More Rebellions: While chapter 15 provides a brief respite from the narratives of rebellion in the wilderness, chapter 16 takes up that theme again with vigor. It also brings the Levites back into the picture. Like the story of the spies in chapters 13 and 14 (see note on 13:1–14:45), chapter 16 is a narrative with a complicated literary history. Within the book of Numbers, the narrative serves the broader purpose of recounting the people’s ongoing rebellion. The story takes several turns and requires careful reading. In what follows, we will attempt to piece together the whole.

16:1–15 The opening of the chapter sets the scene with all the principal opponents in attendance. Korah, identified as a Levite of the Kohathite group, the Reubenites Dathan, Abiram, . . . and On, as well as 250 lea…