1. Exhortations from the edge of the Kingdom
Study 2- The Sons of Korah

2. THE LESSON OF THE WILDERNESS GENERATION
Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12

3. THE 4 SQUARE ENCAMPMENT SIMEON MERARI GERSHOM MOSES & AARON DAN ASHER
Tabernacle
SIMEON
MERARI
GERSHOM
MOSES & AARON
DAN
ASHER
NAPHTALI
JUDAH
ISSACHAR
ZEBULON
REUBEN
GAD
KOHATH
EPHRAIM
MANASSEH
BENJAMIN
EAST
THE 4 SQUARE ENCAMPMENT

4. THE REBELLION OF KORAH Reubenites & Kohathites together
Both located on the south side of the tabernacle
Both overlooked for prized roles
Reuben lost firstborn role
Reuben lost Kingship & Priesthood
Family of Izhar was overlooked for the priesthood and chieftainship (Num 3:27-30)

5. THE REBELLION OF KORAH
Instead of Korah rejoicing in his very responsible duties in the tabernacle he incited envy & discontent among the Reubenites
The Lesson –
“Bad company ruins good morals…”
1 Cor 15:33 RSV

6. BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST GOD
KORAH’S REBELLION
They thought...“They gathered themselves together against Moses” Numbers 16:3
BUT IT WAS ACTUALLY AGAINST GOD
“They strove against God..” Numbers 26:9
“…they gathered themselves together against Yahweh in the company of Korah ” Numbers 27:3

7. KORAH’S REBELLION
“They gathered themselves together against Moses” Numbers 16:3 BUT THE BLAME WAS SQUARELY LAID WITH KORAH....
“Shall one man sin…?” Numbers 16:22
“…perished in the gainsaying of Korah.” Jude v11

8. THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH
Gainsaying = Greek- “Anti-logia”
Means - “against the Word” e.g. to contradict, especially to misapply the word Examples of “Anti-logia” in Numbers 16
V3 All the congregation are holy (Exod 19:6)
V3 Yahweh is among them (Exod 29:45)
V13 “it is a small thing” (using Moses’ words v9)
V13 “Egypt...a land flowing with milk & honey” ( completely forgetting the oppressions of Exod 1-7)
V13 “to kill us …” (the same fate as male sons in Egypt)
V13 “except thou make thyself a prince over us…” (cp Exod 2:14)

9. THE GAINSAYING OF KORAH
Jude v11
Moses was accused of:-
Failure to bring Israel in to promised land
Wanting to kill God’s holy people
Being lifted up with pride
Desiring to bore out the eyes of his opponents
Taking too much on himself

10. THE SIGN of KORAH’S REBELLION
Discontents stir each other up
They incite less articulate supporters
They misapply the scriptures
Accuse responsible brethren (Num 16:41)
Bring own incense (revolutionary ideas)
Refuse to meet to discuss the issues

11. THE PERVERSITY of HUMAN THINKING
Even after God clearly and dramatically declares His hand, the people blame the responsible brethren for the problem v41 The usual implication... “you handled it all the wrong way…..”
Then they complain that the Truth is all too hard and inflexible (Num 17:12-13)

12. PHINEHAS Father to the Sons of Korah
And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him (1 Chron 9:19-20)

13. DUTIES OF THE SONS OF KORAH 1 Chronicles 9
Guardians of the Sanctuary of God (v19)
Responsible to open the doors daily (v27)
Care of the sacred vessels (v28)
Handling precious substances (v29-32)
To act as doorkeepers (v19)
The Sons of Korah became the dedicated attendants of the High Priest elect, who was responsible for the worship detail. Numbers 4v16

14. AND PHINEHAS THE SON OF ELEAZAR WAS RULER OVER THEM…. 1 Chron 9v20
Duties of the Sons of Korah
1Chron 9
Duties of the High Priest Elect
Numbers 4
Store the pure beaten olive oil for the daily lighting of the lamp
V16
V29
Maintain the special spices for the daily sweet incense of the holy perfume
Organise the fine flour and wine for the daily meal offering
V30
Prepare the principle spices for the compounding of the holy anointing oil
V28
Supervise the numbering of all the holy vessels
V27
Fulfil the charge and the guardianship of all things within the tabernacle

15. THE 3 SONS of KORAH Assir, Ebiasaph & Elkanah
Given to the charge of Phinehas (1Chron 9v20)
Learned the value of faithful doorkeeping
To protect God’s place of worship
To follow the zeal of Phinehas
Samuel was a faithful descendant of Korah - he opened the doors (1 Chron 6V22-28)
Heman, Samuel’s grandson (1 Chron 6v33-34)
Led in David’s musical order (1 Chron 25v4-5)
Given charge of East’n & North’n Gates (1 Chron 26v1, 13)
“……no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.) Psa 84v11

17. THE FAMILY POLICY OF THE SONS OF KORAH
Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand…
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84V9-10

18. DEPART FROM EVIL
But God's firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.“ 2 Tim 2v19 ESV

19. LESSONS FROM THE SONS OF KORAH
Avoid murmurings and unrest based on envy and pride
Always put God first – even above family loyalty
Keep the door of God’s house faithfully
Value the example of faithful mentors – as the Sons of Korah did (Heb 13V7)
Pass on the essential values of the Truth to future generations