Parshat Korach

2002

Question Authority

Korach the Levite, first cousin to Moses and Aaron, gathers up a group of malcontents and issues a challenge to Moses. If, as they have been told, the whole nation is a holy people and God dwells among them, how is it that Moses and Aaron have helped themselves to the privilege of leadership? Moses instructs Korach to appear at the tent of meeting the next day with his followers, at which time God would choose who is to lead. The entire congregation appears to witness the contest, at which time the earth opens up and swallows Korach. His followers are consumed by fire sent forth by God.

Torah Navigator

The Israelites in the desert showed their lack of faith in God and Moses many times. Why is Korach punished so severely?

A midrash in Tanhuma gives a reason why Korach may have felt himself justified in his challenge to Moses. It points out that, since the priesthood and political leadership had already gone to Moses and Aaron, the sons of Amram, Kohath's eldest son, then the leadership of the clan should go to Korach, the son of Itzhar, Kohath's next eldest son. Instead, it had been given to Elizaphan, who was the son of Uzziel, the youngest son of Kohath.

Midrash Navigator

Is there any justification in Korach's action?
How else might he have gained what he thought he deserved?

A Word

Whether Korach was motivated by honest conviction, consuming ambition or just plain stubbornness, he was at fault. Moses gave him a chance to back down and return to his previous position as a prominent member of the tribe of Levi. Nonetheless, he was willing to risk not only his own life, but also those of his followers, who may not have known better.

Rabbi Gunther Plaut points out a grammatical inconsistency in 16:5; that the words, "boker vayoda", "In the morning, God will make known" could also be read, "Bikair vayeida", "God will have investigated and known", indicating that God's decision would be based on Korach's choice, in Plaut's words, "And until man makes his choice, God may be limited in His".

God may try to give us every chance to redeem ourselves, but the choice is in our own hands.

Prepared by Rabbi Leslie P. Bergson, Jewish Chaplain and Hillel Director, The Claremont Colleges.