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Welcome to this week’s Torah portion, which is called Korach (Korah).
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in synagogues around the world this Saturday (Shabbat) morning.
We are certain you will be blessed as you follow along in our study of this week’s portion !
Parasha Korach (Korah)
Numbers 16:1–18:32; 1 Samuel 11:14–12:22; Acts 5:1–11
"Korach son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenite - Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses.” (Numbers 16:1–2)
In last week’s Parasha (Torah portion), seeds of rebellion were sown as the Israelites threatened to replace Moses as their leader. So great was their fear of the giants in the Promised Land, and so great was their unbelief that they were able to overcome those giants and take the land, that they wanted to forsake the promises of God and and return to Egypt.
In this week’s Torah study, the rebellion continues with the mutiny against Moses’ leadership
by a man named Korach (קֹרַח), which means baldness, ice, hail or frost.
The Abomination of Strife and Division
God loves peace and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) dwells in peace (shalom).
God hates strife, discord, and division between brothers, calling the one who sows them an abomination:
“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
… one who sows discord among brethren.” (Proverbs 6:16, 19)
To highlight this sin, this week’s portion of Scripture is also called the Parasha of Machloket (Strife)
since Korach created division, strife, and disaster within the community through his rebellion,
discontent, and dirty politics. In fact, the name Korach is derived from Korcha, which means split.
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Korach: The Genesis of Discord and Strife
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Shabbat Shalom -
Parasha Korach (Korah) - the Genesis of Discord and Strife !!!
Shabbat
Shalom
Welcome to this week’s Torah portion, which is called Korach (Korah).
This is the portion of Scripture that will be read in
synagogues around the world this Saturday (Shabbat) morning.
We are certain you will be blessed as you follow along in
our study of this week’s portion!
Parasha Korach (Korah)
Numbers
16:1–18:32; 1 Samuel 11:14–12:22; Acts 5:1–11
"Korach son of Izhar, the
son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain
Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of
Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses.”
(Numbers 16:1–2)
(Numbers 16:1–2)
In last week’s Parasha (Torah portion), seeds of
rebellion were sown as the Israelites threatened to replace
Moses as their leader. So great was their fear of the
giants in the Promised Land, and so great was their unbelief
that they were able to overcome those giants and take the
land, that they wanted to forsake the promises of God and
and return to Egypt.
In this week’s Torah study, the rebellion continues with
the mutiny against Moses’ leadership by a man named Korach (קֹרַח),
which means baldness, ice,
hail or frost.
A Jewish 13-year-old male reads from a Torah scroll protected by an
elaborately decorated Torah tik.
The Abomination of
Strife and Division
God loves peace and the Ruach
HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)
dwells in peace (shalom).
dwells in peace (shalom).
God hates strife, discord, and division between
brothers, calling the one who sows them an abomination:
“These six things the Lord
hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: … one who
sows discord among brethren.”
(Proverbs 6:16, 19)
(Proverbs 6:16, 19)
To highlight this sin, this week’s portion of Scripture
is also called the Parasha of Machloket
(Strife) since Korach created division,
strife, and disaster within the community through his
rebellion, discontent, and dirty politics.
In fact, the name Korach is derived from Korcha,
which means split.
which means split.
Open Torah scroll and silver yad (Torah pointer)
With an utter lack of humility, Korach, who was
a Levite, rose up against Moses, joining forces with Datan
and Aviram, who were from the tribe of Reuben, along with
On, son of Pelet and 250 respected chieftains from the
Israelite community.
But what charge did the rebels have against Moses?
They accused him of exalting himself over the community:
“They
gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to
them, ‘You take too much upon yourselves, for all the
congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is
among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the
assembly of the Lord?’” (Numbers 16:3)
In fact, this sin
that they accused Moses of was, in reality, their own
sin. Sadly, many are guilty of such
self-deception.
It is vital to realize that people often unknowingly
judge others for the very sins that they themselves are
committing.
“You, therefore, have no
excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at
whatever point you judge another, you are condemning
yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same
things.” (Romans 2:1)
Moreover, wicked people do not necessarily realize that
their deeds are evil, having internally justified themselves
that their way is the right way. This in no way negates the
seriousness of that sin, however.
Rabbi Rachel Barenblat reads from the Torah scroll.
(Photo by Len Radin)
The Genesis of
Discord and Strife
There is wisdom in discerning the underlying motivation
of a brother creating strife before making judgments and
issuing condemnations. And this is just what Moses did.
Moses knew the reason for Korach’s discord—the
dark desire that lurked in his heart to exalt himself and
the Levitical priesthood to the position God had expressly
granted to the Aaronic priesthood.
Since God Himself had made the priesthood and outlined
the duties of the Levites, they were in rebellion against
the authority of God.
Moses pinpointed the problem when he said, “Hear now, you sons of Levi: Is it
a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated
you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to
Himself, to do the work of the tabernacle of the LORD, and
to stand before the congregation to serve them; and that
He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your
brethren, the sons of Levi, with you?" (Numbers 16:8–10)
Not too long before their rebellion, God chose the
Levites to be caretakers of the Holy Tabernacle—the
structure and its vessels—as servants to the Aaronic
priesthood.
While all Levites
serve God, Aaron and his descendants held the special
appointment of being able to approach the altar to
perform sacrifices. The Kohen HaGadol (High Priest)
could even enter the Holy of Holies where the Ark of the
Covenant stood, a status that would certainly stir some
hearts to great envy.
Moses pointedly asked the group, “Are you seeking the priesthood
also?”
The Word of God warns us against this sort of
self-aggrandizing ambition as it brings with it great evil.
“For where you have envy
and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every
evil practice.” (James 3:16)
Envy and selfish ambition cause all kinds of trouble in
our personal lives, not only at home or at work, but also in
congregations and fellowships as those who are neither
qualified nor anointed vie for positions God never intended
them to occupy.
The Kohen Gadol (High Priest)
Death and
Separation: The Consequence of Strife
“Moses sent a summons to
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, ‘We
will not come up.’” (Numbers 16:12)
Korach sinned by coveting the more prestigious
role of the Aaronic priesthood, rather than that of
Levitical servanthood. However, he had the
courage to confront Moses directly, face to face.
Datan and Aviram, on the other hand, seemed to remain in
their tents during this confrontation. They sinned by rebelling
against Moses’ authority over them as God’s divinely
appointed leader. When Moses called for
them, they replied,
“Loh na’aleh (we won’t go up).”
“Loh na’aleh (we won’t go up).”
Ironically, those who refused to “go up” to negotiate
peace with Moses ended up “going down” to their deaths. The
earth swallowed them up (as well as their families and
Korach's family) alive.
“So they and all those
with them went down alive into the pit; the earth closed
over them, and they perished from among the assembly." (Numbers
16:33)
The other 250 in the group, who were offering
incense to God and therefore elevating themselves to the
position of the Aaronic priesthood, were consumed by fire.
(Numbers 16:35)
The firepans they were offering incense on were rescued
and were pounded into copper plating for the altar, a
visible reminder and warning to stop future encroaching on
the Tabernacle and the responsibilities of the Aaronic
priesthood.
It was also a reminder to the Israelites that sowing
strife, questioning God's leadership and exalting themselves
to positions of leadership that they should not be in
ultimately leads to their own destruction.
“A worthless person, a
wicked man ... he sows discord. Therefore his calamity
shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without
remedy.” (Proverbs 6:12–15)
Jewish men and children pray at the Western (Wailing) Wall
in Jerusalem.
Wisdom and Godly
Company: Avoiding the Korachs of Today
The rabbis consider this rebellion of Korach
the most perilous moment for Israel during its wilderness
journey, remembering Korach as the “Torah’s
professional troublemaker and the most famous rabble-rousing
Jew of all time.”
(Torah with a Twist of Humor)
(Torah with a Twist of Humor)
Pointing to the negative example of Korach as a “peddler
of hatred,” the rabbis caution that we should not befriend evil people (al
titchaber im rashah). Indeed, Proverbs
13:20 counsels that “a
companion of fools will suffer harm.”
This is one of the
main lessons that we may learn from this Torah portion.
King Solomon (Melek
Shelomo), whose very name comes from the
Hebrew word for peace (shalom), advises us to find wisdom,
which prevents us from following wicked, devious people:
“Wisdom
will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose
words are perverse, who have left the straight paths to
walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice
in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and
who are devious in their ways.” (Proverbs 2:12–15)
In fact, in this Torah reading, Moses warned the people
of Israel to move away from the tents of Korach, Datan, and
Aviram lest they be destroyed by God's judgment of their
sin, as well:
“Depart, please, from the
tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs,
lest you be swept away with all their sins.” (Numbers
16:26)
Destruction of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, illustration from the 1890
Holman Bible
The writings of the talmidim (Yeshua’s
disciples) confirm this sage advice of the rabbis and King
Solomon: “Do not be
misled. Bad company corrupts good character.” (1
Corinthians 15:33)
That is not to say that we should not minister to those
who are caught in sin.
Yeshua (Jesus) ate with and talked to sinners and social
outcasts—tax collectors, prostitutes, adulterers, beggars,
and lepers. He loved
them enough to share the Kingdom of God with them and
called them to repentance and holiness.
He did not, however, allow their desires or their behavior
to influence or deter His holy purpose.
Yeshua did not allow any outside influence to taint the
holiness of His calling.
Likewise, we should not allow strife, jealousy,
self-aggrandizement or any other sin to taint our position
as royal children of the Most High King.
And rather than being jealous of the power, prestige,
position, or possessions of others, we should be content
with what God has given us.
“Godliness with
contentment is great gain.” (1 Timothy 6:6)
Moreover, Yeshua said, “Keep
your lives free from the love of money and be content with
what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave
you; never will I forsake you.’” (Hebrews 13:5)
With God as our Father and Friend, we can trust Him to
meet our social, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.
Rolling the Torah scroll during a Shabbat
service (Photo by Noelle Gilles)
The Strife Among
God’s People Today
“When you saw that
Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you
said to me, ‘No, but a king shall reign over us,’ when the
LORD your God was your king.” (1 Samuel 12:12)
Sadly, strife and questioning God's appointed leadership
did not end with this incident in the wilderness.
In the Promised Land, God gave the Israelites
judges and prophets, but they continuously rebelled
against them.
For instance, in Haftarah Korach, we find the Israelites
questioning Samuel's choice of Saul as the king, even though
they had trusted him as God's prophet to go to him for a
king. God answered
the people's request by appointing Saul, and yet the
people questioned Saul's fitness for the job.
(1 Samuel 11:14–12:22)
Samuel echoes Moses' response to the Israelites
questioning his leadership.
In his anger at the people's accusations, Moses defends
his conduct as an honorable leader, saying to God, "I have not taken so much as a
donkey from them, nor have I wronged any of them."
(Numbers 16:15)
(Numbers 16:15)
Likewise, Samuel tells the people, "Here I stand. Testify against me
in the presence of the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox
have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I
cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I
accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes?" (1 Samuel
12:3)
Saul Meets Samuel, by James Tissot
When the people admit that Samuel had never
defrauded them, Samuel outlines how God had faithfully
delivered them from their enemies without the aid of a
king.
Samuel provides a sign of his authority, confirming that
the choice of Saul as king is ordained by God. That sign is
unseasonable rain during the dry season:
“Is it not wheat harvest today? I will
call upon the LORD, that He may send thunder and rain.
And you shall know and see that your wickedness is
great, which you have done in the sight of the LORD, in
asking for yourselves a king.”
(1 Samuel 12:17)
(1 Samuel 12:17)
So the Lord
confirmed His displeasure with the people by sending
thunder and rain on what should have been a joyous
feast day.
When the people repent and ask Samuel to pray, he
tells them:
“Fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully
with all your heart. For consider what great things He
has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you
shall be swept away, both you and your king.” (1
Samuel 12:24–25)
Samuel anoints Saul as king.
Still, strife did not end here. The Jewish
historian, Josephus, recorded that the Jews of his time
“fought with each other, doing everything their
besiegers could have desired.”
At the time of the invasion of Jerusalem in AD 70,
Titus and his Roman warriors found no less than 24
different factions fighting amongst themselves, each
convinced that only they had the right way to ensure the
salvation of the Jewish people.
In fact, the destruction of the Second Temple is
linked to this sinat
chinam (baseless hatred) between
opposing factions.
Today, the Jewish people still struggle with division
and strife. In Israel, animosity and contention rise up
between various sects of Judaism: Ultra-Orthodox,
Conservative, Reform, secular, and even Messianic.
All this discord
and friction in the Jewish community exists despite
being a people who share a common history and heritage
and who worship the same God.
Yet, there is hope. The recent Unity Day highlights
efforts among people and organizations in Israel who
successfully nurture Godly unity within the nation.
This problem of strife and division amongst brethren
is not unique to Israel and the Jews either. The
Christian Church is also plagued with many thousands of
splits and denominational divisions—each once convinced
that they have the truth while all others are in error.
Strife and division result in splits. A
quarrel-ridden congregation or home is doomed to
destruction. How can it be otherwise since a house
divided upon itself will not stand?
(Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25)
(Mark 3:25; Matthew 12:25)
Jewish men read Scripture during morning prayer in an
Israeli synagogue.
Choose Humility
Over Strife
The truth of the matter is that Moses did not
exalt himself over Korach and the others; it is
God who raised him up into the position of leading Israel
out of Egypt.
It was not his own desire to be the leader of Israel;
rather, he was a leader of Israel as an act of obedience
to the Lord. He was
not in that position due to self-aggrandizing ambition
or a desire to rule over others.
Even in that exalted position, Moses was called the
most humble man on earth (Numbers 12:3), and we
are told to humble ourselves as well.
Walking in humility is being willing to walk in
obedience to our calling—whether God is requiring us to
wash dishes or serve in a position of leadership
or wash dishes while in a position of leadership.
It also means allowing God to exalt us in His perfect
way and time—not to exalt ourselves out of jealousy or
discontentment but to be content in our status today. (1
Peter 5:6)
Rabbi Shlomo Moshe Amar, the Chief Rabbi of
Jerusalem, with Jewish Scholar Yosef Yehudah
Joseph J Sherman at Ohr Somayach, Jerusalem.
Gentleness:
Another Solution to Strife
In addition to contentment and humility, we
are not to seek a showdown or create a power-struggle;
we are to seek harmony and peace, allowing God to judge
between men.
The Bible tells us that “a
soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up
anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)
We must remember also that we all see through the
glass of God’s mysteries dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12).
One day, though, when all truth is revealed at the
second coming of the Messiah, it will perhaps be
effortless to live in a world without strife or division
with our Messiah reigning from Jerusalem.
Until then, we must make a concerted effort to walk in
holiness and unity because this is where the anointing is.
May we all learn to walk in greater humility,
contentment, and gentleness towards all people; and may
God bring unity and peace between brothers, as it is
written, “Hinei mah
tov umah na’yim; shevet achim gam yachad
(Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell
together in unity).” (Psalm 133:1)
In these Last Days, God is moving among His people
to physically and spiritually restore them.
Please unite your prayers with ours for the end-time
salvation of the Jewish people. You can also be part of
this end-time move of God, Charles, by contributing to
our work among the Jewish People.
"Hear the word of the
LORD, you nations; proclaim it in distant coastlands:
'He who scattered Israel will gather them and will
watch over His flock like a shepherd." (Jeremiah
31:10)
"You will
again have compassion on us; You will tread
our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into
the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:19)
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