Korach
Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
Korach, a Levite of the clan of Kohath, along with Dathan, Abiram, and 250 community leaders, mounts a rebellion against the authority of Moses and Aaron, arguing that the entire congregation is holy and questioning why Moses and Aaron elevate themselves. God responds with dramatic judgment: the earth opens and swallows Korach, Dathan, and Abiram, and fire consumes the 250 incense-offerers. When the people complain about these deaths, a plague breaks out and Aaron halts it by running among the people with incense. God confirms Aaron's priesthood through the miracle of his staff that sprouts, blossoms, and bears almonds. The parasha concludes with the priestly and Levitical gifts.
Key figures
- Korach — Levite who leads the rebellion against Moses and Aaron
- Dathan and Abiram — Reubenites who join Korach's revolt and are swallowed by the earth
- Moses — Defends his God-given authority, proposes the incense test
- Aaron — His priesthood is challenged and then confirmed by the budding staff
Famous verses
- 16:3 and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them: "You take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and Hashem is among them; why then lift you up yourselves above the assembly of Hashem?"
- 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said: "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will You be wroth with all the congregation?"
- 17:23 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.
Haftarah: {'ref': 'I Samuel 11:14-12:22', 'connection': "Samuel defends his leadership before Israel, declaring that he has taken nothing from anyone — paralleling Moses's defense against Korach's charge that he has lorded over the people."}
Total gematria: 375,682.