וַיִּקַּ֣ח קֹ֔רַח בֶּן־יִצְהָ֥ר בֶּן־קְהָ֖ת בֶּן־לֵוִ֑י וְדָתָ֨ן וַאֲבִירָ֜ם בְּנֵ֧י אֱלִיאָ֛ב וְא֥וֹן בֶּן־פֶּ֖לֶת בְּנֵ֥י רְאוּבֵֽן׃

Korah son of Yitzhar, Amram’s brother, son of Kehat, son of Levi, and Datan and Aviram sons of Eliav, and On son of Pelet, all three of whom were sons of Reuben, took men.

וַיָּקֻ֙מוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַאֲנָשִׁ֥ים מִבְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים וּמָאתָ֑יִם נְשִׂיאֵ֥י עֵדָ֛ה קְרִאֵ֥י מוֹעֵ֖ד אַנְשֵׁי־שֵֽׁם׃

They, Korah and his accomplices, arose before Moses, and with them were two hundred and fifty people from the children of Israel, princes of the congregation, the distinguished of the convocation , men who would be called for important gatherings, to hear judgments, and to the Tent of Meeting. Alternatively, this phrase means that they had the authority to gather the assembly together. In addition, they were people of renown, making this a rebellion of the elite.

וַיִּֽקָּהֲל֞וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֲלֵהֶם֮ רַב־לָכֶם֒ כִּ֤י כָל־הָֽעֵדָה֙ כֻּלָּ֣ם קְדֹשִׁ֔ים וּבְתוֹכָ֖ם יְהוָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ תִּֽתְנַשְּׂא֖וּ עַל־קְהַ֥ל יְהוָֽה׃

They assembled against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them: It is too much for you. You have taken for yourselves too many positions of authority. As the entire congregation of Israel, all of them are holy, and the Lord is found among them; why do you elevate yourselves over the assembly of the Lord by giving yourself these positions?

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיִּפֹּ֖ל עַל־פָּנָֽיו׃

Moses heard and he fell upon his face in shock, as this was not the cry of a mob (see 11:4), but an attack from men with whom he was intimately familiar, and who were respected by the people.

וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־קֹ֜רַח וְאֶֽל־כָּל־עֲדָתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒ בֹּ֠קֶר וְיֹדַ֨ע יְהוָ֧ה אֶת־אֲשֶׁר־ל֛וֹ וְאֶת־הַקָּד֖וֹשׁ וְהִקְרִ֣יב אֵלָ֑יו וְאֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִבְחַר־בּ֖וֹ יַקְרִ֥יב אֵלָֽיו׃

After falling on his face Moses received a prophecy. He then spoke to Korah and to his entire congregation in the name of God, saying: Tomorrow, in the morning the Lord will disclose who is His, and who is holy, and will bring him near to Him; whom He shall choose as the one to perform His sacred service for future generations, and that person alone He will bring near to Him. You will then realize that it is not I who decided the various appointments.

זֹ֖את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחוּ־לָכֶ֣ם מַחְתּ֔וֹת קֹ֖רַח וְכָל־עֲדָתֽוֹ׃

In order to remove any doubt, this you shall do: Take for you fire-pans for the incense, Korah, and all his congregation.

וּתְנ֣וּ בָהֵ֣ן ׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְשִׂימוּ֩ עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן קְטֹ֜רֶת לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ מָחָ֔ר וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה ה֣וּא הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ רַב־לָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃

Place fire in them, and place incense upon them before the Lord tomorrow, if you wish to burn incense yourselves. Yet it shall be the man whom the Lord will choose, he alone is the holy one. Up to this point, Moses has spoken to the entire congregation of Korah. Now he turns his focus specifically to the Levites among them: It is too much for you, sons of Levi. You should be satisfied with the honorable role you have been given.

וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־קֹ֑רַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃

Moses said to Korah: Hear now, sons of Levi:

הַמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהוָ֔ה וְלַעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתָֽם׃

Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has distinguished you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to Him, to perform the service of the Tabernacle of the Lord, and to stand before the congregation to serve them?

וַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ וְאֶת־כָּל־אַחֶ֥יךָ בְנֵי־לֵוִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם גַּם־כְּהֻנָּֽה׃

He brought you, Korah, near, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with you, and will you seek the priesthood as well? Why isn’t your unique status as Levites in the Temple sufficient for you? Furthermore, your request that the entire people should have equal status is inconsistent with the fact that you as a tribe have been singled out and granted a special role. Evidently, you are hiding your personal ambitions for the priesthood.

לָכֵ֗ן אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הַנֹּעָדִ֖ים עַל־יְהוָ֑ה וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן מַה־ה֔וּא כִּ֥י תלונו [תַלִּ֖ינוּ] עָלָֽיו׃

Therefore, you and all your congregation are people who are in effect congregated against the Lord; and Aaron, what is he that you bring complaints against him? Aaron did not choose his position as High Priest.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח מֹשֶׁ֔ה לִקְרֹ֛א לְדָתָ֥ן וְלַאֲבִירָ֖ם בְּנֵ֣י אֱלִיאָ֑ב וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ לֹ֥א נַעֲלֶֽה׃

Moses sent to summon Datan and Aviram, sons of Eliav, in order to talk to them personally; and they said: We will not go up, as we reject your authority.

הַמְעַ֗ט כִּ֤י הֶֽעֱלִיתָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֨רֶץ זָבַ֤ת חָלָב֙ וּדְבַ֔שׁ לַהֲמִיתֵ֖נוּ בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר כִּֽי־תִשְׂתָּרֵ֥ר עָלֵ֖ינוּ גַּם־הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר׃

Is it not enough that you brought us up from a land flowing with milk and honey? Datan and Aviram appropriate Moses’ own description of the land of Canaan, and use it to refer to Egypt, which they claim was a place of bountiful goodness and comfort. Their echoing of Moses is designed to harangue him. Is it not enough that you took us up to kill us in the wilderness? Will you also reign over us? You took us from our land to a vast wilderness from which you are unable to extract us, and in addition you seek to lord over us.

אַ֡ף לֹ֣א אֶל־אֶרֶץ֩ זָבַ֨ת חָלָ֤ב וּדְבַשׁ֙ הֲבִ֣יאֹתָ֔נוּ וַתִּ֨תֶּן־לָ֔נוּ נַחֲלַ֖ת שָׂדֶ֣ה וָכָ֑רֶם הַעֵינֵ֞י הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָהֵ֛ם תְּנַקֵּ֖ר לֹ֥א נַעֲלֶֽה׃

Yet you did not take us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and you did not give us an inheritance of field and vineyard, as you promised. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men, meaning our eyes; do you think we cannot see what is happening? We see no evidence of the blessings of milk and honey you mentioned, but only the thorns of desert shrubbery. We will not go up, as we place no trust in your statements.

וַיִּ֤חַר לְמֹשֶׁה֙ מְאֹ֔ד וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־יְהוָ֔ה אַל־תֵּ֖פֶן אֶל־מִנְחָתָ֑ם לֹ֠א חֲמ֨וֹר אֶחָ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ נָשָׂ֔אתִי וְלֹ֥א הֲרֵעֹ֖תִי אֶת־אַחַ֥ד מֵהֶֽם׃

Moses was very incensed, and said to the Lord: Do not turn to their offering or any of their prayers, as not one donkey did I take from them as a tax, nor did I wrong one of them. There is no justification for their behavior.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶל־קֹ֔רַח אַתָּה֙ וְכָל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הֱי֖וּ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה אַתָּ֥ה וָהֵ֛ם וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן מָחָֽר׃

Moses said to Korah: You and all your congregation, be before the Lord: You, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow.

וּקְח֣וּ ׀ אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם עֲלֵיהֶם֙ קְטֹ֔רֶת וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֞ם לִפְנֵ֤י יְהוָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֔וֹ חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּמָאתַ֖יִם מַחְתֹּ֑ת וְאַתָּ֥ה וְאַהֲרֹ֖ן אִ֥ישׁ מַחְתָּתֽוֹ׃

Each of you shall take his fire-pan and you shall place incense upon each of them, and each of you shall bring his fire-pan before the Lord, two hundred and fifty fire-pans; and you, and Aaron, each his fire-pan. Since you claim that Aaron received his position by my choice alone, and not by God’s command due to his individual persona, you shall stand next to him for a test tomorrow.

וַיִּקְח֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עֲלֵיהֶם֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם קְטֹ֑רֶת וַֽיַּעַמְד֗וּ פֶּ֛תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וּמֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃

Each man from that group took up his fire-pan; they put fire on them and placed incense on them, and stood at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.

וַיַּקְהֵ֨ל עֲלֵיהֶ֥ם קֹ֙רַח֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־כָּל־הָעֵדָֽה׃ (פ)

Korah assembled the entire congregation against them to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, as he was convinced of the justness of his cause; and the glory of the Lord appeared to the entire congregation.

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying:

הִבָּ֣דְל֔וּ מִתּ֖וֹךְ הָעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֑את וַאַכַלֶּ֥ה אֹתָ֖ם כְּרָֽגַע׃

Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and I will destroy them in a moment. The congregation refers to the entire congregation of Israel, which was gathered by Korah, as is evident from the next verse where Moses and Aaron pray on behalf of all Israel.

וַיִּפְּל֤וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם֙ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֕ל אֱלֹהֵ֥י הָרוּחֹ֖ת לְכָל־בָּשָׂ֑ר הָאִ֤ישׁ אֶחָד֙ יֶחֱטָ֔א וְעַ֥ל כָּל־הָעֵדָ֖ה תִּקְצֹֽף׃ (פ)

They, Moses and Aaron, fell upon their faces in prayer, and said: God, God of the spirits of all flesh, You know each man’s spirit. Shall one man sin, and You will rage against the entire congregation? This is a transgression of isolated individuals, not a rebellion of the entire congregation of Israel against You or us.

וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:

דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־הָעֵדָ֖ה לֵאמֹ֑ר הֵֽעָלוּ֙ מִסָּבִ֔יב לְמִשְׁכַּן־קֹ֖רַח דָּתָ֥ן וַאֲבִירָֽם׃

Speak to the congregation, saying: Depart from around the dwelling of Korah, Datan, and Aviram.

וַיָּ֣קָם מֹשֶׁ֔ה וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ אֶל־דָּתָ֣ן וַאֲבִירָ֑ם וַיֵּלְכ֥וּ אַחֲרָ֖יו זִקְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Moses arose and went to Datan and Aviram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר אֶל־הָעֵדָ֜ה לֵאמֹ֗ר ס֣וּרוּ נָ֡א מֵעַל֩ אָהֳלֵ֨י הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָֽרְשָׁעִים֙ הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְאַֽל־תִּגְּע֖וּ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם פֶּן־תִּסָּפ֖וּ בְּכָל־חַטֹּאתָֽם׃

He spoke to the congregation that had gathered there, saying: Depart now from near the tents of these wicked men, and do not touch anything that is theirs. It is recommended that you stay away from their location and their possessions, lest you be destroyed for all their sins. When divine retribution arrives, it can sometimes strike others in the vicinity of the sinners.

וַיֵּעָל֗וּ מֵעַ֧ל מִשְׁכַּן־קֹ֛רֶח דָּתָ֥ן וַאֲבִירָ֖ם מִסָּבִ֑יב וְדָתָ֨ן וַאֲבִירָ֜ם יָצְא֣וּ נִצָּבִ֗ים פֶּ֚תַח אָֽהֳלֵיהֶ֔ם וּנְשֵׁיהֶ֥ם וּבְנֵיהֶ֖ם וְטַפָּֽם׃

They departed from around the dwelling of Korah, Datan, and Aviram. Meanwhile Datan and Aviram emerged and stood at the entrance of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their children. The entire family came out in a brazen display of self-confidence and rebellion against Moses’ authority. They did so in the presence of the congregation, which had distanced themselves, but continued to watch the unfolding events.

וַיֹּאמֶר֮ מֹשֶׁה֒ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּֽי־יְהוָ֣ה שְׁלָחַ֔נִי לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּי־לֹ֖א מִלִּבִּֽי׃

Moses said: With this you will know that the Lord has sent me to perform all these actions, the appointments about which you accuse me of favoritism, as it is not from my heart. I did not initiate them, but received them as commands from God.

אִם־כְּמ֤וֹת כָּל־הָֽאָדָם֙ יְמֻת֣וּן אֵ֔לֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת֙ כָּל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם יִפָּקֵ֖ד עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יְהוָ֖ה שְׁלָחָֽנִי׃

If these men die like the death of all people, and the destiny of all people, the punishment of all mankind, which is the death of the spirit while the body returns to dust, is visited upon them, you will know that the Lord has not sent me. If they die in a normal manner, my prophecy will have been shown to be false.

וְאִם־בְּרִיאָ֞ה יִבְרָ֣א יְהוָ֗ה וּפָצְתָ֨ה הָאֲדָמָ֤ה אֶת־פִּ֙יהָ֙ וּבָלְעָ֤ה אֹתָם֙ וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם וְיָרְד֥וּ חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֧י נִֽאֲצ֛וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶת־יְהוָֽה׃

But if the Lord creates a creation here, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them and everything that is theirs, and they descend while still alive into the abyss, you shall know that these people have scorned the Lord, and this is their punishment.

וַיְהִי֙ כְּכַלֹּת֔וֹ לְדַבֵּ֕ר אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע הָאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃

It was as he concluded to speak all these words; the ground that was beneath them split. At first, cracks appeared in the earth.

וַתִּפְתַּ֤ח הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֤ת כָּל־הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְקֹ֔רַח וְאֵ֖ת כָּל־הָרֲכֽוּשׁ׃

Then the earth opened its mouth wide and swallowed them, their households, all the people who were with Korah, his family, and all the property.

וַיֵּ֨רְד֜וּ הֵ֣ם וְכָל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֛ם חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַתְּכַ֤ס עֲלֵיהֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃

They, and everything that was theirs descended alive into the abyss. The earth covered them and they were lost from the midst of the assembly in body and soul.

וְכָל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֛ר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶ֖ם נָ֣סוּ לְקֹלָ֑ם כִּ֣י אָֽמְר֔וּ פֶּן־תִּבְלָעֵ֖נוּ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

All Israel that were standing around them fled due to their sound, as they said: Lest the earth swallow us.

וְאֵ֥שׁ יָצְאָ֖ה מֵאֵ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה וַתֹּ֗אכַל אֵ֣ת הַחֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּמָאתַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ מַקְרִיבֵ֖י הַקְּטֹֽרֶת׃ (פ)

Fire emerged from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men, the presenters of the incense. Since they had encroached upon the sacred by acting in a capacity that was not assigned to them, they were punished in the manner of Nadav and Avihu, who offered strange fire.