Numbers 16:3

“And they gathered themselves together against Moses, and against Aaron, etc.] They met together by appointment, and went up in a body to Moses and Aaron: and said unto them, [ye take] too much upon you; the one to be king, and the other to be priest; for they imagined that Moses took the civil government into his hands, and Aaron the priesthood, of themselves, without any call of God to either; but the contrary is most certain, (<580302>Hebrews 3:2 5:4); the Israelites, those of the other tribes besides Levi and Reuben, thought that Moses took too much upon him of his own head, to take the Levites instead of the firstborn, and confer a dignity on his own brethren, the sons of Kohath, who…”

“they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron--The assemblage seems to have been composed of the whole band of conspirators; and they grounded their complaint on the fact that the whole people, being separated to the divine service (Exo 19:6), were equally qualified to present offerings on the altar, and that God, being graciously, present among them by the tabernacle and the cloud, evinced His readiness to receive sacrifices from the hand of any others as well as from theirs.”

“All the congregation are holy - Compare the marginal reference. Korah’s object was not to abolish the distinction between the Levites and the people, but to win priestly dignity for himself and his kinsmen Numbers 16:10. This ultimate design is masked for the present in order to win support from the Reubenites by putting forward claims to spiritual equality on behalf of every Israelite. return to 'Top of Page'”

“They - Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and the rest, who were all together when Moses spake those words, Num 16:5-7, but after that, Dathan and Abiram retired to their tents, and then Moses sent for Korah and the Levites, who had more colourable pretences to the priesthood, and treats with them apart, and speaks what is mentioned, Num 16:8-11. Having dispatched them, he sends for Dathan and Abiram, Num 16:12, that he might reason the case with them also apart. Against Aaron - To whom the priesthood was confined, and against Moses, both because this was done by his order, and because before Aaron's consecration Moses appropriated it to himself. For whatever they intended, they seem not now directly…”

“16:3 The rebels were “jealous of Moses and envious of Aaron” (Ps 106:16). They insisted that Moses and Aaron had gone too far because all Israelites were God’s chosen people (Exod 19:6). Their egalitarian protest against Moses and Aaron’s authority was probably intended to replace that authority with their own.”

“gathered: Num 16:11, Num 12:1, Num 12:2, Num 14:1-4; Psa 106:16; Act 7:39, Act 7:51 Ye take too much upon you: Heb. It is much for you all the: Exo 19:6; Ezr 9:2; Isa 1:11-16; Jer 7:3-12; Mat 3:9, Mat 3:10; Rom 2:28, Rom 2:29 the Lord: Num 14:14, Num 35:34; Exo 29:45, Exo 29:46; Psa 68:17 Numbers 16:4”