“Priestly office *may* have been the proximal object, but to make that the point of both the narrative and the Jude reference is Sharptonesque.”
Paying attention to facts is not anything the Rev Sharpton does. The text specifies what he was trying to do: not content with Levitical service, he wanted to be a priest like Aaron.
“For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion.”
They tried to justify themselves before God in their own way. They sought financial gain, and sought a role God had not given them. That sounds like a description of the Pope, not a defense of one!
[3] And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
[28] And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. [29] If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me.
I can lead a horse to water, but I can't make him *think*