^16:1¹ Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, who were Reubenites,² took men³^16:2and rebelled against Moses, along with some of the Israelites, 250 leaders⁴ of the community, chosen from the assembly,⁵ famous men.⁶

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Footnotes

1 There are three main movements in the story of ch. 16. The first is the rebellion itself (vv. 1–19). The second is the judgment (vv. 20–35). Third is the atonement for the rebels (vv. 36–50). The whole chapter is a marvelous account of a massive rebellion against the leaders that concludes with reconciliation. For further study see G. Hort, “The Death of Qorah,” 7 (1959): 2–26; and J. Liver, “Korah, Dathan and Abiram,” Studies in the Bible ( 8), 189–217.
2 The reading is plural (“the sons of Reuben”); the and have the singular (“the son of Reuben”).
3 In the Hebrew text there is no object for the verb “took.” The translation presented above supplies the word “men.” However, it is possible that the has suffered damage here. The has “and he spoke.” The and have “and he was divided.” The editor of suggests that perhaps the should be emended to “and he arose.”
4 Heb “princes” (so , ).
5 These men must have been counselors or judges of some kind.
6 Heb “men of name,” or “men of renown.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took two hundred fifty prominent Israelite men who were leaders of the community and representatives in the assembly, and they rebelled against Moses.

NLTNew Living Translation

One day Korah son of Izhar, a descendant of Kohath son of Levi, conspired with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, from the tribe of Reuben. They incited a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 other leaders of the community, all prominent members of the assembly.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, the descendants of Reuben, took two hundred and fifty men from the Israelites, leaders of the community summoned from the assembly, renowned men, and they confronted Moses.

KJV 1900King James Version

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

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