"And seek ye the priesthood also?"--_Numbers 16:10._
WHEN God gave the Commandments upon Mount Sinai, He chose that Aaron,
Moses' brother, and his sons should be His priests. A priest had to
offer up the sacrifices to God, and to burn incense to Him. Incense is
made of dried plants and gums that have a sweet smell when they are
burnt.
The priests had brazen urns with holes at the top, and chains to hold
them by, and when the smoke of the incense went up it was just as
our prayers rise up to God in heaven. There were other people called
Levites, who had to take care of the holy things that were used in
God's service, but only the priests might offer sacrifices or incense.
[Illustration: KORAH AND HIS ASSOCIATES SWALLOWED UP.--Num. 16:31-33.]
Now one of these Levites, named Korah, wanted to do more. He was angry,
and said everybody was holy, and that Aaron took too much on himself.
Now it was not Aaron who made himself priest, but God had made him so.
Therefore it was wrong in Korah; but there were two hundred and fifty
men whom he persuaded to come and get censers, and offer incense to the
Lord as if they had been priests. But because they did it in pride and
self-will God was angry with them, and His fire burst out and scorched
them all to death! It was only the men themselves that died, not their
wives or children; and Korah's family after him were better than he
was, and used to sing God's praises in the Psalms.
But they always recollected that no one who was not a priest might
offer sacrifice or burn incense before God.