Torah Portion of the Week

Korach קרח

Numbers 16:1–18:32

Parshat Korach tells the story of the most dramatic rebellion in the Torah. Korach, a Levite and Moses' first cousin, together with Dathan, Abiram, and On from the tribe of Reuben, and 250 men of renown, challenge Moses and Aaron: 'You take too much upon yourselves — the entire congregation is holy, and the Lord is among them. Why do you raise yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?' Moses proposes a test with incense offerings. The earth opens and swallows Korach, Dathan, and Abiram alive; fire from heaven consumes the 250 incense offerers. When the people blame Moses and Aaron for the deaths, a plague breaks out — Aaron stands between the living and the dead to halt it, saving the nation. Aaron's unique authority is confirmed when his staff alone, among the twelve tribal staffs, sprouts blossoms and almonds overnight. The parsha concludes with the duties and gifts of the priests and Levites, and the tithe of the tithe.

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1 of 6

Korach's Rebellion

מרד קרח

Numbers 16:1–16:19

Korach son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliav and On son of Peleth from the tribe of Reuben, rise up against Moses with 250 Israelite men of renown. They accuse Moses and Aaron of elevating themselves above the congregation. Moses falls on his face, then proposes: tomorrow, take fire-pans, place incense on them, and bring them before the Lord — and the man whom God chooses is the holy one. Moses sends for Dathan and Abiram, who refuse to come, accusing Moses of bringing them out of a 'land flowing with milk and honey' (Egypt!) to kill them in the wilderness. Korach gathers the entire congregation at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

2 of 6

The Earth Swallows the Rebels

הארץ בולעת את המורדים

Numbers 16:20–17:8

God tells Moses and Aaron to separate from the congregation so He can destroy them in an instant. Moses and Aaron plead: 'Shall one man sin and You be angry with the entire congregation?' God tells Moses to instruct the people to move away from the tents of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses declares: 'If these men die a natural death, God has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them — you will know they have spurned the Lord.' The ground splits open and swallows them alive with all their possessions. Fire comes forth from God and consumes the 250 men offering incense. God commands Elazar to retrieve the fire-pans and hammer them into plating for the altar — a memorial that no outsider may approach to offer incense.

3 of 6

The Plague and Aaron's Intercession

המגפה ומעשה אהרן

Numbers 17:9–17:15

The very next day, the entire congregation murmurs against Moses and Aaron: 'You have killed the people of the Lord!' The cloud covers the Tent of Meeting and God's glory appears. God tells Moses: 'Remove yourselves from this congregation, and I will consume them in an instant!' They fall on their faces. Moses tells Aaron: 'Take the fire-pan, put fire from the altar and incense on it, and go quickly to the congregation to make atonement — for wrath has gone forth from the Lord, the plague has begun!' Aaron runs into the midst of the assembly with the incense, and stands between the dead and the living. The plague is halted — but 14,700 have already died, in addition to those who perished with Korach.

4 of 6

Aaron's Staff Blossoms

מטה אהרן

Numbers 17:16–17:28

To settle the matter of priestly authority once and for all, God commands Moses to take one staff from each of the twelve tribal chieftains, with each man's name inscribed on his staff. Aaron's name is inscribed on the staff of Levi. The staffs are placed in the Tent of Meeting before the Testimony. The next day, Aaron's staff has sprouted, blossomed, and borne ripe almonds — all stages of growth in a single night. God commands that Aaron's staff be kept before the Testimony as a sign against rebels. The Israelites cry out in fear: 'Behold, we perish! We are lost! Everyone who approaches the Tabernacle of the Lord dies — will we ever cease perishing?'

5 of 6

Priestly and Levitical Duties and Gifts

מתנות כהונה ולויה

Numbers 18:1–18:20

In response to the people's fear, God delineates the responsibilities of the priests and Levites as guardians of the sanctuary. Aaron and his sons bear responsibility for the sanctuary and the altar; the Levites assist them. Any outsider who approaches shall be put to death. God then enumerates the priestly gifts: portions of the meal offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings; the breast and thigh of wave offerings; the best of the oil, wine, and grain — the first fruits; everything devoted (cherem) in Israel; the firstborn of humans (redeemed at five shekels) and of clean animals (their blood sprinkled, their fat burned, their meat for the priests). 'You shall have no inheritance in their land... I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.'

6 of 6

The Levites' Tithe and Their Tithe of the Tithe

מעשר הלויים ותרומת מעשר

Numbers 18:21–18:32

God gives the Levites all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in exchange for their service in the Tent of Meeting. Henceforth, ordinary Israelites must not approach the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin and die. The Levites receive no territorial inheritance. From the tithe they receive, the Levites must set aside a 'tithe of the tithe' (one percent of the total produce) and give it to Aaron the priest — the best part of all they receive. Once they have set aside the best portion, the remainder is theirs to eat anywhere, for it is their wages for their Tabernacle service.

Prophetic Reading

Haftarah הפטרה

I Samuel 11:14–12:22

שמואל א

Samuel defends his leadership before the people, just as Moses defended his authority against Korach. Both leaders are challenged, and both appeal to God to vindicate their faithful service.

Full Text

Parshat Korach

Numbers 16:1–18:32 · 95 verses

First Aliyah

ראשוןNumbers 16:1–16:13

Chapter 16

פרק 16

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1 וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וְאוֹן בֶּן פֶּלֶת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵֽן

2 וַיָּקֻמוּ לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵל חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתָיִם נְשִׂיאֵי עֵדָה קְרִאֵי מוֹעֵד אַנְשֵׁי שֵֽׁם

3 וַיִּֽקָּהֲלוּ עַל מֹשֶׁה וְעַֽל אַהֲרֹן וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֲלֵהֶם רַב לָכֶם כִּי כׇל הָֽעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם יְהֹוָה וּמַדּוּעַ תִּֽתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל קְהַל יְהֹוָֽה

4 וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָֽיו

5 וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל קֹרַח וְאֶֽל כׇּל עֲדָתוֹ לֵאמֹר בֹּקֶר וְיֹדַע יְהֹוָה אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וְאֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ יַקְרִיב אֵלָֽיו

6 זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת קֹרַח וְכׇל עֲדָתֽוֹ

7 וּתְנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וְשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶן קְטֹרֶת לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה מָחָר וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר יְהֹוָה הוּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי

8 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי

9 הַמְעַט מִכֶּם כִּֽי הִבְדִּיל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶתְכֶם מֵעֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְהַקְרִיב אֶתְכֶם אֵלָיו לַעֲבֹד אֶת עֲבֹדַת מִשְׁכַּן יְהֹוָה וְלַעֲמֹד לִפְנֵי הָעֵדָה לְשָׁרְתָֽם

10 וַיַּקְרֵב אֹֽתְךָ וְאֶת כׇּל אַחֶיךָ בְנֵי לֵוִי אִתָּךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם כְּהֻנָּֽה

11 לָכֵן אַתָּה וְכׇל עֲדָתְךָ הַנֹּעָדִים עַל יְהֹוָה וְאַהֲרֹן מַה הוּא כִּי (תלונו) [תַלִּינוּ] עָלָֽיו

12 וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא נַעֲלֶֽה

13 הַמְעַט כִּי הֶֽעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר כִּֽי תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵֽר

1 Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben —

2 To rise up against Moses, together with certain other Israelites, two hundred and fifty of them: chieftains of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.

3 They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and GOD is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above GOD’s congregation?”

4 When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.

5 Then he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Come morning, GOD will make known who is to serve, and who is holy, by granting direct access—whoever is chosen will be granted access.

6 Do this: You, Korah and all your band, take fire pans,

7 And tomorrow put fire in them and lay incense on them before GOD. Then the man whom GOD chooses, he shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”

8 Moses said further to Korah, “Hear me, sons of Levi.

9 Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel and given you direct access, to perform the duties of GOD’s Tabernacle and to minister to the community and serve them?

10 Now that [God] has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you seek the priesthood too?

11 Truly, it is against GOD that you and all your company have banded together. For who is Aaron that you should rail against him?”

12 Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come!

13 Is it not enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, that you would also lord it over us?

1 Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben —

2 To rise up against Moses, together with certain other Israelites, two hundred and fifty of them: chieftains of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.

4 וַיִּשְׁמַע מֹשֶׁה וַיִּפֹּל עַל פָּנָֽיו

4 When Moses heard this, he fell on his face.

5 Then he spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Come morning, GOD will make known who is to serve, and who is holy, by granting direct access—whoever is chosen will be granted access.

6 זֹאת עֲשׂוּ קְחוּ לָכֶם מַחְתּוֹת קֹרַח וְכׇל עֲדָתֽוֹ

6 Do this: You, Korah and all your band, take fire pans,

7 And tomorrow put fire in them and lay incense on them before GOD. Then the man whom GOD chooses, he shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”

8 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל קֹרַח שִׁמְעוּ נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִֽי

8 Moses said further to Korah, “Hear me, sons of Levi.

10 וַיַּקְרֵב אֹֽתְךָ וְאֶת כׇּל אַחֶיךָ בְנֵי לֵוִי אִתָּךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם כְּהֻנָּֽה

10 Now that [God] has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you seek the priesthood too?

11 לָכֵן אַתָּה וְכׇל עֲדָתְךָ הַנֹּעָדִים עַל יְהֹוָה וְאַהֲרֹן מַה הוּא כִּי (תלונו) [תַלִּינוּ] עָלָֽיו

11 Truly, it is against GOD that you and all your company have banded together. For who is Aaron that you should rail against him?”

12 וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי אֱלִיאָב וַיֹּאמְרוּ לֹא נַעֲלֶֽה

12 Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come!

13 Is it not enough that you brought us from a land flowing with milk and honey to have us die in the wilderness, that you would also lord it over us?

Second Aliyah

שניNumbers 16:14–16:19

Chapter 16

פרק 16

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14 אַף לֹא אֶל אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הֲבִיאֹתָנוּ וַתִּתֶּן לָנוּ נַחֲלַת שָׂדֶה וָכָרֶם הַעֵינֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָהֵם תְּנַקֵּר לֹא נַעֲלֶֽה

15 וַיִּחַר לְמֹשֶׁה מְאֹד וַיֹּאמֶר אֶל יְהֹוָה אַל תֵּפֶן אֶל מִנְחָתָם לֹא חֲמוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָשָׂאתִי וְלֹא הֲרֵעֹתִי אֶת אַחַד מֵהֶֽם

16 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל קֹרַח אַתָּה וְכׇל עֲדָתְךָ הֱיוּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אַתָּה וָהֵם וְאַהֲרֹן מָחָֽר

17 וּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וּנְתַתֶּם עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ חֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם מַחְתֹּת וְאַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן אִישׁ מַחְתָּתֽוֹ

18 וַיִּקְחוּ אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ עֲלֵיהֶם אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עֲלֵיהֶם קְטֹרֶת וַֽיַּעַמְדוּ פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּמֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹֽן

19 וַיַּקְהֵל עֲלֵיהֶם קֹרַח אֶת כׇּל הָעֵדָה אֶל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיֵּרָא כְבוֹד יְהֹוָה אֶל כׇּל הָעֵדָֽה

14 Even if you had brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and given us possession of fields and vineyards, should you gouge out the eyes of those involved? We will not come!”

15 Moses was much aggrieved and he said to GOD, “Pay no regard to their oblation. I have not taken the donkey of any one of them, nor have I wronged any one of them.”

16 And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company appear before GOD, you and they and Aaron.

17 Each of you take your fire pan and lay incense on it, and each of you bring that fire pan before GOD, two hundred and fifty fire pans; you and Aaron also [bring] your fire pans.”

18 They each took their fire pan, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and took a place at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, as did Moses and Aaron.

19 Korah gathered the whole community against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Then the Presence of GOD appeared to the whole community,

14 Even if you had brought us to a land flowing with milk and honey, and given us possession of fields and vineyards, should you gouge out the eyes of those involved? We will not come!”

15 Moses was much aggrieved and he said to GOD, “Pay no regard to their oblation. I have not taken the donkey of any one of them, nor have I wronged any one of them.”

16 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל קֹרַח אַתָּה וְכׇל עֲדָתְךָ הֱיוּ לִפְנֵי יְהֹוָה אַתָּה וָהֵם וְאַהֲרֹן מָחָֽר

16 And Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you and all your company appear before GOD, you and they and Aaron.

17 Each of you take your fire pan and lay incense on it, and each of you bring that fire pan before GOD, two hundred and fifty fire pans; you and Aaron also [bring] your fire pans.”

18 They each took their fire pan, put fire in it, laid incense on it, and took a place at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, as did Moses and Aaron.

19 Korah gathered the whole community against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Then the Presence of GOD appeared to the whole community,

Third Aliyah

שלישיNumbers 16:20–17:8

Chapter 16

פרק 16

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20 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה וְאֶֽל אַהֲרֹן לֵאמֹֽר

21 הִבָּדְלוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָעֵדָה הַזֹּאת וַאֲכַלֶּה אֹתָם כְּרָֽגַע

22 וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֵל אֱלֹהֵי הָרוּחֹת לְכׇל בָּשָׂר הָאִישׁ אֶחָד יֶחֱטָא וְעַל כׇּל הָעֵדָה תִּקְצֹֽף

23 וַיְדַבֵּר יְהֹוָה אֶל מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹֽר

24 דַּבֵּר אֶל הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר הֵֽעָלוּ מִסָּבִיב לְמִשְׁכַּן קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָֽם

25 וַיָּקׇם מֹשֶׁה וַיֵּלֶךְ אֶל דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם וַיֵּלְכוּ אַחֲרָיו זִקְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

26 וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל הָעֵדָה לֵאמֹר סוּרוּ נָא מֵעַל אׇהֳלֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הָֽרְשָׁעִים הָאֵלֶּה וְאַֽל תִּגְּעוּ בְּכׇל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם פֶּן תִּסָּפוּ בְּכׇל חַטֹּאתָֽם

27 וַיֵּעָלוּ מֵעַל מִשְׁכַּן קֹרַח דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם מִסָּבִיב וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם יָצְאוּ נִצָּבִים פֶּתַח אׇֽהֳלֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם וְטַפָּֽם

28 וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה בְּזֹאת תֵּֽדְעוּן כִּֽי יְהֹוָה שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל הַֽמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי לֹא מִלִּבִּֽי

29 אִם כְּמוֹת כׇּל הָֽאָדָם יְמֻתוּן אֵלֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת כׇּל הָאָדָם יִפָּקֵד עֲלֵיהֶם לֹא יְהֹוָה שְׁלָחָֽנִי

30 וְאִם בְּרִיאָה יִבְרָא יְהֹוָה וּפָצְתָה הָאֲדָמָה אֶת פִּיהָ וּבָלְעָה אֹתָם וְאֶת כׇּל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם וְיָרְדוּ חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וִֽידַעְתֶּם כִּי נִֽאֲצוּ הָאֲנָשִׁים הָאֵלֶּה אֶת יְהֹוָֽה

31 וַֽיְהִי כְּכַלֹּתוֹ לְדַבֵּר אֵת כׇּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה וַתִּבָּקַע הָאֲדָמָה אֲשֶׁר תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם

32 וַתִּפְתַּח הָאָרֶץ אֶת פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלַע אֹתָם וְאֶת בָּתֵּיהֶם וְאֵת כׇּל הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר לְקֹרַח וְאֵת כׇּל הָרְכֽוּשׁ

33 וַיֵּרְדוּ הֵם וְכׇל אֲשֶׁר לָהֶם חַיִּים שְׁאֹלָה וַתְּכַס עֲלֵיהֶם הָאָרֶץ וַיֹּאבְדוּ מִתּוֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל

34 וְכׇל יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבֹתֵיהֶם נָסוּ לְקֹלָם כִּי אָֽמְרוּ פֶּן תִּבְלָעֵנוּ הָאָֽרֶץ

35 וְאֵשׁ יָצְאָה מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה וַתֹּאכַל אֵת הַחֲמִשִּׁים וּמָאתַיִם אִישׁ מַקְרִיבֵי הַקְּטֹֽרֶת

20 And GOD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,

21 “Stand back from this community that I may annihilate them in an instant!”

22 But they fell on their faces and said, “O God, Source of the breath of all flesh! When one member sins, will You be wrathful with the whole community?”

23 GOD spoke to Moses, saying,

24 “Speak to the community and say: Withdraw from about the abodes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”

25 Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, the elders of Israel following him.

26 He addressed the community, saying, “Move away from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be wiped out for all their sins.”

27 So they withdrew from about the abodes of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Now Dathan and Abiram had come out and they stood at the entrance of their tents, with their wives, their adult children, and their little ones.

28 And Moses said, “By this you shall know that it was GOD who sent me to do all these things; that they are not of my own devising:

29 If these people’s death is that of all humankind, if their lot is humankind’s common fate, it was not GOD who sent me.

30 But if GOD brings about something unheard-of, so that the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, you shall know that those involved have spurned GOD.”

31 Scarcely had he finished speaking all these words when the ground under them burst asunder,

32 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all Korah’s people and all their possessions.

33 They went down alive into Sheol, with all that belonged to them; the earth closed over them and they vanished from the midst of the congregation.

34 All Israel around them fled at their shrieks, for they said, “The earth might swallow us!”

35 And a fire went forth from GOD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.