Midras Ayub 15:28: Bamidbar Rabbah

Another matter, “and his offering” – Rabbi Pinḥas ben Yair said: Why, regarding the offerings of all the princes, is it written: “His offering [korbano],” [and] “goats [atudim],”³³Atudim is spelled ayin, tav, [vav], dalet, and yod. The vav can be omitted. [both] without a vav, and regarding Naḥshon, “and his offering [vekorbano],” [and] “goats [atudim],” each with a vav. Vekorbano, why is there an extra vav? It is corresponding to six matters that were introduced into the world on that day. First for the Divine Presence that rested in Israel, as it is stated: “They shall craft me a Tabernacle and I will dwell in their midst” (Exodus 25:8). First for the princes, first for the Priestly Benediction, as it is stated: “Aaron raised his hands toward the people, and blessed them” (Leviticus 9:22). First for the partition of the camp of the Divine Presence,³⁴There is a partition, namely the sheets around the courtyard of the Tabernacle, which delineate the camp of the Divine Presence. No one who is impure may enter it. first for the prohibition of an improvised altar, as it is written: “Beware, lest you offer up your burnt offerings [in any place that you see]” (Deuteronomy 12:13). First for the descent of the fire, as it is written: “Fire emerged from before the Lord and consumed upon the altar…” (Leviticus 9:24).
Therefore, let a descendant of Naḥshon with six perfect attributes come and build the foundation of the Temple, just as it says: “One of the lads answered [and said: Behold, I have seen a son of Yishai the Bethlehemite, one who knows to play” (I Samuel 16:18),³⁵The verse refers to David. His lineage appears in Ruth 4:18–22. Naḥshon was his great-great-great-grandfather. he knows how to ask, “a mighty warrior” (I Samuel 16:18), he knows how to answer, “a man of war” (I Samuel 16:18), he knows how to give and take in the battle of Torah, “one who is discerning of matters” (I Samuel 16:18); he understands one matter from another matter, “and a man of form” (I Samuel 16:18), he displays understanding in halakha, “and the Lord is with him” (I Samuel 16:18); the halakha is in accordance with his opinion in every instance. That is why atudim is with a vav, as David, who descended from him, was blessed with six blessings. Atudim is nothing other than an expression of standing ready, just as it says: “Which are ready to become heaps” (Job 15:28), and it says: “And ready them for you in the field” (Proverbs 24:27).

Job said: “He will dwell in desolate cities, in houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps. He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure; nothing of his will extend over the earth. He will not turn away from darkness; the flame will dry his shoots, and they will pass away from the breath of his mouth. Let him not trust in futility that misleads, for futility will be his compensation. He will wither before his time, and his treetop will not be green. He will shed his unripe grapes like a vine, and he will cast off his blossoms like an olive tree. For the company of the hypocrite will be desolate, and fire will consume the tents of bribery” (Job 15:28–34).
“He will dwell in desolate cities, in houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps” – this is Koraḥ, who was a treasurer in Pharaoh’s palace, and had the keys of his treasuries in his possession. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘What benefit do you have? You do not control them, as it is stated: “Houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps [legalim].”’ For whom are they destined? It if for those who are exiled [golim], for Israel who were exiled from Egypt. But Koraḥ, he will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure – even when he dies, it will not endure.²³It will not be transferred to his heirs. “Nothing of theirs will extend over the earth. He will not turn away from darkness” – he will never turn away from the darkness.²⁴The darkness of Gehenna.
“The flame will dry his shoots [yonakto]” – our Rabbis said: Koraḥ’s wife, when she descended to Gehenna, she extinguished it.²⁵According to this explanation, it is saying that she would never leave there. There is an alternative explanation that she extinguished its fire. She was so wicked that the fire that was designated to burn her was so great that it extinguished the fire of Gehenna.
“And they will pass away from the breath of his mouth” – so he will not say: ‘Samuel is destined to emerge from Me and for his sake, I will be spared.’ He [Korah], too, “will pass away from the breath of his mouth. Let him not trust in futility that misleads” – the Holy One blessed be He is shouting at the two hundred and fifty who entered into the dispute along with him: ‘Do not believe, he is mistaken: Do not trust him when he has strayed.’
“It will be concluded before his time” – before his time to die arrives, he will cause himself to die. “He will shed his unripe grapes like a vine” – this is his wife.
“He will cast off his blossoms like an olive tree” – these are his children. ²⁶See Psalms 128:3: “Your wife is like a fruitful vine...Your children like olive saplings….” Why? "For the company of the hypocrite will be desolate, and fire will consume the tents of bribery” – “Fire emerged from before the Lord” (Numbers 16:35).

Job said: “He will dwell in desolate cities, in houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps. He will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure; nothing of his will extend over the earth. He will not turn away from darkness; the flame will dry his shoots, and they will pass away from the breath of his mouth. Let him not trust in futility that misleads, for futility will be his compensation. He will wither before his time, and his treetop will not be green. He will shed his unripe grapes like a vine, and he will cast off his blossoms like an olive tree. For the company of the hypocrite will be desolate, and fire will consume the tents of bribery” (Job 15:28–34).
“He will dwell in desolate cities, in houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps” – this is Koraḥ, who was a treasurer in Pharaoh’s palace, and had the keys of his treasuries in his possession. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘What benefit do you have? You do not control them, as it is stated: “Houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps [legalim].”’ For whom are they destined? It if for those who are exiled [golim], for Israel who were exiled from Egypt. But Koraḥ, he will not become rich, and his wealth will not endure – even when he dies, it will not endure.²³It will not be transferred to his heirs. “Nothing of theirs will extend over the earth. He will not turn away from darkness” – he will never turn away from the darkness.²⁴The darkness of Gehenna.
“The flame will dry his shoots [yonakto]” – our Rabbis said: Koraḥ’s wife, when she descended to Gehenna, she extinguished it.²⁵According to this explanation, it is saying that she would never leave there. There is an alternative explanation that she extinguished its fire. She was so wicked that the fire that was designated to burn her was so great that it extinguished the fire of Gehenna.
“And they will pass away from the breath of his mouth” – so he will not say: ‘Samuel is destined to emerge from Me and for his sake, I will be spared.’ He [Korah], too, “will pass away from the breath of his mouth. Let him not trust in futility that misleads” – the Holy One blessed be He is shouting at the two hundred and fifty who entered into the dispute along with him: ‘Do not believe, he is mistaken: Do not trust him when he has strayed.’
“It will be concluded before his time” – before his time to die arrives, he will cause himself to die. “He will shed his unripe grapes like a vine” – this is his wife.
“He will cast off his blossoms like an olive tree” – these are his children. ²⁶See Psalms 128:3: “Your wife is like a fruitful vine...Your children like olive saplings….” Why? "For the company of the hypocrite will be desolate, and fire will consume the tents of bribery” – “Fire emerged from before the Lord” (Numbers 16:35).