Korah was not satisfied with his position. He was connected with the service of the tabernacle, yet he desired to be exalted to the priesthood. God had established Moses as chief governor, and the priesthood was given to Aaron and his sons. Korah determined to compel Moses to change the order of things, that he might be raised to the dignity of the priesthood. To be more sure of accomplishing his purpose, he drew Dathan and Abiram, descendants of Reuben, into his rebellion. These reasoned that, being descendants of the eldest son of Jacob, the chief authority, which Moses usurped, belonged to them; and, with Korah, they were resolved to obtain the office of the priesthood. These three became very zealous in an evil work and influenced two hundred and fifty men of renown, who were also determined to have a share in the priesthood and the government, to join them. {3T 344.2}

Kora var ikke tilfreds med sin position. Han var knyttet til tabernakeltjenesten, alligevel ønskede han at blive ophøjet til præsteskabet. Gud havde sat Moses som øverste hersker og præsteskabet var givet til Aron og hans sønner. Kora besluttede sig for at tvinge Moses til at ændre tingenes orden, så han kunne hæves til præsteskabets værdighed. For at være mere sikker og kunne udføre sine hensigter, drog han Datan og Abiram, Rubens efterkommere, ind i hans oprør. Disse drog den slutning, at de som efterkommere af Jakobs ældste søn skulle have den største myndighed, den myndighed som Moses havde tilranet sig; og sammen med Kora, var de besluttet på at vinde præsteembedet. Disse tre blev meget (345) ivrige i et ondt arbejde og påvirkede tohundrede og halvtreds navnkundige mænd, som også var besluttet på at have del i præsteskabet og styringen og sluttede sig til dem.