Illustration Credit: Noa Kelner
Commentary פַּרְשָׁנוּת
Did you know Korah and Moshe were first cousins?
Rashi explains that these family dynamics are the background for Korah’s rebellion:
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… 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.
Why did Korah decide to fight with Moshe? He was jealous about Elitzafan ben Uzziel, whom Moshe appointed as nasi (chief) over the children of Kehat based on God’s word (see Bemidbar 3:30).
Korah said, “My father was one of four brothers... Amram the eldest had two of his sons get greatness—Moshe is ruler and Aharon is Kohen Gadol (High Priest). Who should be next in line (to become leader of the tribe)? Am I not the son of Yitzhar, who was the eldest after Amram? And Moshe appointed Elitzafan, son of the youngest brother?! So I will rebel against Moshe and undo his words.”
- Look at Korah’s complaint in the beginning of the parashah (Bemidbar 16:1-3). Can you find evidence for Rashi’s reading?
- According to Rashi, what did Korah really want? Was his rebellion about the holiness of the people, or was it something else? What does this tell us about Korah?
- Can you think of another story in the Torah in which people were bothered because a younger brother was given something great? (Hint: look in Bereishit 37!) How did that go? What do you think the Torah could be teaching us about age order, greatness, and jealousy?
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