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Bible Dictionaries
Korah

Holman Bible Dictionary

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(koh' ruh) Personal name meaning “bald.” 1. A son of Esau (Genesis 36:5 ,Genesis 36:5,36:14; 1 Chronicles 1:35 ) who became chief of a clan of Edom (Genesis 36:18 ).

2. A grandson of Esau, son of Eliphaz, and chief of a clan of Edom (Genesis 36:16; 1 Chronicles 1:36 ).

3. A leader of rebellion against Moses and Aaron while Israel was camped in the wilderness of Paran (Numbers 16:1 ). Korah, Dathan, and Abiram led a confederacy of 250 princes of the people against Aaron's claim to the priesthood and Moses' claim to authority in general. The rebels contended that the entire congregation was sanctified and therefore qualified to perform priestly functions. As punishment for their insubordination, God caused the earth to open and swallow the leaders and their property. A fire from the Lord consumed the 250 followers.

4. A Levite descended from Izhar, of the family of Kohath (Exodus 6:21; 1Chronicles 6:22,1 Chronicles 6:37 ), probably to be identified with 3. above. The sons of Korah and Asaph were the two most prominent groups of Temple singers (compare 2 Chronicles 20:19 ). Many of the Psalms with the heading “A Psalm of the Sons of Korah” may have been taken from their hymnbook (Psalm 42:1; Psalm 44-49; Psalm 84-85; Psalm 87-88 ). In a later list of Temple singers the group of Heman replaced Korah and was joined by Asaph and Ethan as the three groups of Temple singers (1 Chronicles 6:33-48 ). The members of the group of Korah were also gatekeepers (1 Chronicles 9:19; 1Chronicles 26:1,1 Chronicles 26:19 ) and bakers of sacrificial cakes (1 Chronicles 9:31 ).

5. A son of Hebron in the lineage of Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:43 ). 6 . Possibly a town in Judah near Hebron. The five Korahites who joined David at Ziklag may have been persons from this town (1 Chronicles 12:6 ). However, since these five men are also identified as Benjamites (1 Chronicles 12:2 ), they may have been from a town of this same name whose location has yet to be determined.

Mike Mitchell and Phil Logan

Bibliography Information
Butler, Trent C. Editor. Entry for 'Korah'. Holman Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​hbd/​k/korah.html. 1991.
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