מַה־יִּקָּחֲךָ֥ לִבֶּ֑ךָ וּֽמַה־יִּרְזְמ֥וּן עֵינֶֽיךָ׃
Apa yang diajarkan hatimu kepadamu, dan apa yang diisyaratkan oleh matamu?
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 16:1:) “Now Korah […] took.” What is written above the matter (in Numb. 15:38)?5Numb. R. 18:3. “Speak unto the Children of Israel and tell them to make tassels (zizit) for themselves.’” Korah quickly said to Moses, “In the case of a prayer shawl (tallit) which is all blue, what is the rule about it being exempt from [having] the tassel?” Moses said to him, “[Such a prayer shawl] is required to have the tassels.” Korah said to him, “Would not a prayer shawl which is all blue exempt itself, when four [blue] threads exempt it? In the case of a house which is full of [scriptural] books, what is the rule about it being exempt it from [having] the mezuzah (which contains only two passages of scripture)?” [Moses] said to him, “[Such a house] is required to have the mezuzah.” [Korah] said to him, “Since the whole Torah has two hundred and seventy-five parashiot in it6Cf. yShab. 16:1 (15c); Soferim 16:10; M. Pss. 22:19, according to which there are 175 parashiot in the Torah where an expression of speaking, saying, or commanding occurs. See also Alfa Beta deRabbi ‘Aqiva, longer recension, Tsade (Eisenstein, p. 421). and they do not exempt the house [from having the mezuzah], would the two parashiot which are in the mezuzah exempt the house?” [He also] said to him, “These are things about which you have not been commanded. Rather you are inventing them [by taking them] out of your own heart.” Here is what is written (in Numb. 16:1), “Now Korah […] took.” (Numb. 16:1:) “Now Korah […] took.” Now “took (rt.: lqh)” can only be a word of discord, in that his heart carried him away (rt.: lqh). Thus is [the word] used (in Job 15:12), “How your heart has carried you away (rt.: lqh) […].” This explains what Moses said to them (in Numb. 16:9), “Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you [from the congregation to draw you near unto Himself, to perform the service of the Lord's tabernacle …?” Plus] that whole passage up to (vs. 29), “If these people die the common death of every person.” The sages have said, “Korah was a great sage and was one of the bearers of the ark, as stated (in Numb. 7:9), ‘But to the children of Kohath He gave no [wagons], because they had the service of the holy objects, which they carried on their shoulders.’” Now Korah was the son of Izhar, [who was] the son of Kohath. When Moses said (in Numb. 15:38), “And put on the tassel of each corner a thread of blue,” what did Korah do? He immediately ordered them to make two hundred and fifty blue shawls for those two hundred and fifty heads of sanhedraot who rose up against Moses to wrap themselves in, just as it is stated (in Numb. 16:2), “And they rose up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty men from the children of Israel.” And who are they? (Numb. 16:2, cont.:) “Princes of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.” Korah arose and made them a banquet at which they all wrapped themselves in blue prayer shawls. [When] Aaron's sons came to receive their dues, [namely the] breast and right thigh,7I.e., the priestly share of the animals slaughtered for the feast. See Lev.7:31-32. they arose against them and said to them, “Who commanded you to receive such? Was it not Moses? [If so,] we shall not give you anything, as the Holy One, blessed be He, has not commanded it.” They came and informed Moses. He went to placate8Rt.: PYS. See the Gk.: peithein, peisai in the aroist. them. They immediately confronted him, as stated (ibid.), “And they rose up against Moses.” And who were they? Elizur ben Shedeur and his companions (the princes), the men (according to Numb. 1:17) “who were mentioned by name.” Although the text has not publicized9From PRSM. Cf. Gk: parresiazesthai. their [names], it has given clues10Gk.: semeia. to their [identity], so that you [can] identify them from the [various] verses. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a scion of good parentage who stole articles from the bathhouse. The owner of what was stolen did not want to publish his [name. Rather,] he began to give clues about his [identity]. When they said to him, “Who stole your articles,” he said, “A scion of good parentage, a tall person with beautiful teeth and black hair.” After he had given his clues, they knew who he was. So also here where the text has concealed them and not specified their names, it comes and gives clues to their [identity]. You know who they are. It is stated elsewhere (in Numb. 1:16), “These were elected by the congregation, princes of their ancestral tribes, heads of thousands within Israel.” Then it is written (in vs. 17), “So Moses and Aaron took these men who were mentioned by name.” Now here it is written (in Numb. 16:2-3), “princes of the congregation, elected by the assembly, men of renown. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron.”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Numb. 16:1:) NOW KORAH < … > TOOK. NOW … TOOK (rt.: LQH) can only be a word of discord, in that his heart carried him away (rt.: LQH). Thus is <the word> used (in Job 15:12): HOW YOUR HEART HAS CARRIED YOU AWAY (rt.: LQH). This explains what Moses said to them (in Numb. 16:9): IS IT TOO SMALL A THING FOR YOU THAT THE GOD OF ISRAEL HAS SEPARATED YOU <FROM THE CONGREGATION TO DRAW YOU NEAR UNTO HIMSELF, TO PERFORM THE SERVICE OF THE LORD's TABERNACLE> …? <plus> that whole passage up to (vs. 29:) <IF THESE PEOPLE DIE> THE COMMON DEATH OF EVERY PERSON <….> The sages have said: Korah was a great sage and was one of the bearers of the Ark, as stated (in Numb. 7:9): BUT TO THE CHILDREN OF KOHATH HE GAVE NO <WAGONS>, BECAUSE THEY HAD THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY OBJECTS, WHICH THEY CARRIED ON THEIR SHOULDERS. Now Korah was the son of Izhar, <who was> the son of Kohath. When Moses said (in Numb. 15:38): AND PUT ON THE TASSEL OF EACH CORNER A THREAD OF BLUE, what did he do? He immediately ordered them to make two hundred and fifty blue shawls for those two hundred and fifty heads of sanhedria who rose up against Moses to wrap themselves in, just as it is stated (in Numb. 16:2): AND THEY ROSE UP AGAINST MOSES, [TOGETHER WITH MEN FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY <PRINCES OF THE CONGREGATION>….] Korah arose and made them a banquet at which they all wrapped themselves themselves in blue prayer shawls. <When> Aaron's sons came to receive their dues, <namely> breast and right thigh,7I.e., the priestly share of the animals slaughtered for the feast. See Lev.7:31-32. they arose against them and said to them: Who commanded you to receive such? <The priests> said: Moses. <Korah's group> replied and said: We shall not give you anything, because the Holy One has not commanded it. They came and informed Moses. He went to placate8Rt.: PYS. See the Gk.: peithein, peisai in the aroist. them. They immediately confronted him, as stated (ibid.): AND THEY ROSE UP AGAINST MOSES. And who were they? Elizur ben Shedeur and his companions, the men (according to Numb. 1:17) WHO WERE MENTIONED BY NAME. Although the text has not publicized9From PRSM. Cf. Gk: parresiazesthai. their <names>, it has given clues10Gk.: semeia. to their < identity>, so that you <can> identify them from the scriptural context. A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a scion of good parentage who stole articles from the bathhouse. The owner of what was stolen did not want to publish his <name>, <but> he began to give clues to his <identity>. When they said to him: Who stole your articles? He said: A scion of good parentage, a tall person with beautiful teeth and beautiful hair. After he had given his clues, they knew who he was. So also here where the text has concealed them and not specified their names, it comes and gives clues to their <identity>. You know who they are. It is stated elsewhere (in Numb. 1:16): THESE WERE ELECTED BY THE CONGREGATION, PRINCES OF THEIR ANCESTRAL TRIBES, HEADS OF THOUSANDS WITHIN ISRAEL. Then it is written (in vs. 17): SO MOSES AND AARON TOOK THESE MEN WHO WERE MENTIONED BY NAME. Now here it is written (in Numb. 16:2): PRINCES OF THE CONGREGATION, ELECTED BY THE ASSEMBLY, MEN OF RENOWN.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“Koraḥ…took” – what is written prior to this matter? “They shall make for themselves a fringe [tzitzit]” (Numbers 15:38). Koraḥ interrupted and said to Moses: ‘A garment that is crafted completely of sky blue wool, would it be exempt from tzitzit?’ He said to him: ‘It is obligated in tzitzit.’ Koraḥ said to him: ‘A garment that is crafted completely of sky blue wool does not exempt itself, but four threads exempt it? A house that is filled with Torah scrolls, would it be exempt from mezuza?’ He said to him: ‘It is obligated in mezuza.’ He said to him: ‘The whole Torah in its entirety, which consists of two hundred and seventy-five paragraphs, does not exempt the house, but one paragraph4Actually there are two paragraphs in the mezuza. that is in the mezuza exempts the house?’ He said to him: ‘You were not commanded these matters, but rather, you are fabricating them from your heart.’ That is what is written: “Koraḥ took.”
Vayikaḥ is nothing other than an expression of division, like the matter that is stated: “To what does your heart take you [yikaḥakha]?” (Job 15:12). That is what Moses says to them, as it is stated: “Is it not enough…that the God of Israel has set you apart?” (Numbers 16:9). The Sages said that Koraḥ was an extremely wise man, and among the bearers of the Ark, as it is stated: “But he did not give to the sons of Kehat, because the sacred service is upon them” (Numbers 7:9), and Koraḥ was the son of Yitzhar the son of Kehat. When Moses said: “They shall place on the fringe of the corner a sky blue thread” (Numbers 15:38), he immediately commanded, and they prepared two hundred and fifty sky blue garments, and the two hundred and fifty leaders of the Sanhedrin, who stood against Moses, as it is stated: “They arose before Moses, and two hundred and fifty people from the children of Israel, princes of the congregation, the distinguished of the convocation” (Numbers 16:2), wrapped themselves in them. Koraḥ stood and made a feast for them and they all wrapped themselves in the sky blue garments. Aaron’s sons came to take their gifts, the breast and the thigh.5The meat at the feast was from animals which were sacrificed as peace offerings. The breast and thigh of the peace offering belonged to the priests (Maharzu). They stood and confronted them. They said to them: ‘Who commanded you to take these, was it not Moses? We will not give anything. The Omnipresent did not say so.’ They came and informed Moses. He went to placate them. They, immediately, stood against him to confront him – “before Moses” (Numbers 16:2).
“And two hundred and fifty people of the children of Israel” – who were they? They were Elitzur son of Shedeur6He was the prince of the tribe of Reuben, and his counterparts were the princes of the other tribes. The princes also joined the rebellion. and his counterparts – “These men who were designated by name” (Numbers 1:17). Although the verse did not make them public, it provided their distinguishing features, and from the verses, you understand that it is them. To what is this matter analogous? It is to a wellborn person who is found stealing garments from the bathhouse, but the owner of the stolen goods did not want to make him public. He began providing distinguishing features. They said to him: ‘Who stole your garments?’ He said to them: ‘That wellborn person of stature, with fine teeth, black hair, and a fine nose.’ Once he provided his distinguishing features, they knew who he was. Here, too, even though the verse did not identify them, it came and provided their distinguishing features, and you know who they are. It is stated elsewhere: “These are the distinguished of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they are the heads of the thousands of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name [beshemot]” (Numbers 1:16–17). And here it is stated: “Princes of the congregation, distinguished of the convocation, people of renown [shem]. They assembled against Moses and against Aaron” (Numbers 16:2–3).
Vayikaḥ is nothing other than an expression of division, like the matter that is stated: “To what does your heart take you [yikaḥakha]?” (Job 15:12). That is what Moses says to them, as it is stated: “Is it not enough…that the God of Israel has set you apart?” (Numbers 16:9). The Sages said that Koraḥ was an extremely wise man, and among the bearers of the Ark, as it is stated: “But he did not give to the sons of Kehat, because the sacred service is upon them” (Numbers 7:9), and Koraḥ was the son of Yitzhar the son of Kehat. When Moses said: “They shall place on the fringe of the corner a sky blue thread” (Numbers 15:38), he immediately commanded, and they prepared two hundred and fifty sky blue garments, and the two hundred and fifty leaders of the Sanhedrin, who stood against Moses, as it is stated: “They arose before Moses, and two hundred and fifty people from the children of Israel, princes of the congregation, the distinguished of the convocation” (Numbers 16:2), wrapped themselves in them. Koraḥ stood and made a feast for them and they all wrapped themselves in the sky blue garments. Aaron’s sons came to take their gifts, the breast and the thigh.5The meat at the feast was from animals which were sacrificed as peace offerings. The breast and thigh of the peace offering belonged to the priests (Maharzu). They stood and confronted them. They said to them: ‘Who commanded you to take these, was it not Moses? We will not give anything. The Omnipresent did not say so.’ They came and informed Moses. He went to placate them. They, immediately, stood against him to confront him – “before Moses” (Numbers 16:2).
“And two hundred and fifty people of the children of Israel” – who were they? They were Elitzur son of Shedeur6He was the prince of the tribe of Reuben, and his counterparts were the princes of the other tribes. The princes also joined the rebellion. and his counterparts – “These men who were designated by name” (Numbers 1:17). Although the verse did not make them public, it provided their distinguishing features, and from the verses, you understand that it is them. To what is this matter analogous? It is to a wellborn person who is found stealing garments from the bathhouse, but the owner of the stolen goods did not want to make him public. He began providing distinguishing features. They said to him: ‘Who stole your garments?’ He said to them: ‘That wellborn person of stature, with fine teeth, black hair, and a fine nose.’ Once he provided his distinguishing features, they knew who he was. Here, too, even though the verse did not identify them, it came and provided their distinguishing features, and you know who they are. It is stated elsewhere: “These are the distinguished of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they are the heads of the thousands of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name [beshemot]” (Numbers 1:16–17). And here it is stated: “Princes of the congregation, distinguished of the convocation, people of renown [shem]. They assembled against Moses and against Aaron” (Numbers 16:2–3).