Lyrics · Numbers
The Earth Opened
Numbers 16-17
Lyrics
ScriptureNumbers 16-17
About this song
About this song
This song belongs to the Numbers collection. 8 recordings are available to play here, with the complete lyrics below.
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[Opening - Low Unison]
Who gave the censer?
Who called the priest?
Who chose the servant
To stand for the least?
Korah gathered princes,
Two hundred fifty strong;
Pride put on a holy garment
And called God's order wrong.
[Verse 1]
Moses fell before them,
Then marked the coming test:
Every man would bring his incense,
God would show the one He blessed.
Dathan and Abiram
Refused the summons made;
They charged the wilderness against him,
And rebellion stood arrayed.
[Chorus]
The earth opened under them,
The ground became a grave.
Fire came forth upon the men
Whose censers pride had raised.
The holy cannot be taken
As a title men award;
The earth opened under them
Before the living Lord.
[Verse 2]
Next day the people murmured,
And the plague began to run.
Aaron stood between the living
And the dead till wrath was done.
Then twelve rods lay through the nighttime,
One for every tribal name;
Aaron's budded, bloomed, and fruited,
Almonds answering the claim.
[Coda]
Keep the rod before the witness,
Let rebellion cease to speak.
What God appoints is never purchased
By the proud who grasp and seek.
