Korach

1. And Korach ben Yitzhak ben Kehat took...This is the meaning of the verse (Proverbs 18): A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city... This is Korach, who disagreed with Moses, and rebelled, and descended from the honor that was in his hand; Offended always means Rebelled, as it says: The King of Moav offended me (Kings II 3). And their contentions are like the bars of a castle - Castle, for he disagreed with Moses and HaMakom:

2. And he took - "He took" is always using persuasive words, by means of which the leaders of Israel and the Sanhedrins were drawn after him. About Moses is says: And Moses and Aaron took these people, and thus: Take Aaron and his sons with him. And it also says: Take with you matters. And also: And the women took to Pharaoh's house - And he took, that with soft words he led their minds and hearts.

And he took. Why was there division? Because of Elizafan son of his father's brother, who was made prince over his clan. "And the prince of clan of Kehat was Elitzafan ben Uziel." Korach said: My father has four brothers, and the sons of Kehat: Amran, Yitzhak, Hevron, and Uziel. Amram is the oldest, Aaron his merited greatness, and Moses kingship. It is not fitting for the second to take the second role? as it says: The sons of Kehat are Amram and Yitzhar - I am the son of Yitzhak - I am fitting to be the prince of the family, and he makes the son of Uziel, the youngest of my father's brothers - he is greater than me?! Behold I will divide against him, and waste all that has been done by him, therefore: And he took...

3. And Korah took - What is written right before this matter? "And make for them tzitzit." (Numbers 15) Korah jumped on this and said to Moses: A tallit that is all tekhelet - what is the ruling? Is it exempt from tzitzit? Moses said to him: It needs tzitzit. Korach said to him: A tallit that is all tekhelet does not make itself exempt - but four threads of blue make it ok?! A house full of sacred book - what is the ruling? Is it exempt from a mezuzah?! Moses said to him: It needs a mezuzah. Korah said to him: The entire tore, 275 sections, does not make a house quality, but one section makes the house ok?! Korach said to him: These matters you were not commanded about, and from your own mind you added them, so it says: And Korach took...And he took - this language is always about divisions, that his mind took him.

And in a similar matter it says: (Job 16) "How your mind takes you..." This is what Moses said to them, as it is written: It is a small matter that the God of Israel made you separate. The Sages said: Korach was a great sage, and among those who carried the Ark, as it says: (Numbers 7) And the sons of Kehat were only given the sacred work upon them, and Korach ben Yitzhas ben Kehat, and when Moses said (Numbers 15) And you shall place on your tzitzit a thread of blue...Immediately he commanded and they made 250 tallitot of blue and wrapped themselves in them, these 250 were the heads of the Sanhedrins that rose against moses, as it said: And men from B'nai Yisrael arose against Moses, 250 princes of the congregation, people of renown. Korach stood and made a feast for them, and they wrapped themselves in the blue tallitot; Aaron's sons came to take their [meat] gifts, the breast and thigh - they stood against them. They said to them: Who commanded you to take? Was it not Moses? He did not say a word, for God did not say so. They came and told Moses, he went to appease them. Immediately they stood opposed to him in Moses's presence. And who were these 250 men from B'nai Yisrael? Elitzur ben Shedaiur and his friends, the man who had been named, even though the verse did not make their names known, there were signs in the verses about who they were.

A parable - to what can this be compared? To Ben Tovim, who was stealing vessels fro the bathhouse, but did not want the master thief to make it known. He began to give signs. They said to him: Who stole your vessels? He said to them: this Ben Tovim, a tall fellow, nice teeth, black hair, etc; When he gave the signs, they knew who it was. So too here, even though the verse is cryptic, he came and gave their signs, and you know who they are....

4. And Korah took - Took his tallit, and when to get advice from his wife, when the Holy Bountiful One said to Moses: Take the Levites from B'nai Yisrael, and purify them, and so you to them to purify them...And run the razor over their flesh...Immediately he did so to Korach, he began to return to Israel, they did not recognize him. They said to him: Who did this to you? He said to them: Moses did this to me, and not only that, he did so to my arms, legs, and they waved me. They said to me: Now you are pure! And Aaron his brother brought him, and adorned him like a bride, and returned him to the Tent of Meeting. Immediately, the enemies of Moses began to provoke Israel, and them said: Moses is king and Aaron his brother is High Priest, and his sons are Assistant Priests. Terumah goes to the Priests, tithes go to the priests, 24 gifts go to the priests. Immediately they gathered around Moses.

Rabbi Levi said: At the same moment Korach's band entered, and he said to them: You put too much burden on them, more than the servitude of Egypt. It was better for us under Egypt than under your hands. And they wanted to stone him, therefore, Moses heard and fell on his face. Moses said to them: I do not want kingship, and my brother Aaron does not want High Priesthood, as it said: And Aaron what is he that you complain against him. Moses said: Ribono shel Olam! Did you not command me: And you, bring close to you your brother Aaron and his sons with him. And they stood opposed to them to kill them. Moses said: Morning. And the Eternal will make known whose is his. What does this mean? Rabbi Natan said: The Holy Bountiful One said: If you all gathered up the magicians of the world, and they wanted to turn morning into night, they would not be able, and just as I separate light from darkness, so do I separate Aaron to make him holy in the Holy of Holies.

(17) Every argument that is [for the sake of] heaven's name, it is destined to endure. But if it is not [for the sake of] heaven's name -- it is not destined to endure. What [is an example of an argument for the sake of] heaven's name? The argument of Hillel and Shammai. What [is an example of an argument not for the sake of] heaven's name? The argument of Korach and all of his followers.