patriarchs and prophets-第74章

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inspiring　the　Canaanites　with　courage　and　resolution；　had　greatly　increased
the　difficulties　of　the　conquest。　Nothing　remained　for　Israel　but　to　fall
back　from　the　face　of　their　victorious　foes；　into　the　wilderness；　knowing
that　here　must　be　the　grave　of　a　whole　generation。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　35

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Rebellion　of　Korah


The　judgments　visited　upon　the　Israelites　served　for　a　time　to　restrain
their　murmuring　and　insubordination；　but　the　spirit　of　rebellion　was　still
in　the　heart　and　eventually　brought　forth　the　bitterest　fruits。　The　former
rebellions　had　been　mere　popular　tumults；　arising　from　the　sudden　impulse　of
the　excited　multitude；　but　now　a　deep…laid　conspiracy　was　formed；　the　result
of　a　determined　purpose　to　overthrow　the　authority　of　the　leaders　appointed
by　God　Himself。

Korah；　the　leading　spirit　in　this　movement；　was　a　Levite；　of　the　family　of
Kohath；　and　a　cousin　of　Moses；　he　was　a　man　of　ability　and　influence。　Though
appointed　to　the　service　of　the　tabernacle；　he　had　become　dissatisfied　with
his　position　and　aspired　to　the　dignity　of　the　priesthood。　The　bestowal　upon
Aaron　and　his　house　of　the　priestly　office；　which　had　formerly　devolved　upon
the　first…born　son　of　every　family；　had　given　rise　to　jealousy　and
dissatisfaction；　and　for　some　time　Korah　had　been　secretly　opposing　the
authority　of　Moses　and　Aaron；　though　he　had　not　ventured　upon　any　open　act
of　rebellion。　He　finally　conceived　the　bold　design　of　overthrowing　both　the
civil　and　the　religious　authority。　He　did　not　fail　to　find　sympathizers。
Close　to　the　tents　of　Korah　and　the　Kohathites；　on　the　south　side　of　the
tabernacle；　was　the　encampment　of　the　tribe　of　Reuben；　the　tents　of　Dathan
and　Abiram；　two　princes　of　this　tribe；　being　near　that　of　Korah。　These
princes　readily　joined　in　his　ambitious　schemes。　Being　descendants　from　the
eldest　son　of　Jacob；　they　claimed　that　the　civil　authority　belonged　to　them；
and　they　determined　to　divide　with　Korah　the　honors　of　the　priesthood。

The　state　of　feeling　among　the　people　favored　the　designs　of　Korah。　In　the
bitterness　of　their　disappointment；　their　former　doubts；　jealousy；　and
hatred　had　returned；　and　again　their　complaints　were　directed　against　their
patient　leader。　The　Israelites

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were　continually　losing　sight　of　the　fact　that　they　were　under　divine
guidance。　They　forgot　that　the　Angel　of　the　covenant　was　their　invisible
leader；　that；　veiled　by　the　cloudy　pillar；　the　presence　of　Christ　went
before　them；　and　that　from　Him　Moses　received　all　his　directions。

They　were　unwilling　to　submit　to　the　terrible　sentence　that　they　must　all
die　in　the　wilderness；　and　hence　they　were　ready　to　seize　upon　every　pretext
for　believing　that　it　was　not　God　but　Moses　who　was　leading　them　and　who　had
pronounced　their　doom。　The　best　efforts　of　the　meekest　man　upon　the　earth
could　not　quell　the　insubordination　of　this　people；　and　although　the　marks
of　God's　displeasure　at　their　former　perverseness　were　still　before　them　in
their　broken　ranks　and　missing　numbers；　they　did　not　take　the　lesson　to
heart。　Again　they　were　overcome　by　temptation。

The　humble　shepherd's　life　of　Moses　had　been　far　more　peaceful　and　happy
than　his　present　position　as　leader　of　that　vast　assembly　of　turbulent
spirits。　Yet　Moses　dared　not　choose。　In　place　of　a　shepherd's　crook　a　rod　of
power　had　been　given　him；　which　he　could　not　lay　down　until　God　should
release　him。

He　who　reads　the　secrets　of　all　hearts　had　marked　the　purposes　of　Korah　and
his　companions　and　had　given　His　people　such　warning　and　instruction　as
might　have　enabled　them　to　escape　the　deception　of　these　designing　men。　They
had　seen　the　judgment　of　God　fall　upon　Miriam　because　of　her　jealousy　and
complaints　against　Moses。　The　Lord　had　declared　that　Moses　was　greater　than
a　prophet。　〃With　him　will　I　speak　mouth　to　mouth。〃　〃Wherefore；　then；〃　He
added；　〃were　ye　not　afraid　to　speak　against　My　servant　Moses？〃　Numbers　12：8。
These　instructions　were　not　intended　for　Aaron　and　Miriam　alone；　but　for　all
Israel。

Korah　and　his　fellow　conspirators　were　men　who　had　been　favored　with　special
manifestations　of　God's　power　and　greatness。　They　were　of　the　number　who
went　up　with　Moses　into　the　mount　and　beheld　the　divine　glory。　But　since
that　time　a　change　had　come。　A　temptation；　slight　at　first；　had　been
harbored；　and　had　strengthened　as　it　was　encouraged；　until　their　minds　were
controlled　by　Satan；　and　they　ventured　upon　their　work　of　disaffection。
Professing　great　interest　in　the　prosperity　of　the　people；　they　first
whispered　their　discontent　to　one　another　and　then　to　leading　men　of　Israel。
Their　insinuations　were　so　readily

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received　that　they　ventured　still　further；　and　at　last　they　really　believed
themselves　to　be　actuated　by　zeal　for　God。

They　were　successful　in　alienating　two　hundred　and　fifty　princes；　men　of
renown　in　the　congregation。　With　these　strong　and　influential　supporters
they　felt　confident　of　making　a　radical　change　in　the　government　and　greatly
improving　upon　the　administration　of　Moses　and　Aaron。

Jealousy　had　given　rise　to　envy；　and　envy　to　rebellion。　They　had　discussed
the　question　of　the　right　of　Moses　to　so　great　authority　and　honor；　until
they　had　come　to　regard　him　as　occupying　a　very　enviable　position；　which　any
of　them　could　fill　as　well　as　he。　And　they　deceived　themselves　and　one
another　into　thinking　that　Moses　and　Aaron　had　themselves　assumed　the
positions　they　held。　The　discontented　ones　said　that　these　leaders　had
exalted　themselves　above　the　congregation　of　the　Lord；　in　taking　upon　them
the　priesthood　and　government；　but　their　house　was　not　entitled　to
distinction　above　others　in　Israel；　they　were　no　more　holy　than　the　people；
and　it　should　be　enough　for　them　to　be　on　a　level　with　their　brethren；　who
were　equally　favored　with　God's　special　presence　and　protection。

The　next　work　of　the　conspirators　was　with　the　people。　To　those　who　are　in
the　wrong；　and　deserving　of　reproof；　there　is　nothing　more　pleasing　than　to
receive　sympathy　and　praise。　And　thus　Korah　and　his　associates　gained　the
attention　and　enlisted　the　support　of　the　congregation。　The　charge　that　the
murmurings　of　the　people　had　brought　upon　them　the　wrath　of　God　was　declared
to　be　a　mistake。　They　said　that　the　congregation　were　not　at　fault；　since
they　desired　nothing　more　than　their　rights；　but　that　Moses　was　an
overbearing　ruler；　that　he　had　reproved　the　people　as　sinners；　when　they
were　a　holy　people；　and　the　Lord　was　among　them。

Korah　reviewed　the　history　of　their　travels　through　the　wilderness；　where
they　had　been　brought　into　strait　places；　and　many　had　perished　because　of
their　murmuring　and　disobedience。　His　hearers　thought　they　saw　clearly　that
their　troubles　might　have　been　prevented　if　Moses　had　pursued　a　different
course。　They　decided　that　all　their　disasters　were　chargeable　to　him；　and
that　their　exclusion　from　Canaan　was　in　consequence　of　the　mismanagement　of
Moses　and　Aaron；　that　if　Korah　would　be　their　leader；　and　would　encourage
them　by　dwelling　upon　their　good

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deeds；　instead　of　reproving　their　sins；　they　would　have　a　very　peaceful；
prosperous　journey；　instead　of　wandering　to　and　fro　in　the　wilderness；　they
would　proceed　directly　to　the　Promised　Land。

In　this　work　of　disaffection　there　was　greater　union　and　harmony　among　the
discordant　elements　of　the　congregation　than　had　ever　before　existed。
Korah's　success　with　the　people　increased　his　confidence　and　confirmed　him
in　his　belief　that　the　usurpation　of　authority　by　Moses；　if　unchecked；　would
be　fatal　to　the　liberties　of　Israel；　he　also　claimed　that　God　had　opened　the
matter　to　him；　and　had　authorized　him　to　make　a　change　in　the　government
before　it　should　be　too　late。　But　many　were　not　ready　to　accept　Korah's
accusations　against　Moses。　The　memory　of　his　patient；　self…sacrificing
labors　came　up　before　them；　and　conscience　was　disturbed。　It　was　therefore
necessary　to　assign　some　selfish　motive　for　his　deep　interest　for　Israel；
and　the　old　charge　was　reiterated；　that　he　had　led　them　out　to　perish　in　the
wilderness；　that　he　might　seize　upon　their　possessions。

For　a　time　this　work　was　carried　on　secretly。　As　soon；　however；　as　the
movement　had　gained　sufficient　strength　to　warrant　an　open　rupture；　Korah
appeared　at　the　head　of　the　faction；　and　publicly　accused　Moses　and　Aaron　of
usurping　authority　which　Korah　and　his　associates　were　equally　entitled　to
share。　It　was　charged；　further；　that　the　people　had　been　deprived　of　their
liberty　and　independence。　〃Ye　take　too　much　upon　you；〃　said　the
conspirators；　〃seeing　all　the　congregation　are　holy；　every　one　of　them；　and
the　Lord　is　among　them：　wherefore　then　lift　ye　up　yourselves　above　the
congregation　of　the　Lord？〃

Moses　had　not　suspected　this　deep…laid　plot；　and　when　its　terrible
significance　burst　upon　him；　he　fell　upon　his　face　in　silent　appeal　to　God。
He　arose　sorrowful　indeed；　but　calm　and　strong。　Divine　guidance　had　been
granted　him。　〃Even　tomorrow；〃　he　said；　〃the　Lord　will　show　who　are　His；　and
who　is　holy；　and　will　cause　him　to　come　near　unto　Him：　even　him　whom　He　hath
chosen　will　He　cause　to　come　near　unto　Him。〃　The　test　was　to　be　deferred
until　the　morrow；　that　all　might　have　time　for　reflection。　Then　those　who
aspired　to　the　priesthood　were　to　come　each　with　a　censer；　and　offer　incense
at　the　tabernacle　in　the　presence　of　the　congregation。　The　law　was　very
explicit　that　only　those　who　had　been　ordained　to　the　sacred　office　should
minister　in　the　sanctuary。　And　even　the　priests；　Nadab　and　Abihu；　had

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been　destroyed　for　venturing　to　offer　〃strange　fire；〃　in　disregard　of　a
divine　command。　Yet　Moses　challenged　his　accusers；　if　they　dared　enter　upon
so　perilous　an　appeal；　to　refer　the　matter　to　God。

Singling　out　Korah　and　his　fellow　Levites；　Moses　said；　〃Seemeth　it　but　a
small　thing　unto　you；　that　the　God　of　Israel　hath　separated　you　from　the
congregation　of　Israel；　to　bring　you　near　to　Himself　to　do　the　service　of
the　tabernacle　of　the　Lord；　and　to　stand　before　the　congregation　to　minister
unto　them？　And　He　hath　brought　thee　near　to　Him；　and　all　thy　brethren　the
sons　of　Levi　with　thee：　and　seek　ye　the　priesthood　also？　for　which　cause
both　thou　and　all　thy　company　are　gathered　together　against　the　Lord。　And
what　is　Aaron；　that　ye　murmur　against　him？〃

Dathan　and　Abiram　had　not　taken　so　bold　a　stand　as　had　Korah；　and　Moses；
hoping　that　they　might　have　been　drawn　into　the　conspiracy　without　having
become　wholly　corrupted；　summoned　them　to　appear　before　him；　that　he　might
hear　their　charges　against　him。　But　they　would　not　come；　and　they　insolently
refused　to　acknowledge　his　authority。　Their　reply；　uttered　in　the　hearing　of
the　congregation；　was；　〃Is　it　a　small　thing　that　thou　hast　brought　us　up　out
of　a　land　that　floweth　with　milk　and　honey；　to　kill　us　in　the　wilderness；
except　thou　make　thyself　altogether　a　prince　over　us？　Moreover　thou　hast　not
br