A reading from the Book of Numbers.

Now Cora, the son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab,

and On the son of Pilath, sons of Rubin, took men, 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. They assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said to

them, You have gone too far, for all in the congregation are holy, every one of them, and

the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the

assembly of the Lord? When Moses heard it, he fell on his face, and he said to Cora and all his

company, in the morning the Lord will show who is his and who is holy, and will bring him near to him.

The one whom he chooses, he will bring near to him. Do this. Take sensors,

Cora, and all his company. Put fire in them and put incense on them before the Lord tomorrow.

And the man whom the Lord chooses shall be the Holy One. You have gone too far, sons of Levi.

And Moses said to Cora, here now, you sons of Levi, is it too small a thing for you that the God

of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to himself, to do service in the

tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them, and that he has brought you

near him and all your brothers, the sons of Levi

with you, and would you seek the priesthood also? Therefore, it is against the Lord that you and all

your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him? And Moses sent to

call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, We will not come up. Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to

kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us?

Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey,

nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards.

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