This rebellion against Aaron’s rightful priesthood was led by a Levite name Korah who came from the same tribe (Levi) and the same clan (Kohath) as Aaron and Moses. Aaron and Moses came from the family of Kohath’s son Amram, while Korah came from the family of Kohath's son and Amram’s brother, Izhar. This made Korah a cousin of Moses and Aaron.  Korah and his clan, the Kohathites, were responsible for the movement and the setup of the furniture and the Tabernacle (Numbers 3:28-32; 4:1), which meant they had already been given a very specific, honorable and important role in the community to serve among the priests.

The clan of Kohath camped on the south side of the tabernacle (Numbers 3:29) as did the tribe of Rueben (Numbers 2:10-16).  This may explain why “certain Reubenites” named Dathan, Abiram and On became leaders in Korah’s rebellion against his cousins. Joining Korah and the Reubenites were 250 other “well-known community leaders” who came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron. It seems Korah was after the priesthood of his cousin Aaron. While the tribe of Rueben, the first born son of Jacob and rightful tribe of leadership in Israel, was after Moses’ position of leadership.

Korah’s complaint: “Moses had gone too far! The whole community is holy, and the Lord is with them. Why do Moses and Aaron set themselves above the Lord’s assembly?”  This accusation made Moses very angry and he rebuked them in Numbers 16:8-11.

Likewise, the Ruebenites accuse Moses of failing as a leader because he had taken them out of "a land flowing with milk and honey" (or, Egypt) "to kill them in the wilderness" (40 years of wandering was Moses’ future plans for the camp) (Numbers 16:13). Plus, Moses had failed to deliver on his promise to lead them into a land flowing with milk and honey (the land of Canaan) where their inheritance could have been gained! (Numbers 16:14) When Moses sent for the Ruebenites they refused to appear before Moses.

Moses knew full well that a violation of the priesthood, the offering of strange incense or a failure to follow the rigid ritual regulations would result in the Lord’s anger breaking out against the violator just as it had when Nadab and Abihu offered the wrong incense. So, Moses told Korah and his followers to do exactly what they wanted to do: get a censer, put incense in it and go up to the entrance of the Tabernacle.  When Korah and his rebels arrived with their censers, the Lord appeared and told Moses and Aaron to move away from the Tabernacle court yard and to move away from the south side of the Tabernacle where the camps of the tribe of Reuben and Korah were.

Moses had the people separate themselves from south side of the Tabernacle and Moses presents as a sign the unlikely event of the earth opening up and swallowing the tents and the families of the rebels. This event would be a sign of Moses' authority from God. (Numbers 16:28-30)

When Moses finished speaking the ground did exactly that. It split open, swallowed the rebel’s camp and closed up over them. At the same time, in the Tabernacle court yard, fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed Korah’s 250 men with their unlawful censers and incense.

Problem solved?  No! Moses’ calling and Aaron’s priesthood justified in the eyes of the remaining people? No!

“The next day the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron…the assembly gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron…” (Numbers 16:39-49)

“To serve God is nothing else than to maintain and preserve justice by good works.”
- Lactantius