When Moses was entreating Israel to flee from the coming destruction, the divine judgment might even then have been stayed, if Korah and his company had repented and sought forgiveness. But their stubborn persistence sealed their doom. The entire congregation were sharers in their guilt, for all had, to a greater or less degree, sympathized with them. Yet God in His great mercy made a distinction between the leaders in rebellion and those whom they had led. The people who had permitted themselves to be deceived were still granted space for repentance. Overwhelming evidence had been given that they were wrong, and that Moses was right. The signal manifestation of God's power had removed all uncertainty.

Guds straf kunne være blevet begrænset på det tidspunkt, da Moses indtrængende opfordrede Israel til at fly for den forestående tilintetgørelse, hvis Kora og hans tilhængere havde angret og bedt om tilgivelse, men de beseglede deres skæbne ved deres hårdnakkethed. Hele menigheden var delagtige i deres skyld, for de havde alle sammen mere eller mindre sympatiseret med oprørene. Men i sin nåde skelnede Gud mellem oprørslederne og dem, som de havde fået med sig. De mennesker, der havde ladet sig føre vild, fik anledning til at angre. De havde set et afgørende bevis på, at de havde uret, og at Moses havde ret. Den utvetydige tilkendegivelse af Guds magt havde fjernet al uvished.