קרח
Korach (Korah)
Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
Numbers chapter 16 describes a rebellion within the leadership of Israel led by Levites and Reubenites. In this study we will look at clues that link this Torah portion with prophecy. In a nutshell this relates to the fall of Satan in Revelation 12.
There are some numbers and words and phrases that link to some important themes that in turn link to prophecy.
1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the 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 certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Numbers 16:1-2
Korah took these 3 men, Dathan, Abiram and on and they led 250 men. So in total Korah led 253 men, and he was the 254th. These 250 men were ‘men of renown‘, literally ‘men of name‘.
We have heard this phrase before, back in Genesis …
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.
Genesis 6:4
men of renown
אַנְשֵׁי הַשֵּׁם
men of name
People of name or renown, שֵּׁם, have generally been related to evil and harlotry.
14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. 15 But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown, and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by; his it was.
Ezekiel 16:14-15
renown
שֵּׁם
name
And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer.
Numbers 16:17
And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Numbers 16:35
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Numbers 26:10
The number 250 elsewhere in scripture.
The scriptures mention numbers because they tell a story too. Let’s see where the number ‘two hundred and fifty‘ appears elsewhere in scripture and see if we can discern a common theme or group of linked ideas.
250 related to anointing oil for the Priests, the Tabernacle of the congregation, it’s vessels & the Menorah (Candlestick).
Exodus 30:23-32 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin: 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. 26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony, 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy. 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. 31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. 32 Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
250 related to silver and gold that was linked to a Babylonish garment.
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:21
Solomon had 250 officers that ruled over the people.
10 And these were the chief of king Solomon’s officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people. 11 And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.
2 Chronicles 8:10-11
250 is related to the Suburbs of the millennial Holy City in the North, South, East, and West.
And the suburbs of the city shall be toward the north two hundred and fifty, and toward the south two hundred and fifty, and toward the east two hundred and fifty, and toward the west two hundred and fifty.
Ezekiel 48:17
So tying these thoughts together we can see that 250 is related to anointing oil for the Priests, the Tabernacle of the congregation, it’s vessels & the Menorah (Candlestick). It is not only connected to the tabernacle but also the Holy City in Ezekiel 48. Solomon was associated with wisdom and so by extension his 250 ministers were to bare rule over the people with wisdom.
But we also see that the idea of corruption is associated with Solomon because of him marrying Pharaoh’s daughter. Pharaoh is a picture of Satan, the opponent of יהוה and Israel and the congregation of Israel (Church). This idea of corruption is inferred in the Babylonish Garment and the 250 shekels of silver and gold.
Let’s have a look at a few more clues concerning 250…
250 Light Weights
lamp, ner, נר, has a numeric value of nun, 50 plus resh, 200. i.e. 250.
So we can say that 250 in this very specific way is related to light.
The bible tells us…
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Matthew 6:22-23
We can see that…
The 253 men that followed Korah & the Triangle of 253
Triangle of 22 = 253
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 + 10 + 11 + 12 + 13 + 14 + 15 + 16 + 17 + 18 + 19 + 20 + 21 + 22 = 253
22 almonds on the Merorah
22 = number of Hebrew letters from Aleph א
to Tav ת
Earth opens up it’s mouth devouring the Dragon’s waters
28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. 30 But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. 31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. 35 And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.
Numbers 16:28-35
The same phrase that is used in Numbers to describe the earth opening up its mouth to devour Korach’s men, also is used in Revelation chapter 12.
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Revelation 12:9
15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
Revelation 12:15-16
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 14:12-15
