Korach's Rebellion/2

Korach's Rebellion

Exegetical Approaches

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Against Aharon

The whole rebellion revolved around one main issue, the choice of Aharon as priest.

Sources:Philo, JosephusAntiquities of the Jews 4:2Antiquities of the Jews 4:3:1-4Antiquities of the Jews 4:4:2About Josephus, perhaps RashiBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,¹ perhaps R. Yosef KaraBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17About R. Yosef Kara,² R. Yosef Bekhor ShorBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:5-23About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RalbagBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:17About R. Levi b. Gershom,

"...וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח" – R"Y Bekhor suggests that the verse means that Korach, Datan and Aviram, and On,  who were all upset at the choice of Aharon³ (albeit for different reasons),⁴ together gathered others⁵ to join in their rebellion.⁶ Accordingly, all four might be viewed as the rebellion's leaders.

Grievances – Korach, being a Levite, resented Aharon's superior position. The others, being of the tribe of Reuven, thought that their tribes' firstborn status should have merited them to be priests.⁷ All, though, were united in challenging Aharon rather than Moshe.⁸

Who were the 250 men? This position might suggest that the 250 men comprised any of the following:

• Levites – R. ChananelBemidbar 16About R. Moshe b. Nachman maintains that the 250 people were all from the tribe of Levi.⁹  They, like Korach, were not satisfied with "serving the priests" and aspired to be priests themselves.
• Reubenites – According to Rashi, the men were mainly from the tribe of Reuven. Rashi suggests that their joining the rebellion was a technical result of their living close to and being swayed by Korach, but it is possible that the tribe as a whole felt that they deserved priestly status due to their ancestor's being the firstborn to Yaakov (see R"Y Bekhor Shor above).
• All of Israel – Alternatively, it is possible that this group was comprised of people from all the tribes.  This position might maintain that before the sin of the Calf and the building of the Tabernacle, every individual Israelite had been allowed to sacrifice on private altars, and the people were hoping to return to this status quo.¹⁰

"רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי" – According to R. Chananel, Moshe's addressing of the Levites in particular is logical; he mentions them since most of the rebels were from that tribe. The other sources might suggest that Moshe singles out the Levites, not because they were the majority, but because their complaint was the most troubling given their already exalted status.

Purpose of the incense test – Since the sole contested issue was who was deserving to serve as priest, and since bringing incense was a rite reserved for priests, it was an appropriate test.

"וְיֹדַע י״י אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וְאֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ יַקְרִיב אֵלָיו " – This position would suggest that there is no significance to the doubling in this verse¹¹ and that all three phrase ("אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ", "אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ", "אֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ") speak of the selection of Aharon.¹²

Datan and Aviram's complaint –

According to this approach, Datan and Aviram are not really bothered by Moshe's leadership as a whole, only by (what they perceive as) his nepotism in choosing his brother. Their words "כִּי תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵר" are an accusation that Moshe is abusing his power for self-interest.¹³

"וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם" – According to this approach, Moshe's "sending" to Datan and Aviram does not imply that from the outset they were a distinct groups in a distinct location.  Rather, after the initial discussion, or perhaps when Moshe turned to address the Levites specifically, everyone (not just Datan and Aviram) dispersed to their tents.¹⁴ It is not clear, though why Moshe would need to then address Datan and Aviram alone:

• Moshe might have been hoping to weaken the coalition, trying to influence individual members to change course.  Thus, after (unsuccessfully) trying to convince the Levites that they had no good cause for rebelling, he turned to sway Datan and Aviram,  but they refused to come before him.
• According to R"Y Bekhor Shor, instead, Datan and Aviram might have left the original discussion when talk turned to the incense test.  Though they agreed with Korach's challenging of Aharon, they were against the test itself.  Moshe had called them, not to influence them, but to invite them to join the larger assembly in the test. The brothers refused, claiming that they did not need a test to prove who was in the right.

"אַל תֵּפֶן אֶל מִנְחָתָם" – Rashi and R"Y Bekhor Shor maintains that the minchah of the verse refers to the incense to be brought at the test.  Since Datan and Aviram shared the grievances of the rest of the nation, it was originally assumed that they too would participate, leading to Moshe's prayer that their incense not be accepted.¹⁵ Only because they refused to participate did Moshe feel a need to devise a different test to prove them wrong, leading to the miracle of the earthquake.

"בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי י״י שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה" – Rashi and R"Y Bekhor Shor assert that "כׇּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה" refers to the appointment of Aharon.¹⁶ The earth's swallowing of Datan and Aviram was meant to prove that, in contrast to their claims of nepotism, the selection of Aharon as priest came from Hashem, not Moshe.

Different punishments – If Datan and Aviram's complaints were no different than that of the other rebels, one might have expected them to share the same fate. However, as mentioned above, it is likely that it was simply their refusal to partake in the incense test that necessitated the alternative punishment.¹⁷

"אַתֶּם הֲמִתֶּם אֶת עַם י"י" – According to R"Y Bekhor Shor, the nation was not convinced by the incense test and blamed Moshe for involving incense, as it had already proven in the past (by Nadav and Avihu) to be fatal.  They further claimed that since Nadav and Avihu, who were by all accounts chosen for the priesthood, had nonetheless died when they brought incense, the test could not serve as proof of unworthiness to the position.¹⁸

The plague – Aharon's saving of the nation via the incense was meant to teach the nation that, contrary to their beliefs, in the right hands, the incense brings life, not death.

The test of the staffs – The nation's doubts necessitated a new test to confirm who was or was not worthy of priesthood. The blossoming of Aharon's staff finally proved to the nation, that he, and not members of other tribes, was selected.¹⁹

When does the story take place? R"Y Bekhor Shor suggests that the story is chronological and follows the sin of the Spies and the punishment of the nation as a whole. It is possible that the ensuing despair felt by the nation fomented unrest and rebellion.

Against Aharon and Moshe

The rebellion had two focal points.  Korach and his 250 followers objected to Aharon's priesthood, while Datan and Aviram challenged Moshe's leadership.

Sources:RambanBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:6, 20, 25About R. Moshe b. Nachman #2,²⁰ R. S.R. HirschBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:6:18Bemidbar 17:6-28About R. Samson Raphael Hirsch, contemporary scholars

Two groups – Several factors might support the idea that there was in essence a double revolt, led by two distinct parties with disparate goals:

• Two complaints – The arguments of Korach and the 250 men and the complaints of Datan and Aviram are totally distinct, one focusing on the cultic realm and one on political issues.
• Two locales – Physically, the two groups are located in different places. The fact that Moshe must send for Datan and Aviram (v. 12) implies that they were separate from the other rebels.²¹
• Two tests / punishments – The two groups are proven wrong and meet their deaths in different ways.  While the 250 men are burned by Divine fire, Datan and Aviram are swallowed by the earth.²²

When did the rebellion take place? Ramban asserts that the story is in its chronological place and follows the decree of death in the wilderness after the sin of the Spies. It is this which prompted Datan and Aviram's complaint that Moshe was not taking them to the Promised Land, but to die  in the wilderness ("לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר"). In addition, though Korach's grievance against Aharon's appointment preceded the decree, it was only now that he decided to act upon it. He recognized that beforehand no one would have dared rebel against Moshe, whom they viewed as a savior and defender. The decree, though, embittered the nation, making the time ripe for Korach's incitement.²³

"...וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח" – According to Ramban, the word "וַיִּקַּח" does not mean that anyone actually took anything, but is rather "לשון התעוררות", language which connotes a decision to act.  If so, the verse might imply that there were two distinct and equal sets of leaders of the rebellion: Korach on one hand, and Datan, Aviram (and On)²⁴ on the other.²⁵ [Alternatively, Korach was the ring leader who "took" the others under his leadership, uniting two groups who otherwise had nothing in common.]

Who were the 250 men? According to Ramban, the 250 people were likely an assortment from all the tribes.²⁶ He maintains that before the selection of Aharon and the building of the Tabernacle, when private altars were allowed, anyone could act as priest, performing their own sacrificial service. The entire nation was literally a "ממלכת כהנים וגוי קדוש".  The people's  argument here, "כִּי כׇל הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים" is a call to go back to this state of affairs.

"רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי" – If the rebels were not predominantly Levites, it is not clear why the tribe is singled out by Moshe. Ramban claims that Moshe is really addressing only Korach, highlighting how he, being more exalted than others, has no real cause for complaint.  Moshe speaks in the plural in an attempt to subtly dissuade any other Levites who might have been tempted to join the revolt.²⁷

Purpose of the incense test – The incense test was intended only for those who challenged Aharon's priesthood.  Since the people claimed that all were equally qualified to serve Hashem, Moshe chose a cultic rite which was normally performed by the priest as a means to test their claims.

"וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם" – Ramban explains that when Moshe had been speaking with Korach and the 250 men, Datan and Aviram had left, as the discussion did not pertain to their grievances. He, therefore, now sends to them to address their concerns and actions.

Datan and Aviram's speech – Datan and Aviram's words do not address the spiritual realm at all, but instead focus only on Moshe's leadership, blaming him both for taking the nation out of Egypt and for not bringing them to Israel.²⁸  Their complaint, then, is totally distinct from that of the 250 men.

"אַל תֵּפֶן אֶל מִנְחָתָם" – As this approach assumes that Datan and Aviram were never meant to be part of the incense test, Ramban suggests that the word "מִנְחָתָם" refers not to the incense, but to any prayer or alternative sacrifice that they might offer in supplication to Hashem.

" בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי י״י שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה " – Both Ramban and R. Hirsch posit that Moshe is referring to his leadership as a whole.  In response to Datan and Aviram's accusations, Moshe declares that all the actions that he has performed as a leader from the day Hashem commissioned him to free the nation until now had been via Divine command.

Different punishments – Since Datan and Aviram's crime was distinct from that of the 250 men, it is logical that they are killed in different ways.

Test of staffs – R. Hirsch maintains that the incense test did not accomplish its intended goal of proving Aharon's worthiness  The people believed that the 250 men had died as a punishment for their personal assault on the honor of Aharon, but not because they were otherwise unworthy of the priesthood. As such, a new demonstration was needed, leading to the test of the staffs.²⁹

Laws of Chapter 18

Against Aharon, Moshe and the Tribe of Levi

The rebellion was multi-faceted, with groups complaining about both spiritual and political status.  Some protested the priestly class, others challenged the choice of the Levites, while yet others had issue with Moshe.

Sources:Ibn EzraBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:6, 17-18About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, ChizkuniBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach, RambanBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17:6, 20, 25About R. Moshe b. Nachman #1, AbarbanelBemidbar 16Bemidbar 17About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, Netziv,Bemidbar 16Bemidbar 17About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin Hoil Moshe

Grievances – Though all these sources agree that the rebels were composed of many groups with distinct interests, they disagree regarding the specifics of who was upset about what:

• Challenging Aharon and the priesthood - Most of these sources assume that Korach was jealous of and desired Aharon's position. Ibn Ezra adds that the Levites as a whole might have resented having to serve the priests. According to Netziv and Hoil Moshe, in contrast, it was the lay Israelites who wished to be priests.³⁰
• Protesting the selection of the Levites – Ibn Ezra, Ramban, Chizkuni and Abarbanel present this complaint as emanating mainly from the firstborns³¹ who had originally played a role in the cultic service³² but were then displaced by the Levites, while the Netziv and Hoil Moshe, in contrast, claim that the Israelites at large were bothered by the monopoly of the tribe.
• Challenging Moshe - According to Ramban and Hoil Moshe, Datan and Aviram challenged Moshe's overall leadership, blaming him for taking them to die in the Wilderness.³³ According to Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel, in contrast, they³⁴ were upset about their tribe losing its firstborn status to Yosef as regards inheritance, and to Yehuda as regards leadership.³⁵

When did the rebellion take place? According to Ibn Ezra, our story is not found in its chronological place, and actually occurred earlier, right after the Levites were chosen to replace the firstborns in the aftermath of the Sin of the Golden Calf.³⁶  This switch led to much resentment,³⁷ especially on the part of the firstborns, and as such, it was they who made up the bulk of the rebels. Ibn Ezra does not explain why the rebellion is discussed here and not when it occurred.

"...וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח" – Ibn Ezra and Chizkuni suggest that the verse is abbreviated (a "מקרא קצר"), missing the word "people".³⁸ Korach took many people, including Datan, Aviram, On, and the 250 men. According to this understanding, Korach led the rebellion by collecting many groups with disparate interests and finding a common grievance that would unite them, "מַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל קְהַל י״י".‎³⁹

Who were the 250 men? These sources disagree on this point:

• Firstborns – Ibn Ezra, Ramban, Chizkuni and Abarbanel assume that the 250 men were composed mainly of firstborns who protested the selection of the Levites and their being ousted from cultic service.
• Noble Israelites – Hoil Moshe, in contrast, assume that the 250 men were noblemen from throughout Israel, who questioned the monopoly on sacrificial service held by both the priests and tribe of Levi as a whole. They wished to return to the state which existed before the Sin of the Golden Calf, when all could partake in the service.⁴⁰ Netziv even presents them as holy men, with noble and sincere, though misguided, motives.⁴¹

Conflicting grievances – One of the difficulties with Ibn Ezra's reconstruction is that according to him, the various rebels had conflicting interests, for both the firstborns (who resented the Levites) and the Levites themselves were among the rebels.⁴²

"העיקר חסר מן הספר" – A weaknesses of this approach is the fact that the firstborns are never mentioned in the text. If they played a significant role in the rebellion, one would have thought that they would be discussed explicitly in the chapter.

"כׇל הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדֹשִׁים" – Ibn Ezra suggests that these words support the idea that the rebellion revolved around the replacing of the firstborns by the Levites, for this statement hints to the firstborns' sanctified status, as Hashem said of them, "קַדֶּשׁ לִי כׇל בְּכוֹר".

Prior role of firstborns – Most of these sources follows Bavli ZevachimZevachim 112bAbout the Bavli in assuming that the firstborns were involved in the sacrificial service, acting as priests, until they were replaced by the tribe of Levi.  However, this is never explicit in Torah. We are told that the firstborns were sanctified in the aftermath of the Plague of Firstborns, but not what form that sanctification took.⁴³

Purpose of incense test – According to most of these sources, the test was meant to discern both who was worthy of the Levites' position and who merited priesthood.⁴⁴  However, as bringing incense is a priestly, rather than Levite, function, it is not clear why the same test was used for both groups. This, perhaps, is what leads Hoil Moshe to conclude that the incense only proved who was worthy of teh priesthood.⁴⁵

"וְיֹדַע י״י אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ וְאֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ וְהִקְרִיב אֵלָיו וְאֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ יַקְרִיב אֵלָיו " – Most of these sources suggest that the doubling in the verse matches the dual purpose of the test.  It was to discern "אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ" as far as the Levite position,⁴⁶ and "אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ" as regards the priesthood.⁴⁷

"וַיִּשְׁלַח מֹשֶׁה לִקְרֹא לְדָתָן וְלַאֲבִירָם" – According to Abarbanel, Moshe recognized that Datan and Aviram's grievance was distinct from the others (as it did not relate only to cultic practices).⁴⁸ He, therefore, called them individually to address their specific complaints and perhaps to appease them, hoping to separate them from the rest of the rebels.⁴⁹ They, however, refused to negotiate, saying "לא נעלה".‎⁵⁰

"אַל תֵּפֶן אֶל מִנְחָתָם" – As these sources assume that Datan and Aviram's claims were not to be addressed by the incense test, they explain that the "minchah" refers to something else:

• Ibn Ezra posits that the brothers had offered a sacrifice at some point prior to our story and Moshe prays that it not serve to appease Hashem in face of their actions.
• Hoil Moshe, in contrast, suggests a "תיקון סופרים", that the phrase be read as if written, "לא אפן אל מנחתם".  Moshe's words are not a prayer that the rebels' sacrifices not be accepted, but a claim of Moshe's own innocence, parallel to his following statement, "לֹא חֲמוֹר אֶחָד מֵהֶם נָשָׂאתִי".

" בְּזֹאת תֵּדְעוּן כִּי י״י שְׁלָחַנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת אֵת כׇּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים הָאֵלֶּה " – Ibn Ezra claims that Moshe is speaking, not of his entire mission, but only of the switching of the firstborns and Levites.⁵¹

Different punishments – The various groups received different punishments, since they erred in different ways.  Those who rebelled about cultic issues (the choice of Aharon and the Levites) were punished by fire, while those who rebelled against Moshe's leadership were swallowed by the earth.⁵²

Test of the staffs

• According to Ibn Ezra and Abarbanel the nation was not convinced by the incense test, blaming Moshe for telling the nation to bring a fatal foreign fire (or otherwise causing the people's deaths). As such, a new test was needed to prove the worthiness of both Aharon and the Levites.
• Alternatively, one might suggest that the incense test sufficed to convince the nation of Aharon's worthiness, as he alone survived, proving that he was the only one worthy of bringing incense. However, the people still had doubts regarding the selection of the tribe of Levi as a whole.  Since the bringing of incense was a rite reserved for priests, it shed no light on who was worthy of Levitical service and a new test was needed.

Why staffs? If the test was meant to demonstrate which tribe was chosen (and not just who was worthy of priesthood), the decision to do so via the blossoming of a staff might relate to its symbolic value. The words "מטה" (like its synonym "שבט") refers to both a staff and a tribe.⁵³  The blossoming of the Levi's staff, thus represents the blossoming of the tribe.

הַאִם תַּמְנוּ לִגְוֺע and the laws of chapter 18 – According to Ibn Ezra's chronology (that the rebellion took place right after the selection of the Levites) it is possible that the laws of chapter 18, including coming too close  to the Mishkan and the assignment of the Levites to be guards, had not yet been given, and were only relayed in the aftermath of and as a reaction to the rebellion.⁵⁴ 

¹ Rashi appears to read the entire narrative in light of a complaint about the priesthood alone. In his comments to verse 5, though, he writes "יודע י״י את אשר לו – לעבודת לוייה", implying that the incense test was meant to address a complaint against the Levites as well. Rashi does not elaborate and no where else in his commentary does he refer to such a complaint, suggesting that he thinks that even if some were bothered by the choice of Levites, by far the major focus of the rebellion was the choice of Aharon.

² As we do not have all of R"Y Kara's commentary on the rebellion, it is difficult to know for certain how he reads the story.  However, in his comments to 16:35, he appears to assume that the compaints of the 250 people and those of Datan and Aviram were identical (leading him to question why they then deserved different punishments).  As he later writes that Korach objected to aharon's priesthood, it is possible that he thinks that the entire rebellion revolved around this one issue.

³ Ralbag asserts that Moshe's words "וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם כְּהֻנָּה" prove that this was the main point of contention.  Moshe's statement "וְאַהֲרֹן מַה הוּא כִּי [תַלִּינוּ] (תלונו) עָלָיו" further suggests that Moshe viewed Korach as attacking Aharon and not himself

⁴ See below.

⁵ According to R"Y Bekhor Shor the verse is a "מקרא קצר", whose meaning is made clear by the following verse. He points to Bemidbar 13:30 (ויהס כלב את העם) as a similar case, where the text is brief, relying on a later verse (Devarim 1:9) to provide the missing content.

⁶ Alternatively, this approach could have suggested that Korach took the others mentioned in the verse to join in his rebellion, recognizing that they, too, shared his grievances against Aharon. [If so, the vav of "וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם" is extraneous and the verse is missing the word "את".]

⁷ Cf. Josephus. It is not clear if R"Y Bekhor Shor is assuming that originally firstborns performed the tasks later given to the priests, and that the firstborn Reubenites therefore wanted this position back, or if he is simply saying that the tribe of Reuven viewed themselves as meritorious, being the firstborn to Yaakov.  Since R"Y Bekhor Shor does not mention other firstborns joining in the rebellion, he might be suggesting only the latter.
Rashi, instead, claims that members of the tribe of Reuven joined in Korach's rebellion only because, being camped near Korach, they were the first to be swayed by his arguments.

⁸ Ralbag asserts that Moshe's words "וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּם גַּם כְּהֻנָּה" prove that this was the main point of contention.  Moshe's statement "וְאַהֲרֹן מַה הוּא כִּי [תַלִּינוּ] (תלונו) עָלָיו" further suggests that Moshe viewed Korach as attacking Aharon and not himself

⁹ See below that this is supported by teh fact that Moshe addresses the Levites directly, telling them "רַב לָכֶם בְּנֵי לֵוִי"  and "שִׁמְעוּ נָא בְּנֵי לֵוִי".

¹⁰ See Ramban Bemidbar 16:21Bemidbar 16About R. Moshe b. Nachman  and Hoil Moshe below. See also Hoil Moshe's position in  Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood.

¹¹ It is simply a rhetorcal device, meant for emphasis. Alternatively, in Moshe's anger at the rebels, he repeats himself unconsciously.

¹² See above note that Rashi, nonetheless, does differentiate between the clauses, suggesting that the test will prove who is to serve as both Levites (וְיֹדַע י״י אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ) and priests (אֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ).  As no where else in his comments does Rashi suggest that the people were complaining about the selectuon of the Levites, it is not clear why he includes them in this verse.

¹³ According to this reading, then, Datan and Aviram's main complaint is not about the stay in the wilderness ( הַמְעַט כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר), but about Moshe's abuse of power in choosing his brother (כִּי תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵר).

¹⁴ According to this reading, in verse 16, Moshe speaks not to Korach and his entire congregation (whom had already gone to their tents), but to Korach alone, telling him to gather everyone the next day for the test.

¹⁵ This reading is somewhat difficult for R"Y Bekhor Shor who asserts that already before Moshe's prayer the brothers expressed their refusal to participate in the incense test.  Perhaps he is assuming that Moshe believed that Datan and Aviram planned on bringing their own incense, not as part of the general test, but at some point in the future, as proof of their worthiness and ability to do so. Alternatively, Moshe thought that there was still a chance that Datan and Aviram would nonetheless join the others.

¹⁶ The phrasing "all these deeds" is slightly difficult for this position, as it claims that Moshe was proving only one thing, not "all these deeds".

¹⁷ R"Y Kara adds that their punishment was harsher specifically because they were the sole ones to refuse to abide by the judge's (Moshe) ruling: that the issue be resolved though the incense test.

¹⁸ The fact that Aharon alone was saved might prove that he was more worthy than others (and, thus, deserving of the high priesthood), but it still did not prove that others were not worth of being regular priests

¹⁹ One might question why each tribe contributed a staff, if this test did not relate to tribal status but only to individual status.  This position might respond that Hashem's words "וְהָיָה הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֶבְחַר בּוֹ מַטֵּהוּ יִפְרָח" proves that the point was to choose an individual. As such, too, the staff is consistently referred to not as the staff of "the tribe of Levi" but as "Aharon's staff" (see 17:21, 23, 25).

²⁰ This is how Ramban interprets the chapter "על דרך הפשט".  See the end of his commentary on Bemidbar 16:21. [Most of his commentary on the chapter, though, is "על דרך רבותנו", who assume that the firstborns were originally involved in sacrificial service.  See Ramban in the third position, below, who develops how according to this, the firstborns played a large role in the rebellion, protesting the selection of the Levites in their stead.]

²¹ It is not clear if the two groups were always separate, or if Datan and Aviram were present when Korach's group made their arguments, and only left afterwards.

²² It is not clear how Korach himself died.

²³ Cf. Shadal Bemidbar 16:1Bemidbar 16:1About R. Shemuel David Luzzatto.

²⁴ As On is never again mentioned n the chapter, it is difficult to know what role he played, though the verse groups him with Datan and Aviram rather than Korach..

²⁵ Verses 1-2 might then be seen as a heading for the entire chapter, which then divides to discuss each grievance separately. Verses 3-11 focus on the complaints of Korach and the 250men, while verses 12-14 speak of Datan and Aviram's rebellion. If so, Datan and Aviram were not even present during the discussion regarding the priesthood and incense test (see note above).

²⁶ As evidence, he points to the phrase, "וַאֲנָשִׁים מִבְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" which implies that they were not all from one tribe or distinct group.

²⁷ It is also possible that, even if the 250 were from many tribes, there was  a disproportionately large group from Levi, as they would have been more swayed by Korach, their tribesman, than others. Moreover, despite their more exalted status, they might have resented having to "serve" Aharon.

²⁸ While the first approach above focused on Datan and Aviram's words, "כִּי תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵר", seeing in them evidence of abuse of power and nepotism, this approach highlights the rest of their speech, "הַמְעַט כִּי הֶעֱלִיתָנוּ מֵאֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ לַהֲמִיתֵנוּ בַּמִּדְבָּר... אַף לֹא אֶל אֶרֶץ זָבַת חָלָב וּדְבַשׁ הֲבִיאֹתָנוּ".

²⁹ Ramban, instead, suggests that the test of the staffs was supposed to prove that the tribe of Levi was chosen. It is not clear if he suggests this only according to his approach "על דרך הדרש" which views the rebellion as revolving around the rejection of the firstborns (see approach below), or if he thinks that even according to this position's reading of the story, after Aharon's priesthood was proven, the people raised a new issue and wanted additional proof regarding the selection of the entire tribe of Levi.

³⁰ See discussion below about the identity of the 250 men.

³¹ Ibn Ezra claims that Korach, too, was a firstborn and, incensed by the switch, spearheaded the rebellion.

³² In this they follow Bavli ZevachimZevachim 112bAbout the Bavli.  It seems that though these sources speak of resentment against the Levites, what the firstborns really wanted was not just the secondary position of "serving the priests" but also to resume their original positions as active priests. 

³³ According to both Ramban and Hoil Moshe, this complaint was not aired during the original discussion in verses 3-11.

³⁴ See note below, that according to Abarbanel, there was an entire contingent of Reubenites, in addition to Datan and Aviram.

³⁵ As Moshe would seem not to be responsible for either of these, this approach must explain why the rebels would blame him.  Abarbanel implies that these points were emphasized during the division of the camp, when Yosef clearly received two portions (Ephraim and Menashe each had their own encampment) and Yehuda was chosen to travel first. This might have led the people to believe that Moshe was involved in the decision. Ibn Ezra adds that maybe they suspected Moshe of favoritism, as his loyal servant, Yehoshua, was also from the tribe of Yosef

³⁶ See here v. 28 and Ibn Ezra Shemot 32:29 that the firstborns had been the ones actively sacrificing to the Calf (as they were the ones in charge of sacrificial service until that point), making them most culpable.  As the Levites did not participate, they were chosen in their stead. See Selection of the Priests and Levites for elaboration and dissenting views regarding the switch.

³⁷ Considering that, according to Ibn Ezra (see his comments on 16:28 here), many of the firstborns were killed at the hands of the Levites during the incident, there was probably much enmity between the two groups.

³⁸ Abarbanel and Netziv, in contrast, suggest that Korach, Datan, Aviram, and On all did the taking.  Abarbanel explains that they gathered both Reubenites and 250 other people from Israel to rebel against Moshe. [In other words, according to him, the words, "בני ראובן" do  not come to identify the tribe of Datan, Aviram and On, but rather are the object of the word "ויקח".]  As such, Abarbanel posits that the Reubenites were a significant portion of the rebels.

³⁹ Though each had an individual gripe, they all questioned why power was concentrated in the family of Moshe ad Aharon rather than being distributed more equally.

⁴⁰ See Hoil Moshe Shemot 20:20, Bemidbar 1:2 and his opinion in Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood.

⁴¹ According to him, these people were not actually attempting to effect a change of policy and recognized that the priesthood was to remain in the hands of the tribe of Levi. However, they burned with a desire to get closer to Hashem through active sacrificial service, even at the pain of death. [Cf. his reading of the episode of ma'apilim whom he also depicts as acting out of noble motives, cognizant that their actions might nonetheless be fatal.]

⁴² As the other commentators do not have the Levites (excluding Korach) play a significant role in the rebellion (or do not single out the firstborns), this is not a problem for them.

⁴³ As priests are mentioned before the erection of the Tabernacle and appointment of Aharon (see Shemot 19:22: "וְגַם הַכֹּהֲנִים הַנִּגָּשִׁים אֶל ה' יִתְקַדָּשׁוּ"), Ibn Ezra and others suggest that such a position existed and was held by the firstborns.

⁴⁴ Abarbanel further claims that, at least originally, it was also meant to test the claims of the Reubenites against Yehuda/Yosef. It is not clear, though, why this would be proven via the offering of incense, a cultic rite.  It is further difficult how, practically, the same test could simultaneously choose those worthy of being Levites and those worthy of ruling, considering that these would be different groups. Regardless, see below that Abarbanel posits that in the end, there was a change of plan and the Reubenites did not participate in the incense test.

⁴⁵ See his comments to 17:18.

⁴⁶ See Ramban who notes that the language of "אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ' is reminiscent of earlier statements of Hashem relating to the selection of the Levites: "וְהָיוּ לִי הַלְוִיִּם", and the firstborns: "כִּי לִי כׇּל בְּכוֹר" (Bemidbar 3:12-13). The test is meant to demonstrate which of these two groups is truly His (לו). Cf. Netziv who suggests that the phrase "אֶת אֲשֶׁר לוֹ' alludes back to Moshe's cry "מִי לה' אֵלָי" at the Sin of the Golden Calf and therefore hints to the Levites who answered Moshe's call and proved themselves to be Hashem's.

⁴⁷ Abarbanel adds that "אֵת אֲשֶׁר יִבְחַר בּוֹ" refers to the contest between Reuven and Yehuda/ Yosef. [See above note that he maintains that the incense test was originally supposed to address the Reubenites' concerns as well.]

⁴⁸ According to many of these sources, Datan and Aviram had joined in the original complaints against Aharon and the tribe of Levi as well.  They simply had additional grievances which also needed to be addressed. See Ibn Ezra who explains the doubling in Datan and Aviram's words, "כִּי תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ גַּם הִשְׂתָּרֵר" to refer to the power held by both Aharon and Moshe.

⁴⁹ Abarbanel suggests that Moshe thought to offer them some special portion or other position of leadership upon arrival in Israel so as to appease them.  Datan and Avram retorrted that as they are all doomed to die in the wilderness his gesture is worthless.

⁵⁰ See above bullet that, according to Abarbanel, originally Datan and Aviram's claims were to be disproved through the incense test together with those of everyone else. In face of their refusal to negotiate with Moshe, however, Moshe changed his mind and devised a new test for them alone. Abarbanel explains that it is this change in plan which necessitated Moshe's repeated instructions to Korach "אַתָּה וְכׇל עֲדָתְךָ הֱיוּ לִפְנֵי י״י אַתָּה וָהֵם וְאַהֲרֹן מָחָר", in which he excluded Datan and Aviram. [Others explain the repetition by positing a different change in plan, that Aharon was now to be included in the test, but had not been before.]

⁵¹ Abarbanel, instead, claims that Moshe is speaking of each of the three issues being contested - the choice of Aharon, the selection of tribe of Levi, and the tribal status of Yehuda and Yosef.

⁵² The verses are somewhat ambiguous regarding the fate of Korach himself. From Bemidbar 16:27 and 26:10, it sounds as if he shared the fate of Datan and Aviram.  On the other hand, Devarim 11:6 mentions only Datan and Aviram as perishing in the earth, omitting Korach.  [See also Bemidbar 16:27 which similarly has only Datan and Aviram emerging from their tents, and 16:27 which mentions Korach's possessions being swallowed, but not Korach himself.]  Ibn Ezra, Abarbanel, and Hoil Moshe all attempt to prove that Korach was burned together with the 250 men. As he, like they, protested on cultic grounds, it is logical that they all were punished in the same manner. See, though, the opinion in Bavli Sanhedrin 110a, which suggests that Korach received a dual punishment, being both burned and swallowed. This possibility, too, would make sense according to this approach which presents Korach as being the ringleader who united both groups of rebels.

⁵³ See, for example, Shemot 31:2, 35:34, Bemidbar 1:21-39, or Bemidbar 3:6.

⁵⁴ Cf. Midrash Aggadah Buber 17:28.