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all their blessings. In Christ all such types have ceased, becausethe reality to which
they pointed has come.
This digression seemed necessary, alike for the proper understanding of the history of
Korah and forthat of the typical arrangements of the Old Testament. But to return. On
the morning following theoutbreak of the rebellion, Korah and his two hundred and
fifty associates presented themselves, asMoses had proposed, at the door of the
Tabernacle. Here "they took every man his censer, and putfire in them, and laid
incense thereon." Indeed, Korah had gained such influence, that he was nowable to
gather there "all the congregation" as against Moses and Aaron. Almost had the wrath
ofGod, whose glory visibly appeared before all, consumed "this congregation" in a
moment, when theintercession of Moses and Aaron once more prevailed. In these
words: "O God, the God of thespirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt Thou be
wroth with all the congregation?" (as Calvinremarks) Moses made his appeal "to the
general grace of creation," praying that, "as God was theCreator and Maker of the
world, He would not destroy man whom He had created, but rather havepity on the
work of His hands." And so there is a plea for mercy, and an unspeakable privilege
evenin the fact of being the creatures of such a God!
Leaving the rebels with their censers at the door of the Tabernacle -perhaps panic-
struck - Mosesnext repaired to the tents of Dathan and Abiram, accompanied by the
elders, and followed by thecongregation. On the previous day the two Reubenites had
refused to meet Moses, and sent him ataunting reply, suggesting that he only intended
to blind the people.
And now when Dathan and Abiram, with their wives and children, came out and stood
at the doorof their tents, as it were, to challenge what Moses could do, the people were
first solemnly warnedaway from them. Then a judgment, new and unheard of, was
announced, and immediately executed.The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up
these rebels and their families, with all thatappertained to them, that is, with such as
had taken part in their crime. As for Korah, the same fateseems to have overtaken him.
But it is an emphatic testimony alike to the truth of God's declaration,that He
punisheth not men for the sins of their fathers, (Jeremiah 31:30; Ezekiel 18:19, 20)
and to thepiety of the Levites, that the sons of Korah did not share in the rebellion of
their father, andconsequently died not with him. (Numbers 26:11) More than this, not
only were Samuel andafterwards Heman descendants of Korah, (1 Samuel 1:1; 1
Chronicles 6:33-38) but among themwere some of those "sweet singers of Israel,"
whose hymns, Divinely inspired, were intended for theChurch at all times. And all the
Psalms "of the sons of Korah" have this common characteristic,which sounds like an
echo of the lesson learned from the solemn judgment upon their house, thattheir
burden is praise of the King Who is enthroned at Jerusalem, and longing after the
services ofGod's sanctuary. But as for "the two hundred and fifty men that offered
(^)