Midrash su Salmi 119:176

Said R. Jose b. Chanina: "Four decrees did Moses decree upon Israel, and four prophets came and abolished them. Moses said (Deut. 33, 28) And Israel dwelt in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone. Amos, however, abolished it, as it is said (7, 5) I beseech Thee; How should Jacob stand? For he is small. Then immediately in (Ib. 6) The Lord bethought … this also shall not be. Moses said (Deut. 28, 65) And among these nations shalt thou have no repose. Jeremiah came and abolished it, as it is written (31, 2) Even Israel, when I go to cause him to rest. Moses said (Ex. 34, 7) Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children. Ezekiel, however, came and abolished it, by saying (18, 4)The soul that sinneth, it shall die. Moses said (Lev. 26, 38) And ye shall perish among the nations. Isaiah came and abolished it by saying (27, 13) And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great horn shall be blown; and they shall come that were lost in the land of Assyria, etc." Rab said: "I am [nevertheless] afraid of the passage, Ye shall be lost among the nations," whereupon R. Papa remarked: "Perhaps this means like a lost article, which is looked after by the owner, as the passage says (Ps. 119, 176) I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Thy servant." We must say that he refers to the end of same, The land of your enemies shall consume you. Mar Zutra, and according to others, R. Ashi, opposed this, contending that it may refer to the consummation of pumpkins and cucumbers [which are only eaten partly].

Our masters say: Even if they had garments at the cleaner, they (i.e., the garments) came rolling and were swallowed up along with < their owners >. R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: Even a needle which had been borrowed (Sh'WLH) from them by an Israelite, it also was swallowed up along with them.¹⁹ySahn. 10:1 (28a). It is so stated (in Numb. 16:33): SO THEY AND ALL THAT BELONGED TO THEM WENT DOWN ALIVE INTO SHEOL(Sh'WLH).²⁰I.e., with what had been borrowed (Sh’WLH). Once they had been swallowed up, they cried out and said: Moses is king and prophet, Aaron is high priest, and Torah has been given from the heavens. Moreover, the sound of their voice went through the whole camp of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 16:34): THEN ALL ISRAEL, SINCE THEY WERE ROUND ABOUT THEM, FLED AT THEIR CRY…. Why all this? Because he had sided against the Holy One. But nevertheless, in the world to come they are going to rise.²¹Cf. ARN, A, 36; Sanh. 10:3; also Sanh. 109b; 110b. R. Judah ben Betera teaches that they do have a share in the world to come. What is written about it (in Numb. 16:33, cont.)? AND THEY VANISHED FROM THE MIDST OF THE COMMUNITY. It is also stated by David (in Ps. 119:176): I HAVE GONE ASTRAY LIKE A LOST (rt. 'BD) SHEEP; SEEK OUT YOUR SERVANT, FOR I DO NOT FORGET YOUR COMMANDMENTS. Just as a loss (rt. 'BD), which is written concerning David, is going to be searched for; so (in Numb. 16:33) this loss (rt. 'BD) is going to be searched for. So also you find that Hannah prayed for them in a prayer,²²Tefillah. This word suggests the Eighteen Benedictions (Shemoneh ‘Esreh), which is also called the tefillah. Moreover I Sam. 2:6 contains wording similar to the second of these prayers, which concerns the resurrection. which is uttered (in I Sam. 2:6): THE LORD BRINGS DEATH AND GIVES LIFE; HE BRINGS DOWN TO SHEOL AND RAISES UP.²³Cf. above, Numb. 5:27 at the end, and the note there.

Spies … and the congregation of Korah, etc. (Fol. 109, b) Our Rabbis were taught: The congregation of Korah has no share in the world to come, as it is said (Num. 16) And the earth covered them — in this world, and they disappeared from the midst of the congregation, — in the world to come. So says R. Akiba. R. Juda b. Bathyra says: "They are as a lost thing for which the loser inquires, as it is said (Ps. 119, 176) I have gone erringly astray, like a lost sheep; seek thy servant, for thy commandments have I not forgotten." (Num. 16, 1) And Korah took (vayikach). Resh Lakish said: "He bought a very bad purchase for himself." Korah, i.e., he has made Israel bald-headed; ben Yizhar, i.e., he who made the world hot as in the middle of the day. Ben Kehath, i.e., he who made blunt the teeth of his parents; ben Levi, i.e., he who became a companion to the Gehenna. But why is not also written ben Jacob? R. Samuel b. Isaac said: "Jacob's prayer (Gen. 49, 6) Unto their secret shall my soul not come, refers to the spies; unto their assembly my glory shall not be united, refers to the cougregation of Korah." Dathan and Abiram; i.e., Dathan means who disregarded the law of God; Abiram, who hardened his heart not to repent. On, who sat in the mourning [repented upon his sin and withdrew from Korah]. Peleth, for whom wonders were made; ben Reuben, who [carefuly] observed it and understood [that it was wrong]. Rab said: "On ben Peleth was saved by his wife [from being among the congregation of Korah]. She said to him: 'What is the difference to you? If Moses will be master, you are only a disciple, and you will be in the same position if Korah will be the master.' And to his answer: 'What shall I do, I was with them in consultation, and swore to take part with them?' she said, 'I know that the whole congregation is holy, as it is written (Num. 16, 3) For the whole of the congregation are all of them holy, remain in your house and I will save thee.' She made him drink wine to intoxication, and she made him sleep in the house, and she herself sat outside at the entrance of the house, (Fol. 110) uncovered her head, loosened her hair, and whoever came to his house, to call upon On, when he saw the uncovered head of the woman, returned. Meantime, the congregation was swallowed. On the other hand, the wife of Korah said to him: 'See what Moses did. He proclaimed himself as a king, his brother he made highpriest, the sons of his brother for adjuncts of the high-priests. Heave-offering he commanded to give to the priests, and even from tithes, which are for the Levites, he commands to give again one-tenth to the priest. And not only this, he made of you fools by commanding all the Levites to shave off all their hair, so that you should look like prisoners.' And to his answer: 'He himself also did so,' she said, 'Since all the glory belongs to him, he does not care, etc.' And this is meant by the passage (Pr. 14, 1) The wise among women buildeth her house, — referring to the wife of On ben Peleth. But the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands, — referring to the wife of Korah."