GHÄROON is identified with the KORAH in the Old-Testament, in the book of NUMBERSِ16 a concise of which will now follow:-

      ``Korah was the son of IZHAR from the levite clan. He was joined by three members of the tribe of REUBEN and by 250 other Israelites who were well known leaders chosen by community.

      They assembled before Moses and Aaron and said to them:-

      ``You have gone too far! All the members of the community belong to the Lord, and the Lord is with all of us. Why then Moses, do you set yourself above the Lord's community.''

      After prostrating himself to God, Moses said to KORAH and his followers:-

      ``Tomorrow morning the Lord will show us who belongs to Him. Tomorrow, the Lord will show you near the altar that you Levites are the ones who have gone to far.''

      Next morning Korah gathered the whole community, and they stood facing Moses and Aaron at the entrance of the tent. Suddenly the dazzling light of the Lord's presence appeared to the whole community, and the Lord said to Moses and Aaron:-

      ``Stand back from these people and I will destroy them immediately.''

      Then Moses said to the people:- ``Stand away from the tents of these wicked men, and don't touch anything that belongs to them....''

      As soon as Moses had finished speaking to people, the ground under Dathan and Abiran (the near companions of Korah) split open and swallowed them and their families together, with all of Korah's followers and their possession. So they all went down alive to the world of dead with their possessions. The earth closed over them and they vanished.

THE BOOK OF NUMBERS; CHAPTER-16

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE