Korach (Hebrew: קֹרַח, "Korah") is the fifth Torah portion of Numbers, covering Numbers 16:1–18:32. It tells of Korach's rebellion against Moses and Aaron, the earth swallowing the rebels, Aaron's staff blossoming, and the laws of priestly gifts.
Korach's Rebellion
Korach, son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, together with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, rise up against Moses and Aaron. They assemble 250 princes of the congregation and say: "You take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift you up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?" (Numbers 16:3). Moses falls on his face and says: "Tomorrow the Lord will show who are His, and who is holy" (Numbers 16:5). Moses tells Korach and his company to take censers and put fire and incense in them; God will choose. Moses reminds Korach that the Levites already have a special role: "Seems it but a small thing unto you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Himself to do the service of the tabernacle?" (Numbers 16:9).
The Earth Swallows the Rebels
Moses sends for Dathan and Abiram; they refuse to come, saying: "Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness?" (Numbers 16:13). Moses is angry. He tells the congregation to depart from the tents of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses says: "If these men die the common death of all men... then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up... then you shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord" (Numbers 16:29–30). As he finishes speaking, the ground splits under them; the earth opens her mouth and swallows them, their houses, their goods, and all their followers. "They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit" (Numbers 16:33). All Israel flees at their cry.
The Firepans
Fire comes out from the Lord and consumes the 250 men who offered incense. God tells Moses to tell Eleazar, Aaron's son, to take the bronze censers and hammer them into plates for the altar, "for they are hallowed" (Numbers 16:37). They become a sign to the children of Israel.
The Plague
The next day, the congregation murmurs against Moses and Aaron: "You have killed the people of the Lord" (Numbers 17:6). A plague breaks out. Moses tells Aaron to take a censer with fire from the altar, put incense on it, and make atonement for the people. Aaron runs into the midst of the congregation; the plague is stayed. 14,700 die in the plague.
Aaron's Staff Blossoms
God tells Moses to take twelve rods, one for each tribal leader, with Aaron's name on Levi's rod, and place them in the Tent of Meeting. "And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom" (Numbers 17:5). The next day, Aaron's rod has budded, blossomed, and yielded almonds. Moses shows the rods to the people; each takes his own. God says: "Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels" (Numbers 17:10). The children of Israel say: "Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish" (Numbers 17:12).
Priestly Gifts
God tells Aaron: "You and your sons and your father's house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary" (Numbers 18:1). The Levites are given to Aaron as a gift. The priests receive the heave offerings, the firstfruits, the firstborn, and the devoted things. The Levites receive the tithes (ma'aser) of Israel; they in turn give a tenth of the tithe to the priests. "And you shall eat it in every place, you and your households" (Numbers 18:31).
Major themes
- Authority and rebellion: The challenge to Moses and Aaron's leadership.
- Divine choice: God confirms Aaron's priesthood through the blossoming rod.
- Holiness: The danger of approaching the sacred improperly.
- Priestly service: The roles and gifts of the priests and Levites.
Rashi
Rashi explains that Korach's rebellion was motivated by jealousy — he wanted the priesthood. Dathan and Abiram were motivated by resentment over the loss of firstborn status. On the earth swallowing them, Rashi says it was a new creation, never seen before.
Ramban
Ramban explains that Korach used democratic language ("all the congregation are holy") to undermine divinely appointed leadership.
Midrashic interpretations
- Bamidbar Rabbah 18:1: Korach was jealous of Elitzaphan ben Uzziel, who was appointed prince of the Kohathites.
- Bamidbar Rabbah 18:3: Korach argued that a tallit entirely of blue (tekhelet) needs no fringe — questioning the need for any commandment.
- Tanhuma, Korach 1: Korach was a great scholar who used his learning to rebel.
Haftarah
The haftarah (1 Samuel 11:14–12:22) tells of Samuel's farewell address to Israel. Samuel says: "I am old and grayheaded... I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day" (1 Samuel 12:2). He reminds them of God's faithfulness and warns against disobedience. This connects to the theme of leadership and rebellion.
References
- Numbers 16:1 – 18:32 (Masoretic Text)
- Rashi, Commentary on the Torah
- Ramban, Commentary on the Torah
- Bamidbar Rabbah (Midrash)
- Tanhuma, Korach
- The JPS Torah Commentary: Numbers (Jacob Milgrom, 1990)
- Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary (JPS, 2001)
- Sefaria.org, "Korach" (parasha)