Compare this with the story of
Korah; and it is interesting to observe how the priestly chronicler, in
order to throw the profounder awe about his class, has made the great
national prophet the author of the exclusion of the body of the Levites
from the caste, in favor of his own brother. "And they gathered themselves
together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too
much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, ... wherefore then
lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?
"And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face." Then he told Korah and
his followers, who were descendants of Levi and legally entitled to act as
priests by existing customs, to take censers and burn incense, and it
would appear whether the Lord would respect their offering. So every man
took his censer, and Korah and two hundred and fifty more stood in the
door of the tabernacle.
Then Moses said, if "the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with
all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye
shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord....
"And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses,
and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods.
"They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and
the earth closed upon them:.
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