Chapter 31: The Sabbath Breaker, Korah, and Aaron’s Rod

Study notes

A man is stoned at Yahweh’s command for gathering wood on a sabbath, and Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and 250 chiefs gather against Moses and Aaron. The ground swallows all who belonged to Korah, fire consumes the 250 who brought incense, and later Aaron’s staff buds, blossoms, and bears almonds.

From Numbers 15:32–36 (KoS), Numbers 16:1–7 (KoS), Numbers 16:28–35 (KoS), Numbers 17:8–13 (KoS).

These notes and questions are original study helps written for this site, not scripture. The verses shown with each question are quoted from the Kingdoms of Scripture Bible.

Notice and discuss

Read each passage, then think about the question on your own or talk it over with others. No answers are collected.

1. What does Yahweh say the tassels on their garments will help the sons of Israel remember and do?

   Yahweh said to Moses, saying, Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, They shall make themselves tassels on the corners of their garments, through their generations, and they shall put a cord of violet-blue on the tassel of the corner. It shall be a tassel for you. You shall see it and remember all Yahweh’s commands and do them, and you shall not go scouting after your own heart and after your own eyes, which you go straying after. So you shall remember and do all my commands, and you shall be holy to your God. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God. I am Yahweh your God.

   Numbers 15:37–41 (KoS)

   Note · Translation Tzitzit is a tassel. Kanfei is the corners, the wings, of the garment. Petil tekhelet is a cord of violet-blue, the same dye as in the dwelling.

   Note · Translation Taturu is the same verb as the scouting of the land. Here it is going off after one’s own heart and eyes. Zonim is going astray, the word used for unfaithfulness.

   Note · Translation The Hebrew is YHWH Elohim, twice. Yahweh is the name. God is Elohim. See the glossary.

2. What reasons do Dathan and Abiram give for refusing to come when Moses sends for them?

   Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and they said, We will not go up. Is it too small a thing that you brought us up from a land oozing milk and honey to put us to death in the wilderness, that you also set yourself up as ruler over us? What is more, you have not brought us into a land oozing milk and honey, and you have not given us an inheritance of field and vineyard. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not go up. Moses was very angry, and he said to Yahweh, Do not turn toward their grain gift. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not done evil to one of them.

   Numbers 16:12–15 (KoS)

3. When the plague begins, what does Moses tell Aaron to do, and where does Aaron stand while he does it?

   Moses said to Aaron, Take the fire pan and put fire on it from the altar, set incense on it, and go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for the wrath has gone out from before Yahweh. The striking has begun. Aaron took it as Moses had spoken, and he ran into the midst of the assembly, and look, the striking had begun among the people. He put on the incense and made atonement for the people. He stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was held back. Those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died on account of Korah. Aaron returned to Moses, to the door of the tent of meeting, and the plague had been held back.

   Numbers 16:46–50 (KoS)

   Note · Translation The number is fourteen thousand and seven hundred, as written. Elef is a thousand. It is not added to the two hundred and fifty, and it is not corrected.