Numbers 16
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Now i Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and j Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.
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And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.
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k They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, l "You have gone too far! For m all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?"
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When Moses heard it, n he fell on his face,
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and he said to Korah and all his company, "In the morning the Lord will show o who is his, and who is p holy, and will bring him near to him. The one q whom he chooses he will r bring near to him.
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Do this: take s censers, Korah and all his company;
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put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. t You have gone too far, sons of Levi!"
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And Moses said to Korah, "Hear now, you sons of Levi:
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is it u too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has v separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them,
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and that he has brought you near him, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? And would you seek the priesthood also?
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Therefore it is against the Lord that you and all your company have gathered together. What is w Aaron that you grumble against him?"
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And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, "We will not come up.
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Is it x a small thing that you have brought us up out of y a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also z make yourself a prince over us?
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Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up."
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And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, a "Do not respect their offering. b I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."
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And Moses said to Korah, "Be present, you and all your company, c before the Lord, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.
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And d let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, e 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer."
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So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.
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Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. f And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.
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And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
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g "Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them h in a moment."
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And they i fell on their faces and said, "O God, j the God of the spirits of all flesh, k shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?"
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And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
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"Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."
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Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.
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And he spoke to the congregation, saying, l "Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins."
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So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood m at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
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And Moses said, "Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been n of my own accord.
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If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, o then the Lord has not sent me.
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But if the Lord creates something new, and p the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they q go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord."
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r And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart.
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And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and s all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods.
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So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and t they perished from the midst of the assembly.
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And all Israel who were around them fled at their cry, for they said, "Lest the earth swallow us up!"
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And u fire came out from the Lord and consumed v the 250 men offering the incense.
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Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
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"Tell Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest to take up the censers out of the blaze. Then scatter the fire far and wide, for they have become holy.
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As for the censers of w these men who have sinned at the cost of their lives, let them be made into hammered plates as a covering for the altar, for they offered them before the Lord, and they became holy. x Thus they shall be a sign to the people of Israel."
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So Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burned had offered, and they were hammered out as a covering for the altar,
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to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so y that no outsider, who is not of the descendants of Aaron, should draw near to burn incense before the Lord, lest he become like Korah and his company - as the Lord said to him through Moses.
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But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel z grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord."
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And when the congregation had assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they turned toward the tent of meeting. And behold, a the cloud covered it, and b the glory of the Lord appeared.
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And Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting,
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and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
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c "Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." d And they fell on their faces.
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And Moses said to Aaron, "Take your censer, and put fire on it from off the altar and lay incense on it and carry it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for e wrath has gone out from the Lord; the plague has begun."
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So Aaron took it as Moses said and ran into the midst of the assembly. And behold, the plague had already begun among the people. And he put on the incense and made atonement for the people.
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And he stood between the dead and the living, and f the plague was stopped.
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Now those who died in the plague were 14,700, g besides those who died in the affair of Korah.
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And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.
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Cross References
Numbers 27:3
Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons.
Exodus 6:16
These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years.
Exodus 6:18
The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years.
Exodus 6:21
The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri.
Jude 1:11
Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.
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Cross References
Numbers 26:9
The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord
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Cross References
Psalms 106:16 - 18
When men in the camp were jealous of Moses and Aaron, the holy one of the Lord.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:7
Put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!
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Cross References
Exodus 19:6
And you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.
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Cross References
Numbers 14:5
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.
Numbers 20:6
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
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Cross References
2 Timothy 2:19
But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:3
They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord ?
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Cross References
Numbers 17:5
And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you.
1 Samuel 2:28
Did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? I gave to the house of your father all my offerings by fire from the people of Israel.
Psalms 105:26
He sent Moses, his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen.
Exodus 28:1
Then bring near to you Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the people of Israel, to serve me as priests - Aaron and Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
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Cross References
Numbers 3:10
And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.
Leviticus 10:3
Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord has said, 'Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'" And Aaron held his peace.
Psalms 65:4
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Ezekiel 40:46
And the chamber that faces north is for the priests who have charge of the altar. These are the sons of Zadok, who alone among the sons of Levi may come near to the Lord to minister to him.
Ezekiel 44:15 - 16
But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept the charge of my sanctuary when the people of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. And they shall stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood, declares the Lord God.
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Cross References
Leviticus 10:1
Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:3
They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! For all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord ?
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Cross References
Numbers 16:13
Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us?
1 Samuel 18:23
And Saul's servants spoke those words in the ears of David. And David said, "Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?
Isaiah 7:13
And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also?
Ezekiel 16:20
And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter
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Cross References
Numbers 8:14
Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine.
Deuteronomy 10:8
At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord to stand before the Lord to minister to him and to bless in his name, to this day.
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Cross References
Exodus 16:8
And Moses said, "When the Lord gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the Lord has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him - what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the Lord.
1 Corinthians 3:5
What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:9
Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do service in the tabernacle of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them.
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Cross References
Exodus 3:8
And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.
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Cross References
Exodus 2:14
He answered, "Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?" Then Moses was afraid, and thought, "Surely the thing is known.
Acts 7:27
But the man who was wronging his neighbor thrust him aside, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?
Acts 7:35
This Moses, whom they rejected, saying, 'Who made you a ruler and a judge?' - this man God sent as both ruler and redeemer by the hand of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.
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Cross References
Genesis 4:4 - 5
And Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering.
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Cross References
1 Samuel 12:3
Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.
Acts 20:33
I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.
2 Corinthians 7:2
Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one.
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Cross References
Exodus 16:9
Then Moses said to Aaron, "Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, 'Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.'
1 Samuel 12:3
Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you.
1 Samuel 12:7
Now therefore stand still that I may plead with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous deeds of the Lord that he performed for you and for your fathers.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:6 - 7
Do this: take censers, Korah and all his company.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:35
And fire came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men offering the incense.
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Cross References
Leviticus 9:23
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:45
Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.
Genesis 19:17
And as they brought them out, one said, "Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.
Genesis 19:22
Escape there quickly, for I can do nothing till you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
Jeremiah 51:6
Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life! Be not cut off in her punishment, for this is the time of the Lord 's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.
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Cross References
Exodus 33:5
For the Lord had said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.'
Psalms 73:19
How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!
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Cross References
Numbers 16:45
Get away from the midst of this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment." And they fell on their faces.
Numbers 14:5
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel.
Numbers 20:6
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the entrance of the tent of meeting and fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.
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Cross References
Numbers 27:16
Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation
Job 12:10
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Ecclesiastes 12:7
And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
Zechariah 12:1
The burden of the word of the Lord concerning Israel: Thus declares the Lord, who stretched out the heavens and founded the earth and formed the spirit of man within him:
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Cross References
Genesis 18:23 - 25
Then Abraham drew near and said, "Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
2 Samuel 24:17
Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, "Behold, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand be against me and against my father's house.
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Cross References
Genesis 19:12 - 14
Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Sons-in-law, sons, daughters, or anyone you have in the city, bring them out of the place.
Isaiah 52:11
Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you.
Revelation 18:4
Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues.
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Cross References
Exodus 33:8
Whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people would rise up, and each would stand at his tent door, and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 23:16
Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.
Ezekiel 13:2
"Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel, who are prophesying, and say to those who prophesy from their own hearts: 'Hear the word of the Lord!'
Ezekiel 13:17
And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own minds. Prophesy against them
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Cross References
1 Kings 22:28
And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!
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Cross References
Genesis 4:11
And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:33
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Psalms 55:15
Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart.
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Cross References
Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.
Numbers 27:3
Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons.
Deuteronomy 11:6
And what he did to Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the midst of all Israel.
Psalms 106:17
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
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Cross References
Numbers 26:11
But the sons of Korah did not die.
1 Chronicles 6:22
The sons of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son.
1 Chronicles 6:27
Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
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Cross References
Jude 1:11
Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion.
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Cross References
Numbers 11:1
And the people complained in the hearing of the Lord about their misfortunes, and when the Lord heard it, his anger was kindled, and the fire of the Lord burned among them and consumed some outlying parts of the camp.
Leviticus 10:2
And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
Psalms 106:18
Fire also broke out in their company; the flame burned up the wicked.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:17
And let every one of you take his censer and put incense on it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.
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Cross References
Proverbs 20:2
The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
Habakkuk 2:10
You have devised shame for your house by cutting off many peoples; you have forfeited your life.
1 Kings 2:23
Then King Solomon swore by the Lord, saying, "God do so to me and more also if this word does not cost Adonijah his life!
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Cross References
Numbers 17:10
And the Lord said to Moses, "Put back the staff of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebels, that you may make an end of their grumblings against me, lest they die.
Numbers 26:10
And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning.
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Cross References
Numbers 3:10
And you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall guard their priesthood. But if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death.
2 Chronicles 26:18
And they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.
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Cross References
Numbers 14:2
And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!
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Cross References
Exodus 40:34
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:19
Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.
Leviticus 9:23
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:21
"Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment."
Numbers 16:24
"Say to the congregation, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram."
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Cross References
Numbers 16:22
And they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?
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Cross References
Numbers 8:19
And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.
Numbers 11:33
While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.
Leviticus 10:6
And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the Lord has kindled.
1 Chronicles 27:24
Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and the number was not entered in the chronicles of King David.
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Cross References
Numbers 16:50
And Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the tent of meeting, when the plague was stopped.
Numbers 25:8
And went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.
2 Samuel 24:25
And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel.
Psalms 106:30
Then Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was stayed.
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Cross References
Numbers 27:3
Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company of those who gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah, but died for his own sin. And he had no sons.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.