The Rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
1-2 Korah son of Izhar, from the Levite clan of Kohath, rebelled against the leadership of Moses. He was joined by three members of the tribe of Reuben—Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—and by 250 other Israelites, well-known leaders chosen by the community. 3 They assembled before Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! All the members of the community belong to the Lord, and the Lord is with all of us. Why, then, Moses, do you set yourself above the Lord's community?”
4 When Moses heard this, he threw himself on the ground and prayed. 5 Then he said to Korah and his followers, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to him; he will let the one who belongs to him, that is, the one he has chosen, approach him at the altar. 6-7 Tomorrow morning you and your followers take fire pans, put live coals and incense on them, and take them to the altar. Then we will see which of us the Lord has chosen. You Levites are the ones who have gone too far!”
8 Moses continued to speak to Korah. “Listen, you Levites! 9 Do you consider it a small matter that the God of Israel has set you apart from the rest of the community, so that you can approach him, perform your service in the Lord's Tent, and minister to the community and serve them? 10 He has let you and all the other Levites have this honor—and now you are trying to get the priesthood too! 11 When you complain against Aaron, it is really against the Lord that you and your followers are rebelling.”
12 Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they said, “We will not come! 13 Isn't it enough that you have brought us out of the fertile land of Egypt to kill us here in the wilderness? Do you also have to lord it over us? 14 You certainly have not brought us into a fertile land or given us fields and vineyards as our possession, and now you are trying to deceive us. We will not come!”
15 Moses became angry and said to the Lord, “Do not accept any offerings these men bring. I have not wronged any of them; I have not even taken one of their donkeys.”
16 Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow you and your 250 followers must come to the Tent of the Lord's presence; Aaron will also be there. 17 Each of you will take his fire pan, put incense on it, and then present it at the altar.” 18 So they each took their fire pans, put live coals and incense on them, and stood at the entrance of the Tent with Moses and Aaron. 19 Then Korah gathered the whole community, and they stood facing Moses and Aaron at the entrance of the Tent. Suddenly the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appeared to the whole community, 20 and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 21 “Move back from these people, and I will destroy them immediately.”
22 But Moses and Aaron bowed down with their faces to the ground and said, “O God, you are the source of all life. When one of us sins, do you become angry with the whole community?”
23 The Lord said to Moses, 24 “Tell the people to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
25 Then Moses, accompanied by the leaders of Israel, went to Dathan and Abiram. 26 He said to the people, “Get away from the tents of these wicked men and don't touch anything that belongs to them. Otherwise, you will be wiped out with them for all their sins.” 27 So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrance of their tents, with their wives and children. 28 Moses said to the people, “This is how you will know that the Lord has sent me to do all these things and that it is not by my own choice that I have done them. 29 If these men die a natural death without some punishment from God, then the Lord did not send me. 30 But if the Lord does something unheard of, and the earth opens up and swallows them with all they own, so that they go down alive to the world of the dead, you will know that these men have rejected the Lord.”
31 As soon as he had finished speaking, the ground under Dathan and Abiram split open 32 and swallowed them and their families, together with all of Korah's followers and their possessions. 33 So they went down alive to the world of the dead, with their possessions. The earth closed over them, and they vanished. 34 All the people of Israel who were there fled when they heard their cry. They shouted, “Run! The earth might swallow us too!”
35 Then the Lord sent a fire that blazed out and burned up the 250 men who had presented the incense.
The Fire Pans
36 Then the Lord said to Moses, 37 “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the bronze fire pans from the remains of those who have been burned, and scatter the coals from the fire pans somewhere else, because the fire pans are holy. 38 They became holy when they were presented at the Lord's altar. So take the fire pans of these who were put to death for their sin, beat them into thin plates, and make a covering for the altar. It will be a warning to the people of Israel.” 39 So Eleazar the priest took the fire pans and had them beaten into thin plates to make a covering for the altar. 40 This was a warning to the Israelites that no one who was not a descendant of Aaron should come to the altar to burn incense for the Lord. Otherwise he would be destroyed like Korah and his men. All this was done as the Lord had commanded Eleazar through Moses.
Aaron Saves the People
41 The next day the whole community complained against Moses and Aaron and said, “You have killed some of the Lord's people.” 42 After they had all gathered to protest to Moses and Aaron, they turned toward the Tent and saw that the cloud was covering it and that the dazzling light of the Lord's presence had appeared. 43 Moses and Aaron went and stood in front of the Tent, 44 and the Lord said to Moses, 45 “Move back from these people, and I will destroy them on the spot!”
The two of them bowed down with their faces to the ground, 46 and Moses said to Aaron, “Take your fire pan, put live coals from the altar in it, and put some incense on the coals. Then hurry with it to the people and perform the ritual of purification for them. Hurry! The Lord's anger has already broken out and an epidemic has already begun.” 47 Aaron obeyed, took his fire pan and ran into the middle of the assembled people. When he saw that the plague had already begun, he put the incense on the coals and performed the ritual of purification for the people. 48 This stopped the plague, and he was left standing between the living and the dead. 49 The number of people who died was 14,700, not counting those who died in Korah's rebellion. 50 When the plague had stopped, Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance of the Tent.
Kupanduka kwa Kora na Dathani na Abiramu
1 Ndizo Kora nkololo wa Izha, Izha ali nkololo wa Kohati, Kohati ali nkololo wa Levi, kukoti Dathani na Abiramu bali bakololo ba Eliyabu kudwapo Oni nkololo wa Peleti, Peleti na Eliyabu bali bakololo ba Rubheni, bakapandukila Mushe. 2 Bakamilika bakamukila Mushe, bazhadziwa nge balume bali mazana mabili ana makumi mashanu (250) bakabe bali batungamili be gubungano, bashalugwa mu gubungano bali balume bana tjilumbi. 3 Bakanokubungana mbeli kwa Mushe na Aroni, bakabadwa bakati, “Mapindilila kwazo! Mmwe ne mmwe mu gubungano ileli wakayengemala, Yahwe banaye, ngono ngwenu ini makazwituthumadza kupinda, mu gubungano la Yahwe?” 4 Kukati Mushe ehwa nge kwa ikoku, kathigama kakotamila pasi. 5 Shule kadwa Kora ne batobeli babe bose kati, “Tjimuka mangwanana Yahwe banowolakidza kuti wabo ndiupi, ne kuti wakayengemala ndiani, banonsedzedza pejo nabo, iye wabanowoshalula banonsedzedza pejo nabo. 6 Iwe Kora, ne batobeli babo bose mumuke, mutole zwikambana zwe moto, 7 mulonge masimbe anopisa mu zwili, mupise motsha mbeli kwa Yahwe, ngono nlume unowoshalugwa ndi Yahwe ndiye unowobe akayengemala. Mapindilila kwazo, bakololo ba Levi!” 8 Ngono Mushe kadwa Kora kati, “Tjihwani imwi bakololo ba Levi. 9 Apa kuthu kutukununu kuti Ndzimu we Iziraela ube wakamushalula pakati kwe gubungano le Iziraela, umusedzedza pejo nawo, kube bashingili mu bugalo gwa Yahwe kene? Ne kuti mume mbeli kwe gubungano mulishingila kene? 10 Kakale Ndzimu wakamusedzedza pejo nawo, nenge zwikamu zwenyu bakololo ba Levi, apa moshaka ne bupirisiti pezhugwi kwa ikoku kene? 11 Iwe ne batobeli babo makubunganila kuwobhayana na Yahwe. Aroni ndiani dumbu wamungang'ong'ola nge kukwe kene?”
12 Mushe kabe eti kunodang'wa Dathani na Abiramu bakololo ba Eliyabu, koga bakadabila beti, “Atitowozha. 13 Apa unokutola bulelu kube wakatidusa mu shango inowunga nkaka ne butji gwe nyutji, kuwotibulayila mu tjilambanyika, ube uzwithama nlauli mutili kene? 14 Kakale auzotikotosa mu shango inowunga nkaka ne butji gwe nyutji, kene kuli kutipa thaka ye minda ne minda dze mizhambi. Apa wakazwimisila kutibiga ludandi mu mesho kene? Atitowozha!”
15 Mushe kazhala bushongola kadwa Yahwe kati, “Musitongo amutjila zwibhayilo zwabo. Andizotongo tolela mmwe wabo donki, kene kuli kutjinyidzila mmwe wabo tjimwe.”
16 Mushe kadwa Kora kati, “Iwe ne batobeli babo mangwana mumuke muzhe mbeli kwa Yahwe, Aroni unowobe alipobo. 17 Mmwe ne mmwe azhe ne lukambana gugwe kwe moto mbeli kwa Yahwe, mmwe ne mmwe alonge motsha muguli, ali makambana ali mazana mabili ana makumi mashanu (250) na Aroni azhebo ne gugwe.” 18 Ipapo mmwe ne mmwe kazha ne lukambana gugwe gwe moto guna masimbe anopisa mukati, bakalonga motsha pezhugwi kwe masimbe, bakanoma pa nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo bana Mushe na Aroni. 19 Ndizo Kora kakubunganyila gubungano lose pa nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo. Ngono kukaboneka tjedza tja Yahwe mbeli kwe gubungano lose. 20 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe na Aroni bakati, 21 “Milani kutjena ne gubungano ileli, kuti ndibalobese tjinyolotjo.”
22 Koga Mushe na Aroni bakathigama bakakotamisa njiso dzabo pasi, bakatembezela beti, “Imwi Ndzimu: Ndzimu we meya ye zwinotjila zose, apa mungazhalila gubungano lose bushongola ngono kwatjinya nthu nng'ompela kene?” 23 Yahwe bakadwa Mushe Bakati, 24 “Idwa gubungano libhude mu nzi wa Kora na Dathani na Abiramu.”
25 Ndizo Mushe kamilika ana batungamili be Iziraela, bakayenda kuna Dathani na Abiramu. 26 Kaswika kadwa gubungano kati, “Ndomukumbila idwani ipapa, mu mishasha ye bathu ibaba babiibi, musitongo bhata tjimwe tjabo, kusajalo mowolobesiwa nabo ngekwe zwibi zwabo.” 27 Ndizo gubungano likadwa pa mishasha ya Kora na Dathani na Abiramu. Ngono Dathani na Abiramu bakabhuda ne bakadzi ne bana babo, bakama pa mikoba ye mishasha yabo. 28 Mushe kadwa gubungano kati, “Ndiko sekwa munowoziba kuti Yahwe bandituma kuthama mishingo yose iyeyi, andizozwithamigwa nge kwangu. 29 Ha bathu ibaba bangafa lufu gwakawolobeleka se bathu bose, kene bangafa nge zila ye bathu yabagala befa ndiyo, ipapo kowobe kudwa kuti Yahwe abazondituma. 30 Koga ha Yahwe bangathama tjimwe tjitshwa, pasi pakaashama, pakabamidza, ne zwithu zwabo zose bebe beyenda ku bugalo gwe bafi bali bapenyu, ipapo mowoziba kuti bathu ibaba bakalengudza Yahwe.” 31 Kukati Mushe epedza leba matama wose iyawa, pasi pakapaluka kusi kwabo, 32 pakazhuka nlomo kukabamidzilanya ne misha yabo, ne balume bose bakabe bana Kora ne zwija zwabo. 33 Bose ne zwabakabe banazo bakayenda ku bugalo gwe bafi bali bapenyu, pasi kukabazhalilila, bakaloba bedwa pakati kwe gubungano. 34 Bathu bose be Iziraela bakabe bali ipapo, bakati behwa makuwo abo, bakatizha, bemimila beti, “Ngatitizheni! Pasi panodwa petimidzabo!”
35 Ndizo Yahwe bakadelusa moto ukapisa ukalobesa bathu ibaba bakabe bali mazana mabili ana makumi mashanu (250) bakabe bazhisa motsha.
Makambana e moto
36 Ipapo Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 37 “Idwa Eleazari nkololo we mpirisiti Aroni aduse makambana anopisila motsha mu moto, aduse masimbe mu makambana aapaladzile kutjena, ngobe makambana akayengemala. 38 Katsha makambana iyawa e balume bakafa bebulawa nge zwibi zwabo, uthame zwifumiko zwe tjibeso, ngobe bakaadusa mbeli kwa Yahwe, akayengemala. Ndizo anowobe tjilakidzo ku bathu be Iziraela.” 39 Ipapo Eleazari katola makambana akathamwa nge phangula, akadusiwa nge balume bakapisiwa, kaakatsha kathama ndigwana dzinofumika tjibeso. 40 Tjakabe ikumbuludzo, kukumbuludza bathu be Iziraela, kuti kusibe ne nthu usi mpirisiti, usi we bakololo ba Aroni, wakafanila sedzela pejo kupisa motsha mbeli kwa Yahwe. Ha angathama eijalo unowobona tjakabong'wa ndi Kora ne batobeli babe. I ndaulo yakapiwa Eleazari, kubudziwa Mushe.
Aroni unotjidza bathu
41 Tjimuka gubungano likang'ong'ola kuna Mushe na Aroni liti, “Makabulaya bathu ba Yahwe.” 42 Kukati gubungano lakubunganila kung'ong'ola kuna Mushe na Aroni, likatjebuka ku nshasha we bushanganilo, ngono bonani, gole likabe lakaufukidza, kukaboneka tjedza tja Yahwe. 43 Mushe na Aroni bakayenda bakanoma mbeli kwe nshasha we bushanganilo. 44 Ngono Yahwe bakadwa Mushe bakati, 45 “Bhudila kutjena ne gubungano ileli, kuti ndililobese tjinyolotjo!”
Mushe na Aroni bakathigama bakakotamisa njiso dzabo pasi. 46 Ngono Mushe kadwa Aroni kati, “Tola lukambana gugo gwe moto, ukokele masimbe anopisa muguli kudwa mu tjibeso. Ube ulonga motsha muguli, tjinyolotjo ugusengele ku gubungano, ubathamile gadzano na Yahwe, ngobe bushongola gwa Yahwe gwaswika ne tjiga tjatangisa.” 47 Ipapo Aroni kathama sekwa adwiwa ndi Mushe. Kalabukila pakati kwe gubungano, ngono bona, tjiga tjikabe tjatangisa kale, pakati kwe bathu. Kalonga motsha mu moto kathamila bathu gadzano na Yahwe. 48 Kama ali pakati kwe zwitumbu ne bapenyu, tjiga tjikama. 49 Bathu bakabe bafa nge tjiga bakabe bali zwiwulu zwili gumi lina bunna ne mazana ali kutendeka (14 700) kuzhe kwe bakafa nge mishingo ya Kora. 50 Kukati tjiga tjatjima, Aroni kashandukila kuna Mushe ku nkoba we nshasha we bushanganilo.