Judas 1:11

11. The three types united in these men are Cain, Balaam, and Korah. The character, career, and final destiny of the three may be thus presented:

Cain godlessness, fraternal murder, life under divine curse;

Balaam licentiousness, bribetaking, slaughter in battle;

Korah ambition, schismatic sedition, sudden consignment to lower hades.

Woe unto them The menace of their final destiny is, like Cain, to be God-cursed; like Balaam, fated to slaughter; like Korah, bound for hades. The three verbs are in climax. Ran greedily, is, literally, they were poured out in that direction, like a stream or torrent. The climax then is, they went, they were poured, they perished. They imitated Cain in taking a mad career; like Balaam, they rushed headlong into licentious infamy for gain; like Korah, they rebelled against all holy authority and went down to the depths of death.

The comparison to Cain here, as in 1 John 3:12-15, does not affirm that these men were addicted to assassination, but indicates that murderous hatred of the brethren which John typifies in these same characters by the character of Cain. In regard to Balaam, consult our note on Revelation 2:14. The contradiction of Korah, expressed in Jude 1:8 by despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities, expresses the churchly turbulence and sedition of these men. Fraternal hate, mercenary licentiousness, and rebellion against the Christian body and government, are mainly the crimes charged.