The Sons of Korah
The Sons of Korah is a name seen on several psalms. They
were a family of Levitical singers.
Korah was a great-grandson of Levi, Num 16:1. He was united with Dathan and Abiram
in opposition to Moses, and was the leader of the conspiracy, Jude 1:11 Woe
unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the
error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. and Num_16.
Num 16:1 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:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the
children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in
the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and
against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the
congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore
then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
Num 16:4 And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face:
Num 16:5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying,
Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are his, and who is holy; and will cause
him to come near unto him: even him whom he hath chosen will he cause to come
near unto him.
Num 16:6 This do; Take you censers, Korah, and all his company;
Num 16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the
LORD to morrow: and it shall be that the man whom the LORD doth choose, he
shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi.
Num 16:8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of
Levi:
Num 16:9 Seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of
Israel hath 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 unto them?
Num 16:10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy
brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also?
Num 16:11 For which cause both thou and all thy company are
gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against
him?
Num 16:12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of
Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
Num 16:13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a
land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except
thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?
Num 16:14 Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that
floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards:
wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.
Num 16:15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect
not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I
hurt one of them.
Num 16:16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company
before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow:
Num 16:17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them,
and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty
censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
Num 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them,
and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation with Moses and Aaron.
Num 16:19 And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto
the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD
appeared unto all the congregation.
Num 16:20 And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I
may consume them in a moment.
Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God
of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all
the congregation?
Num 16:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from
about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Num 16:25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and
the elders of Israel followed him.
Num 16:26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I
pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest
ye be consumed in all their sins.
Num 16:27 So they gat up from the tabernacle 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.
Num 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath
sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they
be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
Num 16:30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her
mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down
quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the
LORD.
Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking
all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them:
Num 16:32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up,
and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their
goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive
into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the
congregation.
Num 16:34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry
of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also.
Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the
two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Num 16:36 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 16:37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he
take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for
they are hallowed.
Num 16:38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let
them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them
before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the
children of Israel.
Num 16:39 And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith
they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a
covering of the altar:
Num 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no
stranger, which is not of the seed 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.
Num 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of
Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, Ye have killed the
people of the LORD.
Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered
against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the
congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD
appeared.
Num 16:43 And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the
congregation.
Num 16:44 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 16:45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may
consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
Num 16:46 And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire
therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the
congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from
the LORD; the plague is begun.
Num 16:47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst
of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he
put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
Num 16:48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the
plague was stayed.
Num 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand
and seven hundred, beside them that died about the matter of Korah.
Num 16:50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.
Korah’s children did not die in this incident. Num 26:9-11 And
the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and
Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and
against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD: And
the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when
that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and
they became a sign. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
Korah had three sons, Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph Exo 6:24 And
the sons of Korah; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph: these are the families of
the Korhites. and of their descendants David selected a number to
preside over the music of the sanctuary, 1Ch
6:22-24 The sons of Kohath; Amminadab his son,
Korah his son, Assir his son, Elkanah his son, and Ebiasaph his son, and Assir
his son, Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son. 1Ch
6:31 And these are they whom David set over the
service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.
They continued in this service until the time of
Jehoshaphat,
2Ch 20:19 And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and
of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with
a loud voice on high.
2Ch 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into
the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said,
Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your
God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
2Ch 20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed
singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they
went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth
for ever.
2Ch 20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set
ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were
come against Judah; and they were smitten.
2Ch 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the
inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had
made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another.
2Ch 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the
wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies
fallen to the earth, and none escaped.
One of the most eminent of the descendants of Korah, who
was employed especially in the musical service of the sanctuary, was Heman: 1Ch 6:33 And
these are they that waited with their children. Of the sons of the Kohathites:
Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of Shemuel, The sons of
Heman were appointed by David, in connection with the sons of Asaph, and of
Jeduthun, to preside over the music:
1Ch 25:1 Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to
the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should
prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals: and the number of the
workmen according to their service was:
1Ch 25:4-6 Of Heman: the sons of Heman; Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel,
Shebuel, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, and Romamtiezer,
Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth: All these were the sons of Heman
the king's seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman
fourteen sons and three daughters. All these were under the hands of their
father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps,
for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph,
Jeduthun, and Heman.
2Ch_5:12 Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of
Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed
in white linen, having cymbals and psalteries and harps, stood at the east end
of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with
trumpets:)
2Ch_29:14 And of the sons of Heman; Jehiel, and Shimei: and of the
sons of Jeduthun; Shemaiah, and Uzziel.
It is interesting to note that Samuel the prophet is of
the line of Korah.
1Ch 6:33 And these are they that waited with their children. Of
the sons of the Kohathites: Heman a singer, the son of Joel, the son of
Shemuel,
1Ch 6:34 The son of Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Eliel,
the son of Toah,
1Ch 6:35 The son of Zuph, the son of Elkanah, the son of Mahath,
the son of Amasai,
1Ch 6:36 The son of Elkanah, the son of Joel, the son of Azariah,
the son of Zephaniah,
1Ch 6:37 The son of Tahath, the son of Assir, the son of Ebiasaph,
the son of Korah,
1Ch 6:38 The son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the
son of Israel.
1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount
Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the
son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
1Sa 1:2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and
the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no
children.
1Sa 1:20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about
after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel,
saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
To the chief
Musician, for the sons of Korah – This title is given to eleven psalms. The
psalms to which this title is given are the Psalms 42; 44; 45; 46; 47; 48; 49;
84; 85; 87; and 88.
Psa 42:1 To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As
the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
Psa 44:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil. We
have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst
in their days, in the times of old.
Psa 45:1 To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of
Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of
the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready
writer.
Psa 46:1 To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon
Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psa 47:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O
clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Psa 48:1 A Song and Psalm for the sons of Korah. Great is the
LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his
holiness.
Psa 49:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.
Hear this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world:
Psa 84:1 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons
of Korah. How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!
Psa 85:1 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. LORD,
thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity
of Jacob.
Psa 87:1 A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah. His foundation is
in the holy mountains.
Psa 88:1 A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief
Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of
my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
