Korah, Dathan and Abiram
1Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent16:1 Or Peleth—took men 2and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. 3They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?”
4When Moses heard this, he fell facedown. 5Then he said to Korah and all his followers: “In the morning the Lord will show who belongs to him and who is holy, and he will have that person come near him. The man he chooses he will cause to come near him. 6You, Korah, and all your followers are to do this: Take censers 7and tomorrow put burning coals and incense in them before the Lord. The man the Lord chooses will be the one who is holy. You Levites have gone too far!”
8Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you Levites! 9Isn’t it enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the Israelite community and brought you near himself to do the work at the Lord’s tabernacle and to stand before the community and minister to them? 10He has brought you and all your fellow Levites near himself, but now you are trying to get the priesthood too. 11It is against the Lord that you and all your followers have banded together. Who is Aaron that you should grumble against him?”
12Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come! 13Isn’t it enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? And now you also want to lord it over us! 14Moreover, you haven’t brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you want to treat these men like slaves16:14 Or to deceive these men; Hebrew Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? No, we will not come!”
15Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept their offering. I have not taken so much as a donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them.”
16Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the Lord tomorrow—you and they and Aaron. 17Each man is to take his censer and put incense in it—250 censers in all—and present it before the Lord. You and Aaron are to present your censers also.” 18So each of them took his censer, put burning coals and incense in it, and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 19When Korah had gathered all his followers in opposition to them at the entrance to the tent of meeting, the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire assembly. 20The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21“Separate yourselves from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.”
22But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and cried out, “O God, the God who gives breath to all living things, will you be angry with the entire assembly when only one man sins?”
23Then the Lord said to Moses, 24“Say to the assembly, ‘Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram.’ ”
25Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. 26He warned the assembly, “Move back from the tents of these wicked men! Do not touch anything belonging to them, or you will be swept away because of all their sins.” 27So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing with their wives, children and little ones at the entrances to their tents.
28Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it was not my idea: 29If these men die a natural death and suffer the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. 30But if the Lord brings about something totally new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the realm of the dead, then you will know that these men have treated the Lord with contempt.”
31As soon as he finished saying all this, the ground under them split apart 32and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, and all those associated with Korah, together with their possessions. 33They went down alive into the realm of the dead, with everything they owned; the earth closed over them, and they perished and were gone from the community. 34At their cries, all the Israelites around them fled, shouting, “The earth is going to swallow us too!”
35And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
36The Lord said to Moses, 37“Tell Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, to remove the censers from the charred remains and scatter the coals some distance away, for the censers are holy— 38the censers of the men who sinned at the cost of their lives. Hammer the censers into sheets to overlay the altar, for they were presented before the Lord and have become holy. Let them be a sign to the Israelites.”
39So Eleazar the priest collected the bronze censers brought by those who had been burned to death, and he had them hammered out to overlay the altar, 40as the Lord directed him through Moses. This was to remind the Israelites that no one except a descendant of Aaron should come to burn incense before the Lord, or he would become like Korah and his followers.
41The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. “You have killed the Lord’s people,” they said.
42But when the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron and turned toward the tent of meeting, suddenly the cloud covered it and the glory of the Lord appeared. 43Then Moses and Aaron went to the front of the tent of meeting, 44and the Lord said to Moses, 45“Get away from this assembly so I can put an end to them at once.” And they fell facedown.
46Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put incense in it, along with burning coals from the altar, and hurry to the assembly to make atonement for them. Wrath has come out from the Lord; the plague has started.” 47So Aaron did as Moses said, and ran into the midst of the assembly. The plague had already started among the people, but Aaron offered the incense and made atonement for them. 48He stood between the living and the dead, and the plague stopped. 49But 14,700 people died from the plague, in addition to those who had died because of Korah. 50Then Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, for the plague had stopped.16:50 In Hebrew texts 16:36-50 is numbered 17:1-15.
Kora, Dathani Na Abiramu
116:1 Kut 6:24; Yud 11; Za 106:17; Hes 26:8; Kum 11:6Kora mwana wa Ishari, mwana wa Kohathi, mwana wa Lawi, pamoja na baadhi ya Wareubeni, yaani Dathani na Abiramu, wana wa Eliabu, na Oni mwana wa Pelethi, wakachukua baadhi ya watu, 216:2 Hes 27:3; 1:16; 26:9wakainuka dhidi ya Mose. Pamoja nao walikuwepo wanaume wa Kiisraeli 250, watu waliojulikana, viongozi wa jumuiya waliokuwa wameteuliwa kuwa wakuu wa kusanyiko. 316:3 Za 106:16; Kut 19:6; Hes 14:14; 12:2Wakaja kama kikundi kuwapinga Mose na Aroni, wakawaambia, “Ninyi mmejitukuza sana! Kusanyiko hili lote ni takatifu, kila mmoja wao, naye Bwana yu pamoja nao. Kwa nini basi mmejitukuza wenyewe juu ya kusanyiko la Bwana?”
416:4 Hes 14:2; 20:6Mose aliposikia jambo hili, akaanguka kifudifudi. 516:5 Law 10:3; 2Tim 2:19; Yer 30:21; Hes 17:5; Za 65:4; 105:26; Yer 50:44; Law 21:6-12; Kut 28:1; 1Sam 2:28; Eze 40:46Kisha akamwambia Kora na wafuasi wake wote: “Asubuhi Bwana ataonyesha ni nani aliye wake na ni nani aliye mtakatifu, tena atamtaka mtu huyo aje kwake. Mtu yule ambaye atamchagua atamfanya kuja karibu naye. 616:6 Law 10:1; Ufu 8:3Wewe Kora na wafuasi wako wote mtafanya hivi: Chukueni vyetezo, 716:7 Law 10:1; Kut 30:9kesho wekeni moto na uvumba kwenye hivyo vyetezo mbele za Bwana. Mtu ambaye Bwana atamchagua atakuwa ndiye mtakatifu. Ninyi Walawi mmejitukuza sana!”
8Pia Mose akamwambia Kora, “Enyi Walawi! Sasa nisikilizeni. 916:9 Mwa 30:15; Hes 3:6; Kum 10:8; 17:12; 21:5; 1Sam 2:11; Za 134:1; Eze 44:11; 1Sam 18:23; Isa 7:13Haiwatoshi ninyi kwamba Mungu wa Israeli amewateua ninyi kutoka kusanyiko lote la Kiisraeli, na kuwaleta karibu naye mpate kufanya kazi kwenye Maskani ya Bwana, na kusimama mbele ya kusanyiko ili kuwahudumia? 1016:10 Hes 3:10; 18:7; Amu 17:5, 12Amekuleta wewe na ndugu zako Walawi mwe karibu naye, lakini sasa unajaribu kupata na ukuhani pia. 1116:11 1Kor 10:10; Kut 16:7-8; 1Kor 3:5Wewe na wafuasi wako wote mmekusanyika pamoja kinyume cha Bwana. Aroni ni nani kwamba ninyi mnungʼunike dhidi yake?”
12Kisha Mose akawaita Dathani na Abiramu, wana wa Eliabu. Lakini wao wakasema, “Sisi hatuji! 1316:13 Hes 13:27; 14:2; Mwa 13:8; Mdo 7:27, 35; Kut 2:14; Mdo 7:27, 35Haitoshi tu kwamba wewe umetuleta kutoka nchi itiririkayo maziwa na asali ili kutuua sisi jangwani? Nawe sasa pia unataka kuwa mkuu juu yetu? 1416:14 Law 20:24; Kut 22:5; 23:11; Hes 20:5; 1Fal 4:25; Neh 13:15; Za 105:33; Yer 5:17; Hos 2:12; Yoe 2:22; Hag 2:19; Zek 3:10; Amu 16:21; 1Sam 2:11Zaidi ya hayo, hujatuingiza katika nchi inayotiririka maziwa na asali, wala hujatupa urithi wa mashamba na mashamba ya mizabibu. Je, utayangʼoa macho ya watu hawa? Hapana, sisi hatuji!”
1516:15 Kut 4:14; 1Sam 12:3; Mdo 20:33; 2Kor 7:2Ndipo Mose akakasirika sana na kumwambia Bwana, “Usiikubali sadaka yao. Mimi sikuchukua chochote, hata punda kutoka kwao, wala sijamkosea hata mmoja wao.”
16Mose akamwambia Kora, “Wewe na wafuasi wako wote kesho mtatokea mbele za Bwana: yaani wewe na hao wenzako, pamoja na Aroni. 1716:17 Eze 8:11Kila mtu atachukua chetezo chake na kuweka uvumba ndani yake, vyetezo 250 kwa jumla, na kukileta mbele za Bwana. Wewe na Aroni mtaleta vyetezo vyenu pia.” 18Kwa hiyo kila mtu akachukua chetezo chake, akaweka moto na uvumba ndani yake, na kusimama pamoja na Mose na Aroni kwenye mlango wa Hema la Kukutania. 1916:19 Hes 14:10; 20:2, 6; Kut 16:7; Law 9:6, 23Kora alipokuwa amekusanya wafuasi wake wote kuwapinga Mose na Aroni kwenye mlango wa Hema la Kukutania, utukufu wa Bwana ukatokea kwa kusanyiko lote. 20Bwana akamwambia Mose na Aroni, 2116:21 Mwa 19:14; Kut 32:10; Yer 51:6; Mdo 2:40; Ufu 18:4; Za 73:19“Jitengeni kutoka kwenye kusanyiko hili ili nipate kuwaangamiza mara moja.”
2216:22 Hes 14:5; 27:16; Ay 12:10; 21:20; 27:8; 33:4; 34:14; Yer 32:27; Eze 18:4; Ebr 12:9; Mwa 18:23Lakini Mose na Aroni wakaanguka kufudifudi na kulia kwa sauti, wakasema, “Ee Mungu, Mungu wa roho za wanadamu wote, utakuwa na hasira na kusanyiko lote wakati ni mtu mmoja tu ametenda dhambi?”
23Ndipo Bwana akamwambia Mose, 24“Liambie kusanyiko, ‘Ondokeni hapo karibu na mahema ya Kora, Dathani na Abiramu.’ ”
2516:25 Kut 19:7Mose akainuka na kuwaendea Dathani na Abiramu, nao wazee wa Israeli wakafuatana naye. 2616:26 Isa 52:11; Mwa 19:15; Yer 51:6; Mwa 19:12; Mdo 2:40; 2Kor 6:17; Ufu 18:4Mose akalionya kusanyiko, “Sogeeni nyuma mbali na mahema ya hawa watu waovu! Msiguse kitu chochote kilicho mali yao, la sivyo mtafagiliwa mbali kwa sababu ya dhambi zao zote.” 2716:27 Yos 7:24; Isa 13:16; 14:21; Kut 33:8; Ay 9:4; Mit 16:18Hivyo wakaondoka karibu na mahema ya Kora, Dathani na Abiramu. Dathani na Abiramu walikuwa wametoka nje, nao walikuwa wamesimama pamoja na wake zao, watoto wao na wale wanyonyao kwenye mlango wa mahema yao.
2816:28 1Fal 18:36; Kut 3:12; Yn 5:36; 6:38; Kum 18:22; Zek 2:9; Yer 23:16; Eze 13:17Ndipo Mose akasema, “Hivi ndivyo mtakavyojua kuwa Bwana amenituma kufanya mambo haya, na kwamba halikuwa wazo langu. 2916:29 Hes 24:13; Ay 31:2; Mhu 3:19; Isa 10:3; Yer 5:9; Mao 4:22Ikiwa watu hawa watakufa kifo cha kawaida na kupatwa na yale ya kawaida yanayowapata wanadamu, basi Bwana hakunituma mimi. 3016:30 Za 9:17; 16:10; 55:15; 141:7; Isa 5:14; 14:11; 38:18; Mwa 37:35; 1Sam 2:6; Ay 5:26; 21:13; Hes 14:11; Eze 26:20Lakini ikiwa Bwana ataleta jambo jipya kabisa, ardhi ikifunua kinywa chake na kuwameza wao, pamoja na kila kitu kilicho mali yao, nao washuke chini kaburini16:30 Kaburini hapa maana yake ni Kuzimu, kwa Kiebrania ni Sheol. wakiwa hai, ndipo mtafahamu kuwa watu hawa wamemdharau Bwana.”
3116:31 Isa 64:1-2; Eze 47:1-2; Mik 1:3-4; Zek 14:4Mara Mose alipomaliza kusema haya yote, ardhi iliyokuwa chini yao ikapasuka, 3216:32 Kut 15:12; Za 10:17; 1Nya 6:22nchi ikafunua kinywa chake na kuwameza wao, pamoja na jamaa zao, na watu wote wa Kora na mali zao zote. 3316:33 Mhu 9:10Wakashuka chini kaburini wakiwa hai, pamoja na kila kitu walichokuwa nacho; nchi ikajifunika juu yao, nao wakaangamia wakatoweka kutoka kusanyiko. 34Kutoka kilio chao, Waisraeli wote waliowazunguka walikimbia, wakipaza sauti, “Nchi inatumeza na sisi pia!”
3516:35 Hes 11:1-3; 26:10; Ufu 11:5; Law 10:2; Za 106:18Moto ukaja kutoka kwa Bwana, ukawateketeza wale watu 250 waliokuwa wakifukiza uvumba.
36Bwana akamwambia Mose, 3716:37 Kut 6:23“Mwambie Eleazari mwana wa kuhani Aroni, atoe vyetezo kwenye mabaki ya moto na kutawanya makaa mbali kiasi, kwa maana vyetezo ni vitakatifu: 3816:38 Law 10:1; Mit 20:2; Kut 20:24; 38:1-7; Hes 26:10; Kum 28:46; Yer 44:29; Eze 14:8; 2Pet 2:6vyetezo vya watu waliofanya dhambi iliyowagharimu maisha yao. Fua vyetezo hivyo kuwa bamba ili kufunika madhabahu, kwa maana vimeletwa mbele za Bwana na vimekuwa vitakatifu. Navyo viwe ishara kwa Waisraeli.”
3916:39 2Nya 26:18; Law 20:14Hivyo kuhani Eleazari akavikusanya vile vyetezo vya shaba vilivyoletwa na wale waliokuwa wameteketezwa kwa moto, naye akavifua kufunika madhabahu, 4016:40 Kut 30:1, 9; Isa 1:13; 66:3; Yer 41:5; 44:3; 2Nya 26:18; Hes 3:10kama vile Bwana alivyomwelekeza kupitia Mose. Hili lilikuwa kuwakumbusha Waisraeli kwamba hakuna mtu hata mmoja, isipokuwa mzao wa Aroni, awezaye kuja kufukiza uvumba mbele za Bwana, la sivyo, angekuwa kama Kora na wafuasi wake.
4116:41 Hes 14:2; Za 106:13; Mdo 21:28Siku iliyofuata jumuiya yote ya Kiisraeli wakanungʼunika dhidi ya Mose na Aroni, wakisema, “Mmewaua watu wa Bwana.”
4216:42 Kut 16:7; Hes 14:10; 20:6; Law 9:23Lakini wakati kusanyiko lilipokusanyika kupingana na Mose na Aroni, nalo likageuka kuelekea Hema la Kukutania, ghafula wingu likafunika Hema, nao utukufu wa Bwana ukatokea. 43Ndipo Mose na Aroni wakaenda mbele ya Hema la Kukutania, 44naye Bwana akamwambia Mose, 4516:45 Kut 32:10; 1Nya 16:21; Mt 26:39“Jitenge mbali na kusanyiko hili ili niweze kuwaangamiza mara moja.” Wakaanguka chini kifudifudi.
4616:46 Law 10:1-6; 26:25; Kut 29:36; Hes 1:53; 8:19; Za 106:29; Yos 7:1; 22:18; 1Sam 6:19; 2Sam 24:1; 1Nya 17:24Kisha Mose akamwambia Aroni, “Chukua chetezo chako na uweke uvumba ndani yake, pamoja na moto kutoka madhabahuni, nawe uende haraka kwenye kusanyiko ili kufanya upatanisho kwa ajili yao. Ghadhabu imekuja kutoka kwa Bwana, na tauni imeanza.” 4716:47 Hes 25:6-8Hivyo Aroni akafanya kama Mose alivyosema, akakimbilia katikati ya kusanyiko. Tauni ilikuwa tayari imeanza miongoni mwa watu, lakini Aroni akafukiza uvumba na kufanya upatanisho kwa ajili yao. 4816:48 Hes 25:8; Za 106:30; 2Sam 24:16-17; Ay 33:24; Yak 5:16; 1The 1:10; Ebr 7:24Aroni akasimama kati ya waliokuwa hai na waliokufa, nayo tauni ikakoma. 49Lakini walikufa watu 14,700 kutokana na tauni hiyo, licha ya wale waliokuwa wamekufa kwa sababu ya Kora. 50Ndipo Aroni akamrudia Mose kwenye mlango wa Hema la Kukutania, kwa maana tauni ilikuwa imekoma.
