Open rebellion by some of Israel’s leaders is seen in these men. They had enlisted the support of 250 princes, Num. 16. 2, and the people as a whole were not unsympathetic. They claimed to have the people’s interests at heart, v. 3, championing their rights and liberties. Moses unmasked their pretence, pointing unerringly at their own ambition, for here were men bent upon serving their own interests, prestige and status. Korah wanted to be high priest, and saw such an office as a position of power, v. 10. He did not of course say this! Abiram and Dathan also wanted position, to be rulers, v. 13. One aimed at religious power, the others at political. They were arrogant, defiant and presumptuous; v. 12 shows this, ‘we will not come up’.
Their concept of rule was 'natural’, Jas. 3. 15; Jude 19 (JND, both).They failed to see in what true leadership and authority consist. Such a leader was Moses, meek, with a submissive spirit towards God; cf. Jas. 3. 17-18, JND. Yet they claimed he was proud and assertive. They themselves, as Jude affirms, were restless, discontented and divisive, Jude 11, 16, 19. Korah did not value his Levitical privilege of the service of the tabernacle and the handling its furniture, Num. 4. 1-14; Abiram and Dathan rejected the God-given order in Israel. Insubordination and rebellion are contagious; the people sided with the rebels, after God’s judgment fell upon them, vv. 41-42. Naturally man is a rebel against God. Such men divide God’s people; other rebellious leaders include Absalom, Jeroboam, Diotrephes.
Their pretended democratic ideals, which may have swayed a naive people, v. 41, are equally erroneous; democracy means the will of man, whereas amongst God’s people it is God’s will that is to be paramount.
Korah’s sons did not die, Num. 26. 11; some of their descendants wrote Psalm 84, of ‘dwelling in the tents of wickedness’ compared with standing ‘at the threshhold of the house of my God’, v. 10, JND. They had not forgotten Moses’ words to Korah and his allies, Num. 16. 26-27.
‘Oh to walk humbly with our God, to be content with His will!’ (C H MACKINTOSH)
