34. All the people of Israel who were there fled when they heard their cry. They shouted, “Run! The earth might swallow us too!”
35. Then the Lord sent a fire that blazed out and burnt up the 250 men who had presented the incense.
36. Then the Lord said to Moses,
37. “Tell Eleazar son of Aaron the priest to remove the bronze firepans from the remains of the men who have been burnt, and scatter the coals from the firepans somewhere else, because the firepans are holy.
38. They became holy when they were presented at the Lord's altar. So take the firepans of these men who were put to death for their sin, beat them into thin plates, and make a covering for the altar. It will be a warning to the people of Israel.”
39. So Eleazar the priest took the firepans and had them beaten into thin plates to make a covering for the altar.
40. This was a warning to the Israelites that no one who was not a descendant of Aaron should come to the altar to burn incense for the Lord. Otherwise he would be destroyed like Korah and his men. All this was done as the Lord had commanded Eleazar through Moses.