KOLAIAH

(Ko·laiʹah) [voice of Jehovah].

1. Father of the false prophet Ahab who was among the Jews in Babylonian exile before Jerusalem’s destruction in 607 B.C.E.—Jer. 29:21; see AHAB No. 2.

2. A Benjamite and apparent ancestor of a certain Sallu residing in Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s day after the Babylonian exile.—Neh. 11:4, 7.

KORAH

(Koʹrah) [perhaps, baldness).

1. One of Esau’s three sons by his Hivite wife Oholibamah; born in Canaan prior to Esau’s withdrawal to the mountainous region of Seir. (Gen 36:2, 5-8, 14; 1 Chron. 1:35) Korah was a sheik of the land of Edom.—Gen. 36:18.

A “sheik Korah” is listed at Genesis 36:16 as a son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau. However, the name does not appear among the descendants of Eliphaz at Genesis 36:11, 12 or 1 Chronicles 1:36. The Samaritan Pentateuch omits the name at Genesis 36:16 and some scholars suggest its appearance in the Masoretic text may be the result of a copyist’s error.

2. One of the sons of Hebron of the tribe of Judah.—1 Chron. 2:43.

3. A Kohathite Levite of the family of Izhar. (Ex. 6:16, 18, 21; 1 Chron. 6:1, 2, 22 [Amminadab was perhaps an alternative name for Izhar]) During Israel’s wilderness trek he rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron, doing so in league with the Reubenites Dathan, Abiram and On and 250 “chieftains of the assembly” or “men of fame.” (Num. 16:1, 2) They contended that “the whole assembly are all of them holy and Jehovah is in their midst,” asking, “Why, then, should you lift yourselves up above the congregation of Jehovah?” (Num. 16:3-11) Moses later sent to call Dathan and Abiram, but they refused to be present, thinking Moses had no right to summon them. (Num. 16:12-15) Korah, his assembly, and High Priest Aaron were told to present themselves before Jehovah all supplied with fire holders and burning incense.—Num. 16:16, 17.

Korah and the 250 men with him, all carrying fire holders with burning incense, stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron the following day. Jehovah’s glory appeared to all the assembly and God spoke to Moses and Aaron telling them to separate themselves from the midst of the assembly, “that I may exterminate them in an instant.” However, Moses and Aaron interceded for the people, and God then directed Moses to have the assembly get away from the tabernacles of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. This was done. (Num. 16:18-27) Shortly thereafter, “the earth proceeded to open its mouth and to swallow up them and their households and all humankind that belonged to Korah and all the goods.” They and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth covered them over.—Num. 16:28-34.

Those who were before the tent of meeting with the incense-filled fire holders did not escape, for “a fire came out from Jehovah and proceeded to consume the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.” (Num. 16:35) Korah himself was with them at that time and thus perished in that fire from God.—Num. 26:10.

The fire holders of those who conspired with Korah were made into metal plates with which to overlay the altar. This was done “because they presented them before Jehovah, so that they became holy; and they should serve as a sign to the sons of Israel.” (Num. 16:36-40) Despite this powerful evidence of divine judgment, the very next day the whole assembly of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron, complaining, “You men, you have put Jehovah’s people to death.” This gave rise to indignation on God’s part and, despite the pleas of Moses and Aaron, 14,700 died as a result of a scourge from Jehovah, halted only after Aaron made atonement for the people. (Num. 16:41-50) Thereafter, Aaron’s priestly position was confirmed by the budding of his rod.—Num. chap. 17.

That the sons of Korah did not follow their father in rebelion seems apparent from the Bible record, for it states: “However, the sons of Korah did not die.” (Num. 26:9-11) Korah’s descendants later became prominent in Levitical service.—See KORAHITE.

The writer of the book of Jude linked Cain, Balaam and Korah together when warning Christians to guard against animalistic men who “have perished in the rebellious talk of Korah!” Korah evidently sought glory for himself. He challenged Jehovah’s appointments, becoming a rebel, and thus justly suffered death as a consequence of his improper course of action.—Jude 10, 11.

KORAHITE

(Koʹrah·ite).

A descendant of Korah, who rebelled in Moses’ day. The Korahites were a paternal house of the Kohathite Levites and descended from Korah through his three sons Assir, Elkanah and Abiasaph. (Ex. 6:18, 21, 24; Num. 16:1-3) “The sons of Korah did not die” with their father (Num. 26:10, 11), evidently because they did not follow him in rebellion.

In the census of Israel taken on the plains of Moab “the family of the Korahites” was registered with the Levite families. (Num. 26:57, 58) When David was still under restrictions imposed by King Saul, certain Korahites were among the mighty men who joined him at Ziklag. (1 Chron. 12:1, 6) The Levitical singer Heman and the prophet Samuel were Korahites (1 Chron. 6:33-38), and King David organized members of Heman’s family as singers. (1 Chron. 15:16, 17; 16:37, 41, 42; 25:1, 4-6) Korahites were among the gatekeepers for the house of Jehovah (1 Chron. 26:1-9, 19), and in Jehoshaphat’s day “Levites of the sons of the Kohathites and the sons of the Korahites rose up to praise Jehovah the God of Israel with an extraordinarily loud voice,” because of promised deliverance from the combined forces of Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir.—2 Chron. 20:14-19.

The superscriptions of Psalms 42, 44-49, 84, 85, 87 and 88 specifically mention the sons of Korah. Though their forefather had been rebellious, Jehovah did not hold the sons of Korah accountable for his error, and because of their faithfulness they were blessed and honored with temple service.

KORE

(Koʹre) [one who proclaims, or, partridge (probably from the cry); hence, crying out, calling].

1. A Kohathite Levite “of the sons of Asaph” and a descendant of Korah. (Ex. 6:16, 18, 21; 1 Chron. 9:19; 26:1) Shallum, one of “the doorkeepers of the tent,” is described as “the son of Kore the son of Ebiasaph the son of Korah,” at 1 Chronicles 9:19. This text does not mention all the generations between Shallum and Ebiasaph, but the names given belong in this one genealogy. First Chronicles 26:1 calls the gatekeeper Meshelemiah “the son of Kore.”

2. A Levite, “the son of Imnah” and “the gatekeeper to the east” of the temple in King Hezekiah’s day. He was “in charge of the voluntary offerings of the true God, to give Jehovah’s contribution and the most holy things,” and had other men under his control.—2 Chron. 31:14-16.

KOZ

[thorn].

A descendant of Judah. Koz “became father to Anub and Zobebah and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.”—1 Chron. 4:1, 8.

KUSHAIAH

(Kush·aʹiah) [bow of Jehovah (perhaps, the rainbow)].

A Levite of the family of Merari and the father or ancestor of Ethan, one of the group of Levite singers and musicians of David’s day. (1 Chron. 15:16, 17) Kushaiah is evidently called Kishi at 1 Chronicles 6:44.

KYRIOS

This Greek word is an adjective, signifying the possessing of power (kyʹros) or authority, but is also used as a noun. It appears in each book of the