| 1Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi took [himself to one side] along with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben. |
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אוַיִּקַּ֣ח קֹ֔רַח בֶּן־יִצְהָ֥ר בֶּן־קְהָ֖ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֑י וְדָתָ֨ן וַֽאֲבִירָ֜ם בְּנֵ֧י אֱלִיאָ֛ב וְא֥וֹן בֶּן־פֶּ֖לֶת בְּנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵֽן: |
| Korah… took: This portion is beautifully expounded on in the Midrash of R. Tanchuma, [as follows]: |
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וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח:
פָּרָשָׁה זוֹ יָפֶה נִדְרֶשֶׁת בְּמִדְרַשׁ רַבִּי תַנְחוּמָא:
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| Korah… took: He took himself to one side to dissociate himself from the congregation, to contest the [appointment of Aaron to the] kehunah. This is what Onkelos means when he renders it וְאִתְפְּלֵג, “and he separated himself.” He separated himself from the congregation to persist in a dispute. Similarly, מה יקחך לבך, “Why does your heart take you away?” (Job 15:12) meaning, it removes you, to isolate you from others (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 2). Another explanation: |
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וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח:
לָקַח אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְצַד אֶחָד לִהְיוֹת נֶחֱלָק מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה לְעוֹרֵר עַל הַכְּהֻנָּה, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁתִּרְגֵם אֻנְקְלוֹס "וְאִתְפְּלֵג" — נֶחֱלַק מִשְּׁאָר הָעֵדָה לְהַחֲזִיק בְּמַחֲלֹקֶת, וְכֵן "מַה יִּקָּחֲךָ לִבֶּךָ" (איוב ט"ו) — לוֹקֵחַ אוֹתְךָ לְהַפְלִיגְךָ מִשְּׁאָר בְּנֵי אָדָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר:
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| Korah… took: He attracted the heads of the Sanhedrin among them with amicable words. Similarly, “Take Aaron [with words]” (20:25); “Take words with you” (Hosea 14:3) (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 1). - [Num. Rabbah 18:2]: |
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וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח:
, מָשַׁךְ רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם בִּדְבָרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "קַח אֶת אַהֲרֹן" (ויקרא ח'), "קְחוּ עִמָּכֶם דְּבָרִים" (הושע י"ד):
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| the son of Izhar the son of Kohath the son of Levi: [The verse] does not mention, “the son of Jacob,” because he [Jacob] prayed not to be mentioned in connection with their quarrel, as it is stated, “my honor, you shall not join their assembly” (Gen. 49:6). And where is his name mentioned in connection with Korah? In (I) Chron. (6:22, 23), where their genealogy is traced for the service of the Levites on the platform [in the Temple], as it says, “the son of Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, the son of Israel.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4, Num. Rabbah 18:5] |
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בֶּן־יִצְהָר בֶּן־קְהָת בֶּן־לֵוִי:
וְלֹא הִזְכִּיר "בֶּן יַעֲקֹב", שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ רַחֲמִים עַל עַצְמוֹ שֶׁלֹא יִזָּכֵר שְׁמוֹ עַל מַחְלְקוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בִּקְהָלָם אַל תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי" (בראשית מ"ט), וְהֵיכָן נִזְכַּר שְׁמוֹ עַל קֹרַח? בְּהִתְיַחֲסָם עַל הַדּוּכָן בְּדִבְרֵי הַיָּמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דהי"א ו') "בֶּן אֶבְיָסָף בֶּן קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי בֶּן יִשְׂרָאֵל":
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| Dathan and Abiram: Since the tribe of Reuben was settled in the south when they camped, thus being neighbors of Kohath and his children who were also camped in the south, they joined with Korah in his rebellion. Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbor! Now what made Korah decide to quarrel with Moses? He envied the chieftainship of Elizaphan the son of Uzziel whom Moses appointed as chieftain over the sons of Kohath by the [Divine] word. Korah claimed, “My father and his brothers were four [in number]” as it says, “The sons of Kohath were…” (Exod. 6:18). Amram was the first, and his two sons received greatness-one a king and one a kohen gadol. Who is entitled to receive the second [position]? Is it not I, who am the son of Izhar, who is the second brother to Amram? And yet, he [Moses] appointed to the chieftainship the son of his youngest brother! I hereby oppose him and will invalidate his word (Midrash Tanchuma Korach 1, Num. Rabbah 18:2). What did he do? He went and assembled two hundred and fifty men, heads of Sanhedrin, most of them from the tribe of Reuben, his neighbors. These were Elitzur the son of Shedeur and his colleagues, and others like him, as it says, “chieftains of the congregation, those called to the assembly.” And further it states, “These were the chosen ones of the congregation” (1:16). He dressed them with cloaks made entirely of blue wool. They came and stood before Moses and asked him, “Does a cloak made entirely of blue wool require fringes [’tzitzith’], or is it exempt?” He replied, “ It does require [fringes].” They began laughing at him [saying], "Is it possible that a cloak of another [colored] material, one string of blue wool exempts it [from the obligation of techeleth], and this one, which is made entirely of blue wool, should not exempt itself? - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 2, Num. Rabbah 18:3] |
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דתן וַֽאֲבִירָם:
בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁהָיָה שֵׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן שָׁרוּי בַּחֲנִיָּתָם תֵּימָנָה שָׁכֵן לִקְהָת וּבָנָיו הַחוֹנִים תֵּימָנָה, נִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ עִם קֹרַח בְּמַחֲלָקְתּוֹ — "אוֹי לָרָשָׁע אוֹי לִשְׁכֵנוֹ". וּמָה רָאָה קֹרַח לַחֲלֹק עִם מֹשֶׁה? נִתְקַנֵּא עַל נְשִׂיאוּתוֹ שֶׁל אֱלִיצָפָן בֶּן עֻזִּיאֵל, שֶׁמִּנָּהוּ מֹשֶׁה נָשִׂיא עַל בְּנֵי קְהָת עַל פִּי הַדִּבּוּר, אָמַר קֹרַח, אַחֵי אַבָּא אַרְבָּעָה הָיוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ו') "וּבְנֵי קְהָת" וְגוֹ', עַמְרָם הַבְּכוֹר נָטְלוּ שְׁנֵי בָנָיו גְּדֻלָּה, אֶחָד מֶלֶךְ וְאֶחָד כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, מִי רָאוּי לִטֹּל אֶת הַשְּׁנִיָּה? לֹא אֲנִי שֶׁאֲנִי בֶּן יִצְהָר, שֶׁהוּא שֵׁנִי לְעַמְרָם, וְהוּא מִנָּה נָשִׂיא אֶת בֶּן אָחִיו הַקָּטָן מִכֻּלָּם, הֲרֵינִי חוֹלֵק עָלָיו וּמְבַטֵּל אֶת דְּבָרָיו. מֶה עָשָׂה? עָמַד וְכָנַס ר"נ רָאשֵׁי סַנְהֶדְרָאוֹת — רֻבָּן מִשֵּׁבֶט רְאוּבֵן שְׁכֵנָיו וְהֵם אֱלִיצוּר בֶּן שְׁדֵיאוּר וַחֲבֵרָיו וְכַיּוֹצֵא בוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר (במדבר א') "אֵלֶּה קְרוּאֵי הָעֵדָה" — וְהִלְבִּישָׁן טַלִּיתוֹת שֶׁכֻּלָּן תְּכֵלֶת, בָּאוּ וְעָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה, אָמְרוּ לוֹ טַלִּית שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת חַיֶּבֶת בְּצִיצִית אוֹ פְטוּרָה? אָמַר לָהֶם חַיֶּבֶת, הִתְחִילוּ לִשְׂחֹק עָלָיו, אֶפְשָׁר טַלִּית שֶׁל מִן אַחֵר חוּט אֶחָד שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת פּוֹטְרָהּ, זוֹ שֶׁכֻּלָּהּ תְּכֵלֶת לֹא תִפְטֹר אֶת עַצְמָהּ? (תנחומא):
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| descendants of Reuben: Dathan and Abiram and On the son of Peleth. |
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בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵֽן:
דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת:
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| 2They confronted Moses together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel, chieftains of the congregation, representatives of the assembly, men of repute. |
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בוַיָּקֻ֨מוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י משֶׁ֔ה וַֽאֲנָשִׁ֥ים מִבְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמָאתָ֑יִם נְשִׂיאֵ֥י עֵדָ֛ה קְרִאֵ֥י מוֹעֵ֖ד אַנְשֵׁי־שֵֽׁם: |
| 3They assembled against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, "You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and the Lord is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the Lord's assembly?" |
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גוַיִּקָּֽהֲל֞וּ עַל־משֶׁ֣ה וְעַל־אַֽהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶם֘ רַב־לָכֶם֒ כִּ֤י כָל־הָֽעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדשִׁ֔ים וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהֹוָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־קְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה: |
| You take too much upon yourselves: You took by far too much greatness for yourselves. |
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רַב־לָכֶם:
הַרְבֵּה יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי לְקַחְתֶּם לְעַצְמְכֶם גְּדֻלָּה:
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| are all holy: All of them heard [the] words [of the commandments] at Sinai from the mouth of the Almighty. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4] |
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כֻּלָּם קְדשִׁים:
כֻּלָּם שָׁמְעוּ דְבָרִים בְּסִינַי מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה:
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| So why do you raise yourselves: If you have taken kingship for yourself, you should not have chosen kehunah for your brother. Not only you heard at Sinai, “I am the Lord, your God” ; the entire congregation heard it. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 4] |
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וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ:
אִם לָקַחְתָּ אַתָּה מַלְכוּת, לֹא הָיָה לְךָ לִבְרֹר לְאָחִיךָ כְּהֻנָּה, לֹא אַתֶּם לְבַדְּכֶם שְׁמַעְתֶּם בְּסִינַי "אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ", כָּל הָעֵדָה שָׁמְעוּ (שם):
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| 4Moses heard and fell on his face. |
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דוַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע משֶׁ֔ה וַיִּפֹּ֖ל עַל־פָּנָֽיו: |
| and fell on his face: because of the rebellion, for this was already their fourth offense. [When] they sinned with the calf, “Moses pleaded” (Exod. 32:11); by the episode of the complainers, “Moses prayed” (11:2); with the spies, “Moses said to God, ‘But the Egyptians will hear…’ ” (14:13), but now, at Korah’s rebellion, he became disheartened [literally, his hands were weakened]. This is comparable to a prince who sinned against his father, and his [father’s] friend placated the king on his behalf, once, twice, and three times. When he offended the fourth time, the friend became disheartened, and he said, “How much more can I trouble the king? Perhaps he will no longer accept my petition.” - [Midrash Tanchuma 4, Num. Rabbah 18: 6] |
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וַיִּפֹּל עַל־פָּנָֽיו:
מִפְּנֵי הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁכְּבָר זֶה בְיָדָם סִרְחוֹן רְבִיעִי, חָטְאוּ בָעֵגֶל, "וַיְחַל מֹשֶׁה" (שמות ל"ב), בַּמִּתְאוֹנְנִים, "וַיִּתְפַּלֵּל מֹשֶׁה" (במדבר י"א), בַּמְּרַגְּלִים, "וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל ה' וְשָׁמְעוּ מִצְרַיִם" (שם י"ד), בְּמַחֲלָקְתּוֹ שֶׁל קֹרַח נִתְרַשְּׁלוּ יָדָיו, מָשָׁל לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁסָּרַח עַל אָבִיו, וּפִיֵּס עָלָיו אוֹהֲבוֹ פַּעַם וּשְׁתַּיִם וְשָׁלֹשׁ, כְּשֶׁסָּרַח רְבִיעִית, נִתְרַשְּׁלוּ יְדֵי הָאוֹהֵב הַהוּא, אָמַר עַד מָתַי אַטְרִיחַ עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ? שֶׁמָּא לֹא יְקַבֵּל עוֹד מִמֶּנִּי (תנחומא):
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| 5He spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, "In the morning, the Lord will make known who is His, and who is holy, and He will draw [them] near to Him, and the one He chooses, He will draw near to Him. |
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הוַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־קֹ֜רַח וְאֶל־כָּל־עֲדָתוֹ֘ לֵאמֹר֒ בֹּ֠קֶר וְיֹדַ֨ע יְהֹוָ֧ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וְאֶת־הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ וְהִקְרִ֣יב אֵלָ֑יו וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַר־בּ֖וֹ יַקְרִ֥יב אֵלָֽיו: |
| In the morning, the Lord will make known: Night is a time of drunkenness for us, and it is improper to appear before Him. His real intention was to delay, with the hope that they might retract [their opposition]. - [Midrash Tanchuma 5] |
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בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע וגו':
עַתָּה עֵת שִׁכְרוּת הוּא לָנוּ וְלֹא נָכוֹן לְהֵרָאוֹת לְפָנָיו, וְהוּא הָיָה מִתְכַּוֵּן לִדְחוֹת שֶׁמָּא יַחְזְרוּ בָהֶם (שם):
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| In the morning, the Lord will make known who is His: For the Levitic services. |
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בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע ה' אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ:
לַעֲבוֹדַת לְוִיָּה:
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| and who is holy: For the kehunah. |
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וְאֶת־הַקָּדוֹשׁ:
לִכְהֻנָּה:
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| and He will draw: them near to Him. Heb. וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו. And the Targum [Onkelos] proves this [that it is referring to both the Levites and the kohanim], for he renders the first phrase, “He will bring them close to Him” [and the second phrase] “He will bring into His service.” The Midrashic interpretation of בֹּקֶר, morning, [rather than מָחָר, tomorrow] is: Moses said to him [Korah], The Holy One, blessed is He, assigned boundaries to His world. Are you able to transform morning into evening? That is how possible it is for you to undo this, as it says, “It was evening and it was morning… and He separated (וַיַּבְדֵּל)” (Gen. 1:5, 7); similarly, “Aaron was set apart (וַיִּבָּדֵל) to sanctify him…” (I Chron. 23:13). - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 3, Num. Rabbah 4] |
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וְהִקְרִיב:
אוֹתָם אליו; וְהַתַּרְגּוּם מוֹכִיחַ כֵּן "וִיקָרֵב לָקֳדָמוֹהִי", "יְקָרֵב לְשִׁמּוּשֵׁיהּ"; וּמִקְרָא אַחֵר בקר, אָ"ל מֹשֶׁה, גְּבוּלוֹת חָלַק הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּעוֹלָמוֹ, יְכוֹלִים אַתֶּם לַהֲפֹךְ בֹּקֶר לְעֶרֶב? כֵּן תּוּכְלוּ לְבַטֵּל אֶת זוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר וַיַּבְדֵּל" (בראשית א'), כָּךְ "וַיִּבָּדֵל אַהֲרֹן לְהַקְדִּישׁוֹ" וְגוֹ' (דהי"א כ"ג):
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| 6Do this, Korah and his company: Take for yourselves censers. |
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וזֹ֖את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶ֣ם מַחְתּ֔וֹת קֹ֖רַח וְכָל־עֲדָתֽוֹ: |
| Do this!…Take for yourselves censers: Why did he see fit to speak to them thus? He said to them, “Among the nations, there are various forms of worship and many priests, and they do not all gather in one temple. We, however, have only one God, one ark, one Torah, one altar, and one kohen gadol, but you two hundred and fifty men are all seeking the kehunah gedolah! I too would prefer that. Here, take for yourselves the service most dear-it is the incense, more cherished than any other sacrifice, but it contains deadly poison, by which Nadab and Abihu were burnt. Therefore, he warned them, ”and it will be the one whom the Lord chooses-he is the holy one“ [meaning,] that he is already in his [state of] holiness. Is it not obvious that [the one] who is chosen is the holy one? Rather, Moses told them, ”I am telling you this so that you should not be found guilty. For the one He chooses will survive, and the rest of you will perish." - [Mid. Tanchuma 5, Bamidbar Rabbah 18:8] |
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זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחֽוּ־לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת:
מָה רָאָה לוֹמַר לָהֶם כָּךְ? אָמַר לָהֶם, בְּדַרְכֵי הַגּוֹיִם יֵשׁ נִימוּסִים הַרְבֵּה וְכוּמָרִים הַרְבֵּה וְכֻלָם (אֵין) מִתְקַבְּצִים בְּבַיִת אֶחָד, אָנוּ אֵין לָנוּ אֶלָּא ה' אֶחָד, אָרוֹן אֶחָד, וְתוֹרָה אַחַת וּמִזְבֵּחַ אֶחָד וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל אֶחָד, וְאַתֶּם ר"ן אִישׁ מְבַקְּשִׁים כְּהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, אַף אֲנִי רוֹצֶה בְכָךְ, הֵא לָכֶם תַּשְׁמִישׁ חָבִיב מִכֹּל, הִיא הַקְּטֹרֶת הַחֲבִיבָה מִכָּל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, וְסַם הַמָּוֶת נִתַּן בְּתוֹכוֹ, שֶׁבּוֹ נִשְׂרְפוּ נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּ, לְפִיכָךְ הִתְרָה בָהֶם והיה האיש אשר יבחר ה' הוא הקדש — כְּבָר הוּא בִקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ, וְכִי אֵין אָנוּ יוֹדְעִים שֶׁמִּי שֶׁיִּבְחַר הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ? אֶלָּא אָמַר לָהֶם מֹשֶׁה, הֲרֵינִי אוֹמֵר לָכֶם, שֶׁלֹּא תִּתְחַיְּבוּ, מִי שֶׁיִּבְחַר בוֹ יֵצֵא חַי וְכֻלְּכֶם אוֹבְדִין (תנחומא):
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| censers: מַחְתּוֹת, vessels used for stoking (חוֹתִין) coals, which have a handle. |
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מַחְתּוֹת:
כֵּלִים שֶׁחוֹתִין בָּהֶם גֶּחָלִים וְיֵשׁ לָהֶם בֵּית יָד:
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| 7Place fire into them and put incense upon them before the Lord tomorrow, and the man whom the Lord chooses he is the holy one; you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi." |
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זוּתְנ֣וּ־בָהֵ֣ן | אֵ֡שׁ וְשִׂ֩ימוּ֩ עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן | קְטֹ֜רֶת לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ מָחָ֔ר וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ רַב־לָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי: |
| you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi: Heb. רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי, [interpreted Midrashically as:] I have told you a very great thing. Were they not fools? For he warned them about it and they [still] took upon themselves to offer [the incense]. They sinned at the cost of their lives, as it says, “the censers of these who sinned at the cost of their lives” (17:3). But what did Korah, who was astute, see [to commit] this folly? His vision deceived him. He saw [prophetically] a chain of great people descended from him: Samuel, who is equal [in importance] to Moses and Aaron. He [Korah] said, “For his sake I will be spared. [He also saw] twenty-four watches [of Levites] emanating from his grandsons, all prophesying through the holy spirit, as it says, ”all these were the sons of Heman“ (I Chron 25:5). He said, ”Is it possible that all this greatness is destined to emanate from me, and I should remain silent?“ Therefore, he participated [in the rebellion] to reach that prerogative, for he had heard from Moses that they would all perish and one would escape [death]: ”the one whom the Lord chooses-he is the holy one.“ He erred in thinking that it referred to him. He, however, did not ”see" properly, for his sons repented [and thus did not die at that time]. Moses, however, foresaw this. - [This is found in Mid.] Tanchuma [Korach 5, Num. Rabbah 18:8] |
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רַב־לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי:
דָּבָר גָּדוֹל אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם; וְלֹא טִפְּשִׁים הָיוּ, שֶׁכָּךְ הִתְרָה בָהֶם וְקִבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לְקָרֵב? הֵם חָטְאוּ עַל נַפְשׁוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "אֵת מַחְתּוֹת הַחַטָּאִים הָאֵלֶּה בְּנַפְשֹׁתָם" (במדבר י״ז:ג׳), וְקֹרַח שֶׁפִּקֵּחַ הָיָה מָה רָאָה לִשְׁטוּת זֶה? עֵינוֹ הִטְעַתּוּ, רָאָה שַׁלְשֶׁלֶת גְּדוֹלָה יוֹצְאָה מִמֶּנּוּ — שְׁמוּאֵל שֶׁשָּׁקוּל כְּנֶגֶד מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן — אָמַר בִּשְׁבִילוֹ אֲנִי נִמְלָט, וְכ"ד מִשְׁמָרוֹת עוֹמְדוֹת לִבְנֵי בָנָיו, כֻּלָּם מִתְנַבְּאִים בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "כָּל אֵלֶּה בָנִים לְהֵימָן" (מלכים א כ"ה), אָמַר אֶפְשָׁר כָּל הַגְּדֻלָּה הַזֹּאת עֲתִידָה לַעֲמֹד מִמֶּנִּי וַאֲנִי אֶדּוֹם? לְכָךְ נִשְׁתַּתֵּף לָבֹא לְאוֹתָהּ חֲזָקָה, שֶׁשָּׁמַע מִפִּי מֹשֶׁה שֶׁכֻּלָּם אוֹבְדִים וְאֶחָד נִמְלָט, "אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר ה' הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ" — טָעָה וְתָלָה בְעַצְמוֹ, וְלֹא רָאָה יָפֶה, לְפִי שֶׁבָּנָיו עָשׂוּ תְשׁוּבָה, וּמֹשֶׁה הָיָה רוֹאֶה. — תַּנְחוּמָא:
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| you have taken too much upon yourselves: [The simple interpretation is:] You have taken too great a task upon yourselves, to rebel against the Holy One, blessed is He. |
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רַב־לָכֶם:
דָּבָר גָּדוֹל נְטַלְתֶּם בְּעַצְמְכֶם לַחֲלֹק עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא:
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| 8Moses said to Korah, "Please listen, sons of Levi. |
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חוַיֹּ֥אמֶר משֶׁ֖ה אֶל־קֹ֑רַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי: |
| Moses said…: He began to speak softly to him, but when he saw that he [Korah] was adamant [lit., stiff-necked], he [Moses] thought, “Before the other tribes [other versions: the rest of the tribe] join him and perish with him, I will speak to all of them as well.” He then began exhorting them [saying,], “Listen to me, sons of Levi.” - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 18:9] |
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וַיֹּאמֶר משֶׁה אֶל־קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי:
הִתְחִיל לְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ בִּדְבָרִים רַכִּים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָהוּ קְשֵׁה עֹרֶף, אָמַר עַד שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁתַּתְּפוּ שְׁאָר הַשְּׁבָטִים וְיֹאבְדוּ עִמּוֹ, אֲדַבֵּר גַּם אֶל כֻּלָּם, הִתְחִיל לְזָרֵז בָּהֶם "שִׁמְעוּ נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִי" (תנחומא):
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| 9Is it not enough that the God of Israel has distinguished you from the congregation of Israel to draw you near to Him, to perform the service in the Mishkan of the Lord and to stand before the congregation to minister to them? |
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טהַֽמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵֽעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַֽעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֔ה וְלַֽעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָֽעֵדָ֖ה לְשָֽׁרְתָֽם: |
| and to stand before the congregation: to sing on the platform. |
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וְלַֽעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הָֽעֵדָה:
לָשִׁיר עַל הַדּוּכָן:
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| 10He drew you near, and all your brothers, the sons of Levi with you, and now you seek the kehunah as well? |
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יוַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ וְאֶת־כָּל־אַחֶ֥יךָ בְנֵֽי־לֵוִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם גַּם־כְּהֻנָּֽה: |
| He drew you near: to that service from which he has distanced the rest of the congregation of Israel. |
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וַיַּקְרֵב אֹֽתְךָ:
לְאוֹתוֹ שֵׁרוּת שֶׁהִרְחִיק מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁאָר עֲדַת יִשְֹרָאֵל:
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| 11Therefore, you and your entire company who are assembled are against the Lord, for what is Aaron that you should complain against him?" |
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יאלָכֵ֗ן אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הַנֹּֽעָדִ֖ים עַל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן מַה־ה֔וּא כִּ֥י תַלִּ֖ינוּ (כתיב תלונו) עָלָֽיו: |
| Therefore: Because of this, “you and your entire company who are assembled” with you “are against the Lord,” for I acted as His messenger to give the kehunah to Aaron, and this rebellion is not with us [but with the Lord]. - [Midrash Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 18:9] |
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לָכֵן:
בִּשְׁבִיל כָּךְ אתה וכל עדתך הנעדים אִתְּךָ עַל ה', כִּי בְשְׁלִיחוּתוֹ עָשִׂיתִי לָתֵת כְּהֻנָּה לְאַהֲרֹן, וְלֹא לָנוּ הוּא הַמַּחֲלֹקֶת הַזֶּה (שם):
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| 12Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not go up. |
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יבוַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח משֶׁ֔ה לִקְרֹ֛א לְדָתָ֥ן וְלַֽאֲבִירָ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י אֱלִיאָ֑ב וַיֹּֽאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַֽעֲלֶֽה: |
| Moses sent: From here we derive that one should not persist in a dispute, because Moses sought them out to conciliate them with peaceful words. — [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 10, Sanh. 110a] |
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וַיִּשְׁלַח משֶׁה וגו':
מִכָּאן שֶׁאֵין מַחֲזִיקִין בְּמַחֲלֹקֶת, שֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה מְחַזֵּר אַחֲרֵיהֶם לְהַשְׁלִימָם בְּדִבְרֵי שָׁלוֹם (סנהדרין ק"י):
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| We will not go up: Their own mouths caused them to stumble, [to say] that they would have only a downfall. - [Mid. Tanchuma Korach 6, Num. Rabbah 10] |
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לֹא נַֽעֲלֶֽה:
פִּיהֶם הִכְשִׁילָם, שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם אֶלָּא יְרִידָה:
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| 13Is it not enough that you have brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the desert, that you should also exercise authority over us? |
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יגהַֽמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֨נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַֽהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר: |
