Were all Korah’s family killed with him or only some? (in the earthquake)
Numbers 16:32 especially. My problem is that this verse states that “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah.” But Numbers 26:11 speaks about Korah’s descendants who did not perish in the judgment. Did they die or not die?
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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Tim Maas
Supporter
It would appear to me that there were two separate parts of God's judgment. The first part consisted of a judgment against Korah, Dathan, Abiram, and their immediate family members by the earth opening up and swallowing them. (As indicated in Numbers 26:9, I do not read of Dathan and Abiram as being among Korah's family members.) The second judgment was against 250 others who joined Korah in his rebellion, and who were slain by fire from God for unauthorized incense offerings, as related in Numbers 16:35. However, Korah's entire family line was apparently not completely eradicated in Numbers 16, as indicated by the subsequent verse cited in the question (Number 26:11), which speaks of it not dying out.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Those who perished with Korah were all his followers, but not all his family. NG TH Seemingly the sons of Korah did not join their father in his rash plan. NIVSB I.e. maybe, they disliked their father’s act (Benson Commentary). And it's a good thing that Korah's sons did not die because the prophet Samuel was a descendant of Korah (1 Chron. 6:22-28, NIV).
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