Comentario sobre Números 16:10

ויקרב אתך AND HE HATH BROUGHT THEE NEAR to that service from which He has excluded the rest of the congregation of Israel.

ויקרב אתך ואת כל אחיך בני לוי, "He has brought you close together with all your brethren the sons of Levi." What is the meaning of the הבדלה, separation, of which Moses spoke in the previous verse and the הקריבה, the bringing near, of which he speaks in our verse? Maybe Moses referred to two different levels of spiritual elevation. The הבדלה, is the lower level of elevation which all the members of the tribe of Levi participated in and which resulted in their elevation vis-a-vis עדת ישראל. The הקריבה referred to the special status conferred on the Kehatites, whose task of transporting the Holy Ark, etc. reflected their superior status even amongst the Levites. Moses used the word אתך, "especially you personally," indicating that all his brothers depended on Korach and looked up to him.

ויקרב אותך, “he drew you near, etc.” Although Gershon was Levi’s firstborn, and had a claim to be given precedence over Kehat his brother in being given the privilege of transporting the Holy Aark, etc., Hashem demoted him in a manner of speaking in favour of your grandfather, and, as a result, in your favour. You are privileged to carry the Holy Ark on your shoulders.

To the service from which He distanced. Not that He brought you near to Himself, given that he had already said “to bring you closer to Him” (v. 9).

ויקרב אותך ואת אחיך, “and He has brought you near as well as your fellow Levites after you. Korach was a grandson of Kehat, who was one of the Levites charged with carrying the Holy Ark on their shoulders, a privilege reserved only for Kehat and his offspring but not for other Levites. They were also the head of the Levites performing the songs in the Tabernacle as spelled out in Chronicles I16,5.

ובקשתם גם כהונה, “and you also demand a share in the priesthood?”