As the children of Israel heard the cry of the perishing ones, they fled a great distance from them. They knew that they were in a measure guilty, for they had received the accusations against Moses and Aaron, and they were afraid that they would also perish with them. But the judgment of God was not yet finished. A fire came from the cloud of glory and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense. These were princes; that is, men generally of good judgment and of influence in the congregation, men of renown. They were highly esteemed, and their judgment had often been sought in difficult matters. But they were affected by a wrong influence, and became envious, jealous, and rebellious. They perished not with Korah, Dathan, and Abiram because they were not the first in rebellion. They were first to see the end of the leaders in the rebellion, and have an opportunity to repent of their crime. But they were not reconciled to the destruction of those wicked men, and the wrath of God came upon them and destroyed them also. {3T 350.1}

Idet Israels børn hørte de fortabtes råb, flygtede de et stykke væk fra dem. De vidste at de i en vis grad var skyldig, for de havde fået beskyldningerne imod Moses og Aron og de var bange for at de også ville gå fortabt sammen med dem. Men Guds domme var endnu ikke afsluttet. En ild kom ned fra herlighedens sky og fortærede de to hundrede og halvtreds mænd, der var i færd med at sende røgelse. Disse var fyrster; som i almindelighed er mennesker af god dømmekraft og indflydelse på menigheden, navnkundige mennesker. De blev værdsat højt og deres dømmekraft er ofte blevet brugt i svære sager. Men de var påvirket af en forkert indflydelse og blev misundelige, skinsyge og oprørske. De gik ikke fortabt sammen med Kora, Datan og Abiram fordi de ikke var i det første oprør. De var de første til at se enden i oprørets ledere og havde en anledning til at angre deres forbrydelse. Men de var ikke forligt med at disse onde mænd blev ødelagt og Guds vrede kom over dem og ødelagde også dem.