Parashat Korach (קרח): Numbers 16–18

Readings

• Numbers 16–18
• 1Samuel 11:14–12:22
• Acts 5:1–11

Korach-related studies

When these men tried to tell God who was in charge, it didn’t go well (Numbers 16–18)

Jeff June 24, 2023

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh/Korach (“Korah,” Numbers 16–18) presents us a difficult lesson in the dangers of democracy. As Americans, we pride ourselves on living in a country where all citizens who are age 18-plus are granted a vote in how our school boards, cities, counties, states and the nation itself are governed.  Korach and those following him wanted to rule God’s house itself in a similar manner. Ambassadors and disciples of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) should carefully and humbly take to heart how God’s judgment utterly humiliated and destroyed Korach and his rebels.

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What strong, selfless leadership looks like (Numbers 16–17; Matthew 12; Luke 6)

Jeff July 2, 2022

How did Moses, Aaron, Samuel and Yeshua haMashiakh (Jesus the Christ) responded to those who rejected their leadership and betrayed them in the most heartbreaking and cruel ways? They responded to insult and betrayal with dignity and humility, asking God to judge those who slandered and betrayed them, not seeking their own vengeance. The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh, covering the infamous Korah rebellion in Numbers 16-18, and companion passages from 1Samuel and the Gospels show us how the Golden Rule is a key to transforming leaders and individuals to look out for the needs of others to ensure the survival of…

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How to pray for the enemies of Heaven (Leviticus 16–18)

Daniel June 12, 2021

Korach and his merry band of insurrectionists used populist propaganda, revisionist history, blame shifting and faux humility to instigate a popular uprising against Moses and Aaron to return to Egypt to die there so they could avoid suffering God’s judgement that they would die in the wilderness over the course of 40 years. The people followed along because they would rather blame Moses and Aaron for their lack of faith and their eventual death sentence than themselves for their failure to take what was promised to them. Fast-forward about 1,500 years: Israel’s leaders who confronted Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) about His ministry…

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‘Who put you in charge?’: Korach, ancient revolutionary for equity and accountability (Numbers 16–18)

Daniel June 27, 2020

The account of Korach/Korakh/Qorakh (Korah) and his rebellion within ancient Israel between the departure from slavery in Egypt and the entrance into the Promised Land is a classic study in political science. His message hinges on two talking points that politicians of all stripes use today to sway the masses: * Pursue equity, not just equality. * Cultural decline is caused by some other group. We see in the Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh (Numbers 16–18) and in the account of the trial of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) lessons on how to discern the motivations of popular movements and those who aspire to leadership….

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Numbers 16–17: How humility teaches leadership

Jeff July 5, 2019

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh (“Korah,” Numbers 16–18) can be quite chilling, especially for those of us who have serious challenges with authority. We also see a display of the adage “Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future” coming to fruition right before our eyes. I used to scoff at the idea of knowing who you are by the friends you keep, but it is so true. Your friends inevitably rub off on you, just as Korach’s rebellious and insolent spirit rubbed off on Dathan and Abiram and then trickled down to the entire congregation. We’ll explore how…

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Numbers 16:1–18:32: Earth-shattering warning against coveting

Daniel June 16, 2018

There’s a difference between an “argument to Heaven” and an “argument to man.” In the former, we are showing a person how their conduct contradicts God’s word. In the latter, we are trying to dominate the other person. We want the person to accept us as an authority, rather than pointing one to accept God’s authority.  What is the goal? To gain influence or to come closer to God. Even if our “argument to Heaven” is not executed perfectly, if the conclusion of the matter brings both parties closer to God’s will, it has accomplished a righteous goal. We see this…

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Numbers 16–18: Korah, an early anti-Messiah

Daniel June 24, 2017

There are no shortcuts to holding a position of authority in God’s kingdom. People who try to take shortcuts to greatness will not prosper in the end. Just as Aaron and Moses are examples of how God and Yeshua interact with each other, Korah is an example of the “spirit of antichrist” (1John 4:3). Novelist Catherine Aird wrote, “If you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.” This fits very well this week’s Torah reading, aptly named קֹרַח Korakh/Korach, after the leader of this merry band of rebels.

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Numbers 16–18: No shortcuts to authority in God’s kingdom

Daniel July 9, 2016

The Torah reading קֹרַח Korakh/Korach is a study in what it means to rebel against God and opens a window into the destructive power of antichrist.

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Numbers 16: Korah rebels against God’s anointed

The betrayal by Korakh (Korah) against Aharon (Aaron) mirrors the rejection of Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus) by leaders of Yisrael (Israel) at in the first century A.D. We can see a foreshadowing of Yeshua’s grace through Aharon’s reaction to the rebellion.

Numbers 16-17: Rebel against God’s appointed leaders, rebel against God

When we are not satisfied with the position God placed us and we covet someone else’s job or position, we are in grave spiritual danger. We may experience physical consequences for our rebellion, maybe not in the extreme manner recorded in Numbers 16–17, but God does not like complainers. Any insight we have about our condition comes from God.

Numbers 17–18: Aaron’s budding leadership and God’s fairness

“That’s not fair!” The impulse to feel jealousy and resentment for seemingly being unjustly passed over for promotion, rewards, privilege, talent, looks, opportunity, etc. is what we battle against from cradle to grave. And the battle Moshe (Moses) and Aharon (Aaron) faced with fellow leaders of Yisrael (Israel) and of Levi parallels the jealousy Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus) faced with leaders of Yisrael and why they plotted to kill Him.

Numbers 18-19: High priest as a type of the Messiah; lesson of the mysterious red heifer

There is a very special but blunt message in Numbers 18–19, targeted to the High Priest and his family. Moses is not addressed at all. God impresses upon the High Priest family and the Levites the seriousness of their charge. They are given certain rights within in the community of Israel but also gives them very serious responsibilities. God also places serious consequences on the High Priestly family and the Levites if they are derelict in their Temple duties.

Haftarah: 1Samuel 11:14–12:22

1st Samuel 11 — Saul proves himself as a leader

The “Snake” of Ammon picks a fight with Israel, giving Saul his first test as leader. His success cemented his authority. Yet some despising of him mirrors the rejection of Yeshua as God’s Messiah.

1st Samuel 12 — Samuel’s ‘farewell’

1st Samuel 12 records a sad and foreboding “farewell” for one of ancient Israel’s most influential prophets and judges. The leaders tell Shmuel (Samuel) to retire, because they want a powerful ruler like the other nations. This treatment is similar to the rebellion centuries earlier against Moses and centuries later against Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Christ).

1st Samuel 11-17 recap

The pattern we find in 1st Samuel is a pattern of preparing and delivering. He sends two witnesses for each delivery, a preparer and deliverer. We continue with this pattern with the beginning of Saul’s reign. These stories are not just history, or entertainment. The book of 1st Samuel also shows us how Sh’mu’el (Samuel), Sha’ul (Saul), Yahunatan/Yonatan (Jonathan) and David are a foreshadowing of the Messiah to come. This history helped the prophets see and reveal the Messiah to us.SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave