The Portion of Korach The atmosphere in the camp is very harsh. The complaints don't stop for a minute. The spies, the desire for meat, etc., etc. Korach recognizes that Moses' leadership is no longer as strong as it once was. Korach cleverly convinces all the disenchanted Israelites, including the firstborns whose role as priests was taken from them and given to the Levites, to join him in contesting the leadership of Moses and the priesthood of Aaron. The end result is known. Korach and his family are swallowed up by the earth. And again, the people complain. "… the entire congregation of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron saying, "You have killed the people of the Lord" (Numbers 17;6). G-d's response is immediate. "for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, and the plague has begun" (Numbers 17;11). Aaron succeeds, with the help of the incense, in stopping the plague. "The number of dead in the plague was fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died because of the matter of Korah" (Numbers 17;14). In addition to Korach and his family who were swallowed alive by the earth, the other participants in the rebellion met their fate in a similar manner (excluding those who offered the incense who were burnt). There is an allusion to this in the extra crowns atop the letter "kuf" in the word Korach found in the phrase "in the matter of Korach". (Rokeiach on the portion)
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