This is a longer chapter but very exciting so it goes by quickly. Korah, a descendant of Kohath, gets a group of men together who challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron. They agree with Moses’ plan to have both stand before God and let him choose (which he had already done).

Numbers 16

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:

2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, 250 princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:

3 They gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much on yourselves, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: why then do you lift yourselves up above the congregation of the LORD?”

4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face:

5 And he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying “Tomorrow the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy; and who he calls to come near him: Those he has chosen he will bring near to him.

6 Do this; Take censers, Korah, and all his company;

7 And put fire in them, and put incense in them before the LORD tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD chooses, he shall be holy: you take too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi.”

8 Moses said to Korah “Hear now, you sons of Levi:

9 Does it seem like 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 the LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them?

10 He has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you: and do you seek the priesthood also?

11 For what cause have both you and your company gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye grumble against him?”

12 Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab who said “We will not come up.

13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land that flowed with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except you make yourself a prince over us?

14 You have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.”

15 Moses was very angry, and said to the LORD “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them nor have I hurt a single one of them.”

16 And Moses said to Korah “You and all your company come before the LORD, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow:

17 Take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and every man bring his censer before the LORD tomorrow, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.”

18 Every man took his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense on it, and stood in the door of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron.

19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tent of meeting: and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the congregation.

20 The LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” 

22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”

23 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

24 “Speak to the congregation and say “Get away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying “Get away now from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of their’s, or else you will be consumed in all their sins.”

27 So they got up from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

28 And Moses said “This is how you will know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own mind.

29 If these men die naturally as all men die, or if they suffer the fate of all men; then the LORD has not sent me.

30 But if the LORD does a new thing, and the earth opens her mouth, and swallows them up, with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD.”

31 As he had finished speaking all these words, the ground split open that was under them:

32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that belonged to Korah, and all their goods.

33 They, and all that belonged to them, went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed on them: and they perished from among the congregation.

34 And all Israel that were around them fled at the cry of them: for they said “the earth could swallow us up also.”

35 Fire came out from the LORD, and consumed the 250 men that offered incense.

36 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

37 “Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, and tell him to take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire abroad, for they are holy. 

38 As for the censers of these men who sinned at the cost of their lives, make them into broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are holy, and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”

39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which they that were burned had offered; and they were made into broad plates for a covering of the altar:

40 To be a memorial to the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not a descendant of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.

41 But the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying “You have killed the people of the LORD.”

42 And when the congregation gathered against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the tent of meeting: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

43 Moses and Aaron came before the tent of meeting,

44 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

45 “Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them instantly.” And they fell on their faces.

46 Moses said to Aaron “Take a censer, and put fire in it from the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them: for wrath has gone out from the LORD; the plague has begun.”

47 Aaron did as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and saw that the plague had begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made atonement for the people.

48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.

49 Now those that died in the plague were 14,700, beside those that died over the matter of Korah.

50 And Aaron returned to Moses unto the door of the tent of meeting: and the plague was stopped.

See also: Numbers 16 in ESV, HCSB, NASB and NIV via Bible Gateway.