Korach קֹרַח - Korach
Torah Portion: Numbers 16:1-18:32
Numbers 16:20–43
16:20 Hashem spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 21 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment!”
22 They fell on their faces, and said, “Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?”
23 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram!’”
25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 He spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins!”
27 So they went away from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
28 Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that Hashem has sent me to do all these works; for they are not from my own mind. 29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they experience what all men experience, then Hashem hasn’t sent me. 30 But if Hashem makes a new thing, and the ground opens its mouth, and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall understand that these men have despised Hashem.”
31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split apart. 32 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all of Korah’s men, and all their goods. 33 So they, and all that belonged to them, went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly. 34 All Israel that were around them fled at their cry; for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!” 35 Fire came out from Hashem, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.
36 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 37 “Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire away from the camp; for they are holy, 38 even the censers of those who sinned against their own lives. Let them be beaten into plates for a covering of the altar, for they offered them before Hashem. Therefore, they are holy. They shall be a sign to the children of Israel.”
39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers which those who were burned had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar, 40 to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger who isn’t of the offspring of Aaron, would come near to burn incense before Hashem, that he not be as Korah and as his company; as Hashem spoke to him by Moses.
41 But on the next day, all the congregation of the children of Israel complained against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed Hashem’s people!”
42 When the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, they looked toward the Tent of Meeting. Behold, the cloud covered it, and Hashem’s glory appeared. 43 Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.
Today’s Meditation:
In verse 23, Hashem makes it evident that they are to separate from the troublemakers immediately. Then Moses warns them of what is about to happen. He even refers to it as a “new thing” that Hashem is about to do. The seriousness of challenging Hashem and His leaders is apparent here. Hashem wants our allegiance, not our rebellion. If you want to please Hashem, obey what He tells you. Listen to the people He puts in charge of your life. Know that not to do so will cause consequences.
Today’s Challenge:
Again and again, Hashem warns us not to rebel against authority. In many stories, such as today's, we learn that disobedience can have serious consequences. Especially following leaders or groups whose ideals are opposed to Hashem’s. You know in your heart when you are associating with the wrong people. If that is in your life today, I challenge you to end those friendships/relationships and ask Hashem to expose you to some people who align with His biblical values. It is always hard to change friends or get out of bad relationships, but the benefits are so much greater.
