Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Numbers 16:8-11
Moses Charge against Korah (Numbers 16:8).
‘And Moses said to Korah, “Hear now, you sons of Levi, does it seem but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that he has brought you (thee) near, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you? and do you seek the priesthood also?” '
Moses now added a further warning to them and especially to their leader. It was not too late to withdraw. Let Korah consider this on behalf of his followers. Did they consider the privileged position that they had been given to do the service of the Dwellingplace of Yahweh, and to act as ministers to the congregation, to be a small thing? He was well aware that they did not. Let them remember that God had separated them from the congregation of Israel for special service, and had brought them near to Himself, by allowing them to camp around the Dwellingplace as its guardians, and to enter the courtyard of the Dwellingplace to fulfil their functions. That was a huge privilege. No other tribe of Israel had such access to that holy place. And this was not only true for him, but for all who were truly sons of Levi. If they then saw their position as privileged, because they had been chosen and ‘made holy' in preparation for it, would they not recognise that in seeking to act as priests they were stepping outside their calling. They were well aware that Yahweh Himself had chosen the sons of Aaron. Would they then seek that priesthood for themselves contrary to Yahweh's express desire? Let them think about it, and beware.
Again the writer is stressing his central point. The overall rebellion he treats as secondary.
“All your brethren the sons of Levi with you?” The whole tribe of Levites is in mind here as having the Levite privileges, as against the few who were in the rebellion.
“ Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against Yahweh, and Aaron, what is he that you murmur against him?”
And it was in the seeking of the priesthood which was at Yahweh's disposal that they had gathered together ‘against Yahweh and against Aaron'. Let them consider that their action was in the face of Yahweh's direct commandment. It put them ‘against Yahweh'. After all, what was Aaron that they should murmur against him? He was only doing what Yahweh had commanded him. He and they were in the same position. They each ought to do what Yahweh chose them for, and what He had set them apart for, and commanded them to do.
It would seem at this point that Korah and his band of Levites were satisfied with the offer and were ready to retire to their tents in the Levite camp ready for the morning. They disregarded his warning. Moses' warnings had simply passed over their heads because they were gripped by covetousness. But Moses recognised that he had only dealt with half the problem.
He then turned his attention to the Reubenites who had previously withdrawn. He recognised that they would not be satisfied with such a test. They were more concerned with gaining leadership of the confederacy than with becoming priests. It was necessary somehow to pacify them and deal with their fellow-rebels.