Was Korah swallowed by the earth or burned? Numbers 16:31
In Numbers 16:31-32, it says the earth opened and swallowed Korah and his 250 rebellious associates. Yet Num. 16:35 asserts that fire came from God and consumed Korah and his associates.
Numbers 16:1 - 50
ESV - 1 Now Korah the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, 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 a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.
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Asked January 08 2022
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
By my reading of Numbers 16, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (along with their households) died when the earth opened up and swallowed them, as noted in Numbers 16:27-33. Their 250 followers who were referenced separately in Numbers 16:2 and Numbers 16:35 were the ones who were subsequently consumed by the fire that came out from the LORD.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
I do not think that Korah was burned along with the 250 other rebels. I can't find any verses that would support that view. In fact, I would rather think that the way it happened was this: Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Num 16:27) were swallowed by the earth, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME (Num 26:10) a fire from God consumed the 250 other rebels who offered incense in the tabernacle (cf. Ps. 106:17-18). For additional information, see https://defendinginerrancy.com/bible-solutions/Numbers_16.31.php
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