Bemidbar/Numbers 16:1-18:32
“Korach” the three Hebrew consonants that spell Korach’s name are also
contained in the Hebrew word for “bald” (“kereach”)
Summary of Parasha:
“Korach, Datan and
Aviram, and 250 of the leaders of Yisrael rebel against the authority of Moshe
and Aaron. The rebellion results in
their being swallowed up by the earth and 250 princes of Yisrael are then
consumed by fire that comes from heaven. Many people of the nation resent the
death of Korach and his followers, holding Moshe responsible. YHVH’s (Yahveh’s) anger' is manifested by a
plague which besets the nation, and many thousands perish -14700. Moshe
intercedes once again for the people, instructs Aaron to make atonement for
them, and the plague is halted. YHVH then commands that a staff inscribed with
the name of each Tribe be placed in the Mishkan/Tabernacle. In the morning, the staff of Levi, bearing
Aaron's name, sprouts, buds, blossoms and yields ripe almonds. This provides confirmation that the Tribe of
Levi is selected for the Priesthood, and also verifies Aaron's position as the
Kohen Gadol/High Priest. The specific
duties of the Levi'im and Kohanim are stated.
The Kohanim were not to be landowners, but were to receive their sustenance
from the tithes and other mandated gifts brought by the people. Also taught in this week's Parasha are laws
concerning the first fruits, the redemption of the firstborn, and other
offerings”.
The Number 38 speaks of bondage and slavery.
Yochanan/Joh 5:5 And a certain man was there
who had a sickness thirty-eight years.
This man was in bondage
to his condition for 38 years.
Debarim/Deu 2:14 “And the
time we took to come from Qaḏĕsh Barnĕa until we passed over the wadi Zereḏ was thirty-eight years, until all the
generation of the men of battle was consumed from the midst of the camp, as יהוה had sworn
to them.
The Yisraelites had been
in the wilderness more than a year when the spies brought the negative report.
Thirty eight years followed the negative report before Yisrael could once again
enter into the land.
Torah Readings:
1. 16:1-13
2. 16:14-19
3. 16:20-43 (16:20 – 17:8 Heb. version)
4. 16:44-50 (17:9-15 Heb.)
5. 17:1-9 (17:16-24 Heb.)
6. 17:10 – 18:20 (17:25 – 18:20 Heb.)
7.
18:21-29
8.
Maftir: 18:30-32
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22
Aliyah
Rishon 16:1-13
Num 16:1 And Qoraḥ
(Korach), son of Yitshar, son of Qehath, son of Lĕwi, took both Dathan and
Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Re’uḇĕn,
The Torah starts with a verb “vayikach” Korach took what did not belong to
him. “Vayikach comes from the root Hebrew word “lakach” which means to take.
Note it was something taken and not given.
The Talmud states “Yakov had prayed not to be listed
amongst Korah's ancestors in Gen 49:6 where it is written, “Let my soul not
come into their council; unto their assembly let my glory not be united.” “Let
my soul not come into their council” referred to the spies, and “unto their
assembly let my esteem not to be united” referred to Korah’s assembly. As the
name Dathan in Numbers 16:1 derived from
the same Hebrew root as the word “law” (dath), the Gemara deduced from
Dathan’s name that he violated YHVH’s law. The Gemara related the name Abiram
in Numbers 16:1 to the Hebrew word for “strengthened” (iber) and deduced
from Abiram’s name that he stoutly refused to repent. The Gemara related the
name On in Num 16:1 1 to the Hebrew word for “mourning” (aninut)
and deduced from On’s name that he sat in lamentations. The Gemara related the
name Peleth in Num 16:1 to the Hebrew word for “miracles” (pelaot) and
deduced from Peleth’s name that YHVH performed wonders for him. And as the name
Reuben derived from the Hebrew words “see” (reu) and “understand” (mavin),
the Gemara deduced from the reference to On as a “son of Reuben” in Nuym 16:1 that
On was a son who saw and understood. (Babylonian Talmud Sanhedrin 109b.)”
The breeding ground for
Korach’s rebellion was due to his jealousy over his younger cousin (Mosheh) who
was appointed leader over him. How important it is to make sure that jealousy
is banished from our hearts!
Num
16:2 and they rose up before Mosheh with
some of the children of Yisra’ĕl, two
hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, called ones of the meeting,
men of name.
The gematria for the Hebrew word “rebellious”
Strongs 4805 “meriy” (mem, reish,yud) equals 250.
Num
16:3 And they assembled against Mosheh
and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! (rav lachem) For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them,
and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you
lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?”
Num
16:4 And when Mosheh heard, he fell on
his face, (he must have realized how
very, very serious this situation was going to be)
Num
16:5 and spoke to Qoraḥ and all his
company,(“kol adato” - all of his
congregation) saying, “Tomorrow morning (in the dawning of a new day) יהוה shall make known who is His and who
is set-apart, and bring him near to Him. And let Him bring near to Him
the one whom He chooses. (Moshe was
implying that only one of the parties was going to survive)
Apparently, the original meaning of the root –
“bakar” בקר is "to cleave, to split" (and is
related to the similar בקע). Boker meaning
morning derives, according to Klein, from "the breaking through of
daylight".
This is possibly pointing prophetically to a
future day in the last days prior to Yahshua’s return – the dawning of the day
– where this age will be finally separated “split” from the age to come or the
millennial reign of Messiah.
Perhaps
this issue of whose worship is acceptable to YHVH will be finally determined in
the last days.
We need to
clearly understand that the Torah is trying to tell us very, very clearly that
a CHALLENGE to the authority of the Torah and its importance for mankind WILL
NOT GO UNSETTLED.
Yeshayahu/Isa 24:1 See, יהוה is
making the earth empty and making it waste, and shall overturn its surface, and
shall scatter abroad its inhabitants.
Isa 24:3 the earth is completely emptied and utterly
plundered, for יהוה has spoken this word.
Isa 24:5 For the earth has been defiled under its
inhabitants, because they have transgressed the Torot1, changed2
the law, broken the everlasting covenant3. Footnotes: 1Torot
- plural of Torah, teaching. 2Jer. 23:36. 3This is the
only reason, according to all Scriptures, why the earth shall be burned in the
day of judgment – see also 13:9, 13:11, 26:21, 66:24, Mic. 5:15, Zeph. 1:2-18.
Bemidbar/Num
16:6 “Do this: Take fire holders, Qoraḥ and all your
company,
Is
it possible that this verse speaks of the fire of an end time judgment?
The Hebrew word for “fire holder” is Strongs 4288
“machtah” this word is very closely related to Strongs 4289 “mechitah” which
means destruction.
He
who has an ear to listen let them hear what the Ruach (Spirit) is saying here.
All of us have been created with a
desire to WORSHIP. WHAT AND HOW WE WORSHIP CAN EITHER BRING US LIFE OR
DESTRUCTION.
Yahshua himself very clearly taught that the honour
and worship were to go to his Father – YHVH.
Mar 12:29 And יהושע answered
him, “The first of all the commands is, ‘Hear, O Yisra’ĕl, יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one. (There is no second or
anyone like Him)
Mar 12:30 ‘And you
shall love יהוה your
Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your mind,
and with all your strength.’ This is the first command.
Yahshua said: Yochanan/Joh 4:23 “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father
also does seek such to worship Him.
Listen
carefully what the prophet says:
Yirmeyahu/Jer
2:13 “For My people have done two evils:
they have forsaken Me, (YHVH) the fountain of living waters1, to hew
out for themselves cisterns, cracked cisterns, which do not hold water.
Footnote: 1See 17:13.
Jer 5:30 “An astounding and horrible matter has come
to be in the land:
Jer 5:31 The prophets have prophesied falsely1,
and the priests rule by their own hand, and My people have loved it so.2
And what are you going to do at the end of it? Footnotes: 1See
27:14,15. 2Isa. 30:10, 2 Tim. 4:3.
Num
16:7 and put fire in them and put
incense in them before יהוה tomorrow. And it shall be that the one whom יהוה chooses is the set-apart one. Enough of you, sons of Lĕwi!” (rav lachem)
Num
16:8 And Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Hear
now, you sons of Lĕwi:
Num
16:9 “Is it little to you that the
Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has separated you from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, to
bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the Dwelling Place of יהוה, and to stand before the congregation to serve them,
Num
16:10 and that He has brought you near
to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Lĕwi, with you? Yet you seek
the priesthood as well?
Num
16:11 “Therefore you and all your
company are set against יהוה. And Aharon, what is he that you grumble against him?”
Num
16:12 And Mosheh sent to call Dathan and
Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, but they said, “We are not coming up!
Num
16:13 “Is it little that you have
brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the
wilderness, that you would also seize total rule over us?
Take
note of the tragic downward spiral of those who become rebellious to YHVH’s authority. They
become ungrateful and become devoid of
reasoning in a sensible fashion.
Rom 1:20 For since the creation of the world His
invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what
has been made, both His everlasting power and Mightiness, for them to be
without excuse,
Rom 1:21 because, although they
knew Elohim, they did not esteem Him as Elohim, nor gave thanks, but became
vain in their reasonings, and their undiscerning heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Claiming to be wise,
they became fools,
Aliyah
Sheni 16:14-19
Num 16:14
“Also, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey,
nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you bore out the eyes
of these men? We are not coming up!”
Num 16:15
And Mosheh became very displeased, and said to יהוה, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey
from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.”
Num
16:16 Then Mosheh said to Qoraḥ,
“Tomorrow, you and all your company shall be there before יהוה, you and they and Aharon.
“tomorrow”
Hebrew “machar” can also mean at a “future time.”
Num
16:17 “And take each one his fire
holder, and you shall put incense in it. And let each one bring his fire holder
before יהוה, two hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and Aharon, each
one with his fire holder.”
Num
16:18 So each one took his fire holder,
and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent
of Meeting with Mosheh and Aharon.
Num
16:19 And Qoraḥ assembled all the
congregation against them at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then the esteem
of יהוה appeared to all the congregation.
Aliyah
Shlishi 16:20-43
Num 16:20
And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, and to Aharon, saying,
Num
16:21 “Separate yourselves from the
midst of this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.”
Num
16:22 But they fell on their faces, and
said, “O Ěl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, are You
wroth with all the congregation?”
We
are to separate ourselves from those who are determined to undermine the authority
of the Torah.
Rev 18:4 And I heard another voice from the heaven
saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you
receive of her plagues.1 Footnote: 1Jer. 51:6 & 45.
May
we however also respond as Mosheh by praying and interceding for the rebellious
nation.
Num
16:23 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num
16:24 “Speak to the congregation,
saying, ‘Move away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram.’ ”
Num
16:25 So Mosheh rose up and went to
Dathan and Aḇiram, and the elders of Yisra’ĕl followed him.
Num
16:26 And he spoke to the congregation,
saying, “Please turn away from the tents of these wrong men! Do not touch
whatever belongs to them, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”
Num
16:27 Then they moved away from around
the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram. And Dathan and Aḇiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons,
and their little children.
Dathan
in Hebrew means “law” and Abiram means “strength” combined in the context of
this narrative, we assume that that there was a strength or stubbornness to
resist the law of YHVH.
We
see this idea supported by the use of the word “stood” in vs 27 “natzav” which
can also mean to “stand erect” in defiance.
We
must assume that there are times when people have so hardened their hearts
against the Torah of YHVH, and they refuse to change their minds. There is a
danger of this phenomenon in the so called “grace movements” of our day.
Num
16:28 And Mosheh said, “By this you know
that יהוה has sent me to do all these works, that they are not
from my own heart.
Num
16:29 “If these die as all men do, or if
they are visited as all men are visited, then יהוה has not sent me.
We must recognize that YHVH could not allow this kind of
rebellion go unchallenged, if He did it would have given the message that the
exodus out of Mitrayim/Egypt, the giving of the Torah and the journey to the
promised land, were all because of the initiative of Moshe and not YHVH’s
direct instruction and involvement.
Num
16:30 “But if יהוה creates what is unheard of, and the
earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and
they go down alive into the grave, then you shall know that these men have
scorned יהוה.”
Num
16:31 And it came to be, as he ended
speaking all these words, that the ground under them split apart,
Num
16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and
swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Qoraḥ, with all
their goods.
Num
16:33 So they and all those with them
went down alive into the grave, and the earth closed over them, and they
perished from the midst of the assembly.
Num
16:34 And all Yisra’ĕl who were round
about them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
Num
16:35 And a fire came out from יהוה and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering
incense.
Num
16:36 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num
16:37 “Say to El’azar, son of Aharon the
priest, to pick up the fire holders out of the blaze, for they are set-apart,
and scatter the fire some distance away.
Num
16:38 “The fire holders of these men who
sinned against their own lives, let them be made into beaten plates as a
covering for the altar. Because they brought them before יהוה, therefore they are set-apart. And
let them become a sign to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
Num
16:39 And El’azar the priest took the
bronze fire holders, which those who were burned up had brought, and they were
beaten out as a covering on the altar –
These
fire holders were set apart, because the original intention was to bring
worship. However we know that it was not in spirit and in truth (Jn4:23).
This
should be a serious warning that worship is one of the set apart activities we
can participate in.
Our
worship can be compared to building an altar in the spiritual realm. All altars
point to the life and ministry of Yahshua. Our worship and altars should
therefore reflect the same value and purpose that Yahshua came to show us –
bringing us into harmony and oneness with YHVH.
Our
worship and the altars we build in our lives will therefore bring blessing or
judgment upon our lives.