Numbers 16:4

"And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face: and he spake unto Korah, and unto all his company, saying, In the morning Jehovah will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near unto him: even him whom he shall choose will he cause to come near unto him. This do: Take you censers, Korah, and all his company; and put fire in them, and put incense upon them before Jehovah tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom Jehovah doth choose, he shall be holy: ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi. And Moses said unto Korah, Hear now, ye sons of Levi: seemeth it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Jehovah, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them; and that he hath brought thee near, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee? and seek ye the priesthood also? Therefore thou and all thy company are gathered together against Jehovah: and Aaron, what is he that ye murmur against him?"

"He fell upon his face ..." (Numbers 16:4). Some interpret this as a display of the dismay of Moses, but we agree with Dummelow that, "It shows that he prayed for guidance."[7] Only Divine wisdom could have enabled Moses to deal so effectively with this revolt.

If we paraphrase Moses' response to Korah, it has every appearance of yielding to the rebel's request: "Very well! You wish to serve in the priesthood; why don't you try it? Just take your two hundred fifty princes and appear, every one of you, at the tabernacle tomorrow morning, and let all of you take censers with fire on them; and you just go ahead and take over!" What a victory Korah no doubt thought that he had won! Korah, it seems, had forgotten all about Nadab and Abihu (Numbers 10:1-10). Jamieson also discerned this: "Since you aspire to the priesthood, then go perform the highest function of the office, that of offering incense, and if you are accepted, well!"[8]

The primary direction of Korah's movement was against Aaron (Numbers 16:11), and as Dathan and Abiram had not appeared with Korah here, there was no need for Moses to mention himself, but only Aaron.

Moses had every reason to suppose that when he sent for Dathan and Abiram that they, having heard of that "victory" of Korah, might also have appeared to claim a victory for themselves, but just MAYBE they remembered Nadab and Abihu! At any rate, they would not appear, as next related.