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Numbers 16 · a question people ask

Wasn't Korah right? Didn't God call all Israel holy?

In the text

He did. At Sinai the LORD said, "you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (Exodus 19:6), and just before this chapter, "be holy to your God" (15:40). What the chapter settles is a different question: who may come near to burn incense before the LORD. Moses says, "the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him" (16:5), and asks the Levites, "Do you seek the priesthood also?" (16:10). Afterwards the censers become "a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before the LORD" (16:40). Peter later writes to those who believe (1 Peter 2:7), "you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation" (1 Peter 2:9).

The verses

“and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.””
Exodus 19:6 · World English Bible
“so that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.”
Numbers 15:40 · World English Bible
“He said to Korah and to all his company, “In the morning, the LORD will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him. Even him whom he shall choose, he will cause to come near to him.”
Numbers 16:5 · World English Bible
“and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? Do you seek the priesthood also?”
Numbers 16:10 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Numbers 16

Numbers 16: Who is holy

Korah said all the congregation were holy (16:3), and the LORD answered by showing whom he chose to come near (16:5, 16:40). The rebels' censers were beaten into a covering for the altar, as a memorial (16:38-40). And when the plague began, Aaron, the one they had complained against, ran into the crowd with incense and "stood between the dead and the living" (16:48).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions