Parashat Korach
27th June 2025
Week of 22 – 28 June 2025
Torah portion Num. 16:1-18:32 Haftarah selection: 1 Samuel 11 :14-12:22
Theme: Nothing is held sacred anymore!
Parashat Korach centers around family feuds, character assassination, plagues, natural disasters and acts of G-d; especially acts of G-d, who is certainly not a silent spectator! Moses is confronted with a revolution that brings out a side of him that has not yet been seen. Originating from within the family, this is the most serious rebellion that would face Moses in the forty years of wandering through the desert. His jealous cousin, Korach, leads 250 other Israelites in a challenge against both Moses and his brother Aaron. As is typical of would-be usurpers who must attract a popular following to succeed, Korach posed as a champion of the masses and tried to discredit Moses. Once Korach found an excuse to challenge Moses’ legitimacy, it was a short step for him to deny the Divine origin of the commandments and hold them up to ridicule. For, if Moses could be suspected of appointing his brother High Priest in an act of gross nepotism, why could he not then be accused of fabricating commandments that had no basis in logic or G-d’s will? Everett Fox refers to this parashah as The Great Revolt. Nothing is held sacred anymore!
Korach complained about the religious status of the Levites. He was descended from Levi himself and thus was qualified to perform high duties in the service of the Lord at the tabernacle (see 4:1-20), but he wanted more. His passion was to assume the role of priest, and he used deception to advance this claim. Moses’ leadership is clearly challenged.
On their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land, Moses always pleaded with G-d to be understanding and merciful in dealing with the offences committed by the people. Now Moses’ attitude changes. When Korach questions his authority, Moses seeks only justice! Stung by personal assault Moses falls face downward. One thing is clear, he believes if his leadership of the people was really from G-d, then no one could be allowed to challenge what G-d has ordained. If the rebels were to get away with it once, it would strip all authority from him and from any future leader who would replace him. Moses also realized that although this was an attack on his personal standing in the camp, it was by extension really against G-d. [16:11]
Korach’s rebellion against Moses was sparked by his vision of a nation in which everyone would be a law unto oneself. Moses understood that such a situation would quickly deteriorate into anarchy. An authority must rule or lead the individuals and forge them into a cohesive unit capable of fulfilling its national destiny.
It is interesting to note that in the haftarah selection, this situation arose again for one of Korach’s descendants – Samuel – who, four centuries later, championed Moses’s understanding of the national leader’s function. [Chumash]
For Reflection and Discussion:
1. Leadership involves both power (the ability to do something) and authority (the permission to do it). In your role as leader, what powers do you exercise? What are the sources of your authority?
2. Conflicts tend to follow a common spiral: broken trust, breakdown in communication, ascribing negative motivations, uncharitable interpretation of events, and unresolved anger. Â The list is endless. Where do you see these patterns in conflicts today?
Bibliography: E. Fox, The Five Books of Moses [New York, 1995]; Etz Hayim, Torah and Commentary (New York, 2001); Plaut, The Torah, Modern Commentary (New York, 1981); Scherman: The Stone Edition Chumash [New York, 1993] pp, 821 ff.; Mimeographed class notes from previous Bat Kol Jerusalem study sessions.
This week’s Parasha commentary was prepared by
Roy da Silva, MTh [Biblical Theology],
Chandigarh, India. Bat Kol alumnus, 2002 – 2006, 2015
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