HOMILIES BY VARIOUS AUTHORS. Vera. 1-3.-Korah's rebellion. 1. The ringleader and hi-a poli,cy. Of all l~e seditious movements which embittered the heart of Moses and wrought trouble m Israel during the forty years' wanderings, the rebellion of Korab was by far the most formidable. The anxious tone of the narrative betrays a consciousness of this, and it is confirmed by the facts narrated. The other seditions w~re either.confined to a few individuals, like the dedition of Miriam and Aaron, or, hke the disturbances at Marah, and Kibroth-hataavah, and Kadesh, they were the confused move~ents ?~ a, crowd without definite aims, without leaders, without organisation. In this sed1t1on of Korab there is not only a general ferment of rebellious feeling, but there is an organised conspiracy, with a resolute and able mon at its head-a man who knows. exactly what he would be at, and is consummately skilful in turning to account all tbe floating elements of discontent that exist in the congregation. . I. Let us begin by taking careful note of '.!'HE RINGLEADER. Korah was, hke Moses• and Aaron, of the tribe of Levi and family of Kohath. He was therefore a fa~-.o:ff cousin of the men against whom he rebelled. That Korab was the soul of the sedition, is too plain to need proof. (Compare" the company of Kornh," vers. 6, 16, 32; ::u:vi. 9, &c. ; "the gainsaying of Korah,'' Jude 11 ). His design is not difficult to fathom. He is a man of honourable rank. But being an ambitious man, he cannot rest so long as there is in the camp any one greater than himself. He looks with envious eye on his cousins Moses and Aaron. Moses under God is supreme in pence and w;ar. As- for A~ron, not only has he been invest~d with the ~xclusive right to offer sacnfic_e and, burn incense before the Lord, but his family have been set apart to form a pnestly en. xvr. 1--40.] THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. 209
callte in Ismel. These honours did not come to the brothers by birthright, bnt by the special gift and nppointment of the Lord. It would seem that Korab was of the elder branch of the family. He resolves to cast down both brothers from their high place. Thue for hie intention ie open and avowed. We need not hesitate to add that he means to vault into their place; but 11bout this part of his intention he holde his peace for the present. So much for the man. 11. Hls POLIOY. 1. He begins by anncmru:ing a doctrine or principle. Ae much as anything else in the sedition, this enables us to take the measure of Korah's genius for leadership. Movements which repose merely on bmte force rarely achieve abiding results. Blood and iron are not all-sufficient. A true leader of men spares no pains to get hold of men's minds. He likes to give hie followers a good watchword or rallying cry. When a nation gets thoroughly possessed with a great and sound principle, when some high and far-reaching doctrine seizes its heart, it is almost invincible. It is characteristic of Korab that he so far appreciates the imporlance of a great doctrine to rally round, that he casts about for some truth which may he made a handle of for his purpose. In the great oracle which was the first to be uttered at Sinai he thinb he sees what will serve admirably. 11 Ye shall he to me a kingdom ·of priests, and an holy nation" (Exod. xix. 6). Accordingly, he raises tho cry of Equality and Fraternity I Moses and Aaron have engrossed to themselves privileges which are the inalienable right of every Israelite. They have taken too much upon them, and must be stripped of their usurped honours. A cry of this sort has often been raised, in all sincerity, by men of excitable temperament. But Kornh was no enthusiast. The principle that all Israelites are kings and priests, if it had been really inconsistent (as he pretended to think) with the rule of Moses and the priest- hood of Aaron, would have been equally inconsistent with the rule which he coveted for himself. Still there can be little doubt that the cry Korab raised would gain him many supporters. 2. He organises a band of conspirators. By one means or anothi>r he succeeds in gathering around him no fewer than 250 accomplices. Nor were these obscure men. They all belonged to the ruling class. They are entitled (1) "princes of the assembly," i. e. chiefs of the congregation, natural leaders in their several tribes; (2) 11 famous in the congregation," more correctly, 11 men sum- moned in the assembly,'' i. e. members of the national council ; (3) "men of renown," i. e. not nami>less persons, but men of note among the people. Their names are not given, nor the tribes to which they belonged. Korab would take care to have all the tribes represented; but probably the Levites and Reubenites would be most numerous. It was a formidable conspiracy, 3. He diligently enlw into his company all the malcontents of the congregation. An example is seen in the Reubenites. They had a grievance. Reuben was the first-born, and as such had certain rights of priority, according to immemorial custom. These rights have been ignored, or transferred to Judah and Ephraim. The Reubenites are Korah's neighbours in the camp. He haJ inflamed their discontents, and held out- flattering hopes. So Dath11n, Ahiram, and their people join him in open revolt (vers. 12-14). 4. Korab does not confine his attentions to the two hundred and fifty leaders and their pronounced followers. Tlte whole camp i,s pervaded with his emissaries. Things are in such a train th11t when the two hundred and fifty confront Moses and Aaron at the door of the taber- nacle, Korab is able to "gather all the congregation" at the ~llme time. He hopes to overawe Moses by this demonstration of popular sympathy. We see here :-1. An ex11mple of fine abilities abused. What an admirable helper in the kingdom of God Korab might have been I He might have be.,n a second Joshua. Instead of that. he lends the wretched life of a conspirator, comes to a bad end, and leaves behind him an infamous name. The lust of power-the determinntion to he the greatest, has been the ruin of many n richly-gifted man. 2. An admonition to leaders in Church and State. There nre leaders, not n few, who are such not of their own choice, but by the call of their brethren and by the clear appointment of Divine providence. It is natural and reasonable for them to expect the loyal support of the people. Certninly they nre entitled to expect thnt they shall not be reviled and resisted, as if they had been nmbitious and selfish usurpers. The example of Moses admonishes them not to be surprised if such reasonable expectations should be disappointed. A good conscience is nn excellent NUMDERS. P flO THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. LoH. xvr. 1-40.
companion under bitter reproach and opposition, but it will not always ward them off. Never was leader less ambitious, less selfish, than Moses; yet he could hardly have been treated worse if he had been another Korah.-B.