A Levitical priest and adversary of the high priest Aaron who lived during the time of the Egyptian slavery and wilderness wandering of the Israelites.
About Korah
The eldest son of Izhar, Kohath’s son from the tribe of Levi (Exodus 6:21, 24). He led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. He accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the assembly of the Lord (Numbers 16:1–3).
Numbers 16:1 also records a revolt by two brothers, Dathan and Abiram, and a man named On. All were of the tribe of Reuben. They challenged Moses's authority. Dathan and Abiram accused Moses of making himself a prince. They said he had failed to lead them into the promised land (Numbers 16:12–14). The stories of the two rebellions are interwoven in such a way that it is difficult to separate them. It may be that the two revolts occurred at the same time.
Moses challenged Korah and his followers to a trial by ordeal. They were to take censers with fire and incense to the tent of meeting the next day. God would then choose one of them to be the holy priest (Numbers 16:4–10, 15–17). Moses accused Korah and his company of rebelling against God rather than against Aaron (Numbers 16:11). When the men gathered as Moses had instructed, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.
The Lord ordered Moses to tell the congregation to separate from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16:19–24). Moses proposed a test to prove his authority. But as he spoke the earth opened and swallowed all the rebels, their families, and their possessions. Fire consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense. The rest of the Israelites were terrified and fled from the scene (Numbers 16:31–35). Numbers 26:11 adds, however, that “the line of Korah did not die out.” with the others.
Then, through Moses, the Lord instructed Eleazar, the son of Aaron. He was to take the censers of the dead men and make them into hammered plates to cover the altar. This would remind the Israelites that only priests, descendants of Aaron, may burn incense before the Lord. Anyone else would meet the same fate as Korah and his followers (Numbers 16:36–40).
The next day, the people complained against Moses and Aaron. They accused them of killing the God's people. Even after what happened to Korah and his followers, they still did not believe that God had shown Moses and Aaron to be the true leaders. Because of this new rebellion, God threatened to destroy all the people and sent a deadly sickness among them. Moses prayed for the people and stopped the disaster from getting worse. However, 14,700 Israelites still died from the sickness (Numbers 16:41–50). The rebellious incident of the Korahites is last mentioned in Jude 1:11.
See also Korahite, Korathite.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Izhar
- Half-siblings 3
- Nepheg, Zichri, Shelomith
- Children 3
- Assir, Elkanah, Ebiasaph
- Niece/Nephew
- Jahath (1 Chronicles 24:22)
- Uncles 3
- Amram, Hebron, Uzziel
- Cousins 12
- Moses, Aaron, Miriam, Jeriah, Amariah (1 Chronicles 23:19), Jahaziel (1 Chronicles 23:19), Jekameam, Mishael, Elizaphan, Sithri, Micah (1 Chronicles 23:20), Isshiah (1 Chronicles 23:20)
Key References
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.
All Scripture References (38)
Exodus (2)
The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clans of the Korahites.
Numbers (16)
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
Then he said to Korah and all his followers, “Tomorrow morning the LORD will reveal who belongs to Him and who is holy, and He will bring that person near to Himself. The one He chooses He will bring near to Himself.
You, Korah, and all your followers are to do as follows: Take censers,
Moses also said to Korah, “Now listen, you sons of Levi!
And Moses said to Korah, “You and all your followers are to appear before the LORD tomorrow—you and they and Aaron.
When Korah had gathered his whole assembly against them at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the glory of the LORD appeared to the whole congregation.
“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
So they moved away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out and stood at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children and infants.
and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions.
The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”
and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.
However, the line of Korah did not die out.
These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,
“Our father died in the wilderness, but he was not among the followers of Korah who gathered together against the LORD. Instead, he died because of his own sin, and he had no sons.
1 Chronicles (7)
Meraioth was the father of Amariah, Amariah was the father of Ahitub,
The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son,
Shallum son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his relatives from the Korahites were assigned to guard the thresholds of the Tent, just as their fathers had been assigned to guard the entrance to the dwelling of the LORD.
A Levite named Mattithiah, the firstborn son of Shallum the Korahite, was entrusted with baking the bread.
and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham from Gedor.
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.
2 Chronicles (1)
And the Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, shouting in a very loud voice.
Psalms (11)
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God.
We have heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us the work You did in their days, in the days of old.
My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses to the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.
Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph.
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, His holy mountain.
Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all inhabitants of the world,
How lovely is Your dwelling place, O LORD of Hosts!
You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.
He has founded His city on the holy mountains.
O LORD, the God of my salvation, day and night I cry out before You.
Jude (1)
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.