Numbers 16:20–35

²⁰The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, ²¹“Separate yourselves from this community so I may consume them instantly.” ^q

²²But Moses and Aaron fell facedown ^rand said, “God, God of the spirits ^stof all flesh, when one man sins, will You vent Your wrath on the whole community?” ^u

²³The Lord replied to Moses, ²⁴“Tell the community: Get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

²⁵Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶He warned the community, “Get away now from the tents of these wicked men. Don’t touch anything that belongs to them, ^vor you will be swept away because of all their sins.” ^w27So they got away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance of their tents with their wives, children, and infants.

²⁸Then Moses said, “This is how you will know that the Lord sent me ^xto do all these things and that it was not of my own will: ²⁹If these men die naturally as all people would, and suffer the fate of all, then the Lord has not sent me. ³⁰But if the Lord brings about something unprecedented, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them along with all that belongs to them so that they go down alive into Sheol, ^ythen you will know that these men have despised the Lord.”

³¹Just as he finished speaking all these words, the ground beneath them split open. ³²The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households, all Korah’s people, ^zand all their possessions. ³³They went down alive into Sheol with all that belonged to them. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly. ³⁴At their cries, all the people of Israel who were around them fled because they thought, “The earth may swallow us too!” ³⁵Fire also came out from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were presenting the incense. ^a