Most Mighty that teaches us his ways, did not enter into it except to walk in it. Our father did not father us, but the Most Mighty formed us; and now, if we walk in his ways, we will be his children.⁠b But if you do not believe, go your own way.” And they did not come up to him. 6 After this the earth opened before them, and his sons sent to him, saying, “If your madness is still upon you, who will help you in the day of your destruction?” But he did not listen to them. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their houses; and four times the foundation of the earth was moved to swallow up the men, as it was commanded. Afterward Korah and his company groaned, until the firmament of the earth should be restored. 7 But the assemblies of the people said to Moses, “We cannot stay around this place where Korah and his men have been swallowed up.” And he said to them, “Take up your tents from around them, and do not be joined to their sins.” And they did so.