This week we read the story of Korah’s rebellion. After last week’s reading, everything changed in the Wilderness: following the sin of the spies, God told Israel that no one over the age of twenty would enter the Promised Land. Israel then tried to attack the Amalekites on their own, without God’s presence with them, and were utterly defeated. Reality has now sunk in — no one in this generation is going to see the Land. Korah is grieving. He realizes he is going to die in the wilderness, and nothing can change that as long as Moses and Aaron are leading. But maybe, just maybe, a change in leadership could buy a second chance. Korah goes to the tribe of Reuben and convinces Dathan and Abiram to join him — two men already suffering for their ancestor Reuben’s sin, now being penalized again for the sin of the spies. They’re quick to help Korah rewrite the story.
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The root of Korah’s name means “to make oneself bald,” a mourning practice among the peoples of Canaan. Moses actually addresses this directly:
“Ye are the children of Jehovah your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. For thou art a holy people unto Jehovah thy God.” — Deuteronomy 14:1–2
That detail clues us into Korah’s state of mind. Ancient rabbinic tradition tells us Korah made garments out of the fabric used to cover the holy items of the Tabernacle, then told Moses that all the people were holy, not just Moses and Aaron. Moses responds by telling Korah and his followers to offer incense before God, just as Aaron does, and let God show who He has actually chosen. God chooses Moses and Aaron. The ground opens and swallows Korah, his family, and the tents and families of Dathan and Abiram.
Here is the irony: God treated Korah exactly according to his own words and actions. Korah claimed everyone was holy, and wrapped himself in fabric meant to protect the people from what was holy. So God opened the earth and swallowed him — protecting the people from the danger Korah himself had become. He wanted to be set apart. That is exactly what happened.
The very next day, the people rose up against Moses and Aaron again, and a plague broke out that took 14,700 lives before Aaron ran through the camp with his incense burner and stopped it. The lesson for us is simple: be careful who you allow to influence you, living or dead. Korah’s influence outlived him. Who are you allowing to influence you?