Numbers 16:32—Were all Korah’s family killed with him or only some?

Problem: This verse states that “the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Korah.” However, Numbers 26:11 speaks about Korah’s descendants who did not perish in the judgment.

Solution: Those who perished with Korah were all his followers, but not all his family.Numbers 26:11 states clearly: “Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die.” Indeed, the prophet Samuel was a descendant of Korah (1 Chron. 6:22–28).

This excerpt is from When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1992). © 2014 Norman Geisler and Thomas Howe. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Click here to purchase this book.