Parasha Korach

SHABBAT DATE

Jul 12, 2025

Numbers 16:1–18:32

Rebellion of Korach, duties of priests and Levites.

Parashat Korach (קֹרַח – “Korah”)

Numbers 16:1–18:32

1. Korach’s Rebellion Against Moses and Aaron

Numbers 16:1–35

“You take too much upon yourselves… all the congregation is holy!”(Num. 16:3)

Korach, from the tribe of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram from Reuben and 250 leaders, rise up against Moses and Aaron.
They challenge their leadership, claiming that all Israel is holy and that Moses and Aaron have exalted themselves.
Moses falls on his face in humility and proposes a divine test: each man is to offer incense, and God will choose who is holy.

“If these men die a natural death… then the Lord has not sent me.”(Num. 16:29)

The next day, God causes the earth to open and swallow Korach, Dathan, Abiram, and their households alive.
Fire from the Lord consumes the 250 men offering incense.
The censers from the rebels are hammered into a covering for the altar—a memorial that no unauthorized person may offer incense (Num. 17:5).

2. The People Complain and a Plague Breaks Out

Numbers 16:41–50

“You have killed the people of the Lord!”(Num. 16:41)

The next day, Israel accuses Moses and Aaron of killing God’s people.
A plague breaks out, and 14,700 people die before Aaron stands between the living and the dead with incense and atonement, stopping the plague.

3. Aaron’s Staff Buds

Numbers 17:1–13

“I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.”(Num. 17:5)

To confirm Aaron’s priesthood and end the rebellion, God commands each tribal leader to bring a rod to the Tent of Meeting.
The next day, Aaron’s staff (from the tribe of Levi) sprouts, buds, blossoms, and produces almonds.
God instructs Moses to place it before the ark as a sign to the rebels.

4. Duties and Provisions for the Priests and Levites

Numbers 18:1–32

God reaffirms the unique priestly role of Aaron and his descendants, and the support role of the Levites.
Only the priests may come near the sacred objects and the altar, lest there be wrath on Israel again.
The Levites receive tithes from the Israelites, and they in turn are to tithe from the tithes to the priests (Num. 18:26).
The priests receive portions of offerings and the firstfruits of Israel as their portion, since they receive no land inheritance.

Messianic Insight:

Yeshua, like Aaron, was not self-appointed but chosen by God (Hebrews 5:4–5).He stood between the living and the dead through His atoning sacrifice, stopping the plague of sin and death (Romans 5:8).The budding rod points to resurrection and the fruitfulness of God’s chosen priest—Yeshua the Messiah, our eternal High Priest (Hebrews 7).