Numbers 16

And Kore son of Issaar son of Kaath son of Levi spoke, and Dathan and Abiron, sons of Eliab, and Aun son of Phaleth son of Rouben;

and they rose up before Moses, together with men of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty, leaders of the congregation, summoned to the council, and men of renown.

They banded together against Moses and Aaron and said: Let it be enough for you, for all the congregation, all are holy, and the Lord is among them. And why do you set yourselves up over the congregation of the Lord?

And when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.

And he spoke to Kore and to all his congregation, saying: God has visited and known those who are his and the holy ones, and has brought them to himself; and those whom he chose for himself he has brought to himself.

Do this: take for yourselves censers — Kore and all his congregation —

and put fire on them, and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow; and the man whom the Lord chooses, this one is holy. Let it be enough for you, sons of Levi!

And Moses said to Kore: Listen to me, sons of Levi!

Is this a small thing for you, that the God of Israel separated you from the congregation of Israel and brought you near to himself to perform the services of the tent of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

And he brought you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi, with you; and do you seek to be priests as well?

So you and all your congregation which is gathered together are against God. And who is Aaron, that you murmur against him?

And Moses sent to summon Dathan and Abiron, sons of Eliab; and they said: We will not come up.

Is it a small thing that you brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness, that you also rule over us as a ruler?

Even if you had brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey and given us an inheritance of field and vineyards, would you have gouged out the eyes of those men? We will not come up.

And Moses was exceedingly indignant and said to the Lord: Do not regard their sacrifice. I have not taken a desirable thing from any one of them, nor have I harmed any one of them.

And Moses said to Kore: Sanctify your congregation, and be ready before the Lord, you and they and Aaron, tomorrow.

And let each one take his censer and put incense on them, and let each one bring his censer before the Lord, two hundred and fifty censers; and you and Aaron, each his censer.

And each one took his censer, and they put fire on them and laid incense on it, and they stood by the doors of the tent of witness, with Moses and Aaron.

And Kore gathered his whole congregation together against them at the door of the tent of witness; and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.

And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and I will consume them at one stroke.

And they fell on their face and said: O God, God of the spirits and of all flesh, if one man sinned, shall the wrath of the Lord be upon the whole congregation?

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

Speak to the congregation, saying: Withdraw round about from the congregation of Kore.

And Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiron, and all the elders of Israel went with him.

And he spoke to the congregation, saying: Separate yourselves from the tents of these hard men, and touch nothing of all that is theirs, lest you perish together with them in all their sin.

And they withdrew from the tent of Kore round about; and Dathan and Abiron came out and stood by the doors of their tents, with their wives and their children and their households.

And Moses said: By this you shall know that the Lord sent me to do all these works, for it is not of myself.

If these die according to the death of all men, and if their visitation shall be according to the visitation of all men, the Lord has not sent me.

But if the Lord shows it by an apparition, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up, and their houses and their tents and all that is theirs, and they go down alive into Hades, then you shall know that these men have provoked the Lord.

And when he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them was torn open.

And the earth opened and swallowed them up and their houses and all the men who were with Kore and their livestock.

And they went down alive into Hades, they and all that was theirs; and the earth covered them, and they perished from the midst of the congregation.

And all Israel who were round about them fled at their cry, saying: Lest the earth swallow us up.

And fire came forth from the Lord and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering the incense.