Shabbos Table

Korach is a Levite who disagrees that Moses and Arron should be leaders of the Jews, and he wonders what makes them so special. He and the two sons of Eliab, along with the support of 250 men, decides to go up against Moses.

Remember, the Levites are already chosen by G-d. It should have been the first born in their place, but because the first born sinned at the golden calf, he gave the temple job to the Levites instead, propelling them into “chosen” status.

Their question is a fair one. What makes Moses and Aaron the special ones? We all want to feel chosen by our parents, and it’s heartbreaking when we feel like a parent favors a sibling over us. We wonder why not me, and when that feeling of “not good enough” becomes too overwhelming, we can get angry and rebellious.

Moses says to Korach, “Come morning, G-d will make known who G-d is and who is holy.”

“G-d will make known who G-d is.”

From this bit, I would imagine this to be a caution, warning, and a plea to desist from standing up against G-d.

In past parsahot, we see Moses beg and plead with G-d not to kill the Jews after they sinned at the golden calf and the sin of the spies. We know he loves them, but he’s probably also scared for them since rebelling against G-d now would be the eleventh sin.

Moses also adds in that statement, “G-d will show who is holy.

When G-d chose the Levites to serve in the temple, He chose them because they were holy. They were obedient to Him. So, why does Moses imply this need clearing up?
I believe “holy,” in this sense, may mean who is best suited for this job and who is faithful, respectful, and obedient; key ingredients for anyone worthy of a particular post.

Moses warns them that G-d has given them a great position, and it’s not wise to rebel against Him. He tells Korach that he and his followers should make a priestly fire and burn incense. The sons of Eliab thought it unfair for Moses and Aaron to boss them around and force them to die in the wilderness.

Sure enough, when G-d comes the next day, he tells Moses and Aaron that he will kill all the men. Again, Moses and Aaron beg for them, pleading with G-d to not punish the obedient ones.
So, G-d compromises and says, fair enough, tell the others to move away from Korach and the sons of Eliab.

Moses tells the people that if something happens – a freaky phenomenon and not a usual death, then the people will know that it’s G-d who sent him, Moses. After he said that, the earth opened up and swallowed Korach and the sons of Eliab and their property. Then the earth closed.
A fire then went out and burnt the 250 followers who were burning incense.

If we didn’t know the number of times G-d forgave the Jews for rebelling, we would perhaps be quick to judge Him. We may wonder why He would be so harsh when repenting for their sin.
And while we are not G-d, we can appreciate that we all have a tolerance limit.

The next day, the Jews get angry with Moses and Aaron.

I remember getting mommy mad and then spending days to get back into her good grace, so this story makes me wonder what could have made them this stubborn. Were they scared of the wilderness or frustrated and hurt that they would not get into the promised land? Did they lose hope as they knew they were not getting into the land of milk and honey?
Maybe they thought, “What’s the point? They might have even thought, “what do I have to lose when I’ve lost the one thing I wanted most, the land of milk and honey.”

G-d gets angry at them again, and he sends a plague that starts to kill them. Moses asks Aaron to perform an incense ritual of atonement for the people. Aaron stood between the dead and the living, and the plague stopped. However, more than fourteen thousand died.

Then G-d told Moses to gather staffs from the twelve chiefs of the tribes. G-d will cause the staff of the owner He chooses to blossom. Aaron’s staff blossomed.

Then G-d told them that whoever would complain of Him would perish.

G-d told Aaron that he and his sons would be in the priesthood. They will be responsible for attending to the altar and partaking in all the rituals. They will have all of the sacrifices the people bring to G-d. The first born and uncleaned animal must be redeemed according to value. But they won’t have any land. G-d tells them He will be their portion.
Then he tells Aaron that the son of the Levi will have the tithe for their work in the Mishna.

I believe we all have a role on earth and how we show up for G-d. We have talents that allow us to serve in a specific way. For the Levites, they had the role of serving the temple, but who else can you choose then the most fiercely loyal to guard the most precious thing you have – your home. I don’t trust any and everyone in my scared space, so I can relate to this.
Moses must have been chosen because of his care and compassion. Maybe no one else would have had the kindness in their heart to always jump in and beg G-d to save the people. I believe had it not been for Moses, we may not be enjoying this earth, waiting to return to Israel.

We each have a place in showing G-d’s glory on earth. There is no need for jealously. We simply have to find what we are good at and take our place in this world by glorifying G-d and showing His hands in our lives.