During Israel’s journey through the wilderness, two groups combined to rebel against the leadership of Moses and Aaron. One was a group of 250 prominent Levites under the leadership of Korah who were envious that only Aaron and his family were allowed to be priests. The other group was headed by two from the tribe of Reuben who were envious of Moses’ position as national leader (Numbers 16:1-3).
In a public demonstration of whom he had chosen to be his priests, God put Korah to the test. He challenged Korah and his fellow Levite rebels to burn incense, something that normally only Aaron and his sons were allowed to do (Numbers 16:5-19). Korah and the two Reubenites were separated from the 250 Levites for the test. The outcome was that the three leaders were swallowed up by the earth, and the 250 Levites were burnt to death by fire from God (Numbers 16:32; Numbers 16:35; Judges 1:11).
Centuries later, descendants of Korah restored some respectability to the family name when they became gatekeepers, singers and musicians in the temple (1 Chronicles 6:31-38; 1 Chronicles 15:17; 1 Chronicles 15:19; 1 Chronicles 16:41-42; 1 Chronicles 26:19). They collected or wrote a number of psalms that have been preserved in the Bible (Psalms 42; Psalms 44; Psalms 45; Psalms 46; Psalms 47; Psalms 48; Psalms 49; Psalms 84; Psalms 85; Psalms 87; Psalms 88).