"Korach was a clever fellow - what did he see to get involved in this folly? His mind's eye fooled him. He saw by prophetic vision a line of great men descending from him, including the prophet Samuel, who was the equal of Moses and Aaron together." (Midrash Tanhuma, 5)
At first glance, Korach's argument does not seem silly at all. "All of the congregation is holy, and God is in their midst." (Numbers 16:3) Is not Korach simply restating God's command to the entire nation, "You shall be holy, for I, God your Lord, am holy"? (Leviticus 19:1) What was so wrong with his claim? Why did Moses insist that only Aaron and his descendants could serve as priests?
Korach's mistake is rooted in the dialectic between two distinct forms of divine rule: inclusion (kirva), and selection (bechira). During some periods, service of God was inclusive, reaching out to all. At other times, God chose certain persons and places to bear a higher level of sanctity and closeness to the Divine, elevating the rest of the world through them.
A classic example of the historical give-and-take between these two conflicting approaches is the Torah's treatment of bamot, private altars used to bring offerings to God.
Until the Tabernacle was set up in Shilo, individuals were permitted to serve God on private altars throughout the country. During the 369 years that the Tabernacle stood in Shilo, these bamot were prohibited; all offerings to God had to be brought to the central service in Shilo. After the destruction of the Shilo Tabernacle, the bamot were again permitted. With the selection of the city of Jerusalem and the building of the Temple on Mount Moriah, however, the bamot were forever forbidden.
When permitted, these private altars could be established in any location. They allowed all to approach God; even non-priests could offer sacrifices. The periods when bamot were permitted reflect an inclusive form of divine worship, attracting all to approach God and serve Him. For the service in the Tabernacle and the Temple, on the other hand, only the descendants of Aaron were allowed to serve. When Shilo and later Jerusalem were chosen to host the Holy Ark, the divine service was limited to the boundaries of those cities, and their holy structures. Unlike the bamot, accessible to all, the Tabernacle and the Temple were enclosed buildings, set apart by walls and barriers. The various levels of holiness were spatially restricted. "That lies between my breasts" (Song of Songs 1:13) - the Divine Presence was confined to the space "between the two poles of the Ark." (Yoma 54a)
A second example of the contrast between these two approaches may be seen in the use of a single pillar (matzeiva) to serve God. The pillar was an open form of worship, attracting people to gather around it, without walls or restrictions. This form of divine service was appropriate for the time of Abraham, who tried to spread the concept of monotheism and God's Name throughout the world. In Moses' day, however, the accessible service of God though pillars became forbidden. After the election of the Jewish people, it became necessary to first elevate the people of Israel. Only afterwards will the rest of the world attain recognition of God. Divine service thereafter required boundaries - the walls of the Tabernacle and Temple - in order to cultivate the holiness within.
A similar process took place regarding prophecy. Until the Sinaitic revelation, all nations experienced the phenomenon of prophecy. At Sinai, however, Moses requested that God's Divine Presence only dwell within the people of Israel: "(If You accompany us), I and Your people will be distinguished from every nation on the face of the earth." (Exodus 33:16, see Brachot 7a)
While the boundaries created by the selection of Jerusalem and the Jewish people will always exist, the distinction of the Aaron's descendants as kohanim is not permanent. In the future, all of Israel will be elevated to the level of priests. "You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Me." (Exodus 19:6) As the Midrash explains, Korach was misled by his prophetic vision. He discerned the essential truth, "All of the congregation is holy, and God is in their midst." Yet the time for this vision belongs to the future. Korach only saw a private vision (ruach hakodesh), not a universal prophecy meant to be publicized and acted upon.
Moses alluded to the future nature of Korach's vision when he dictated the type of test to be used. The dedications of Aaron and the Tabernacle involved sin- and burnt-offerings. It would have been logical to suggest that Korach's men attempt to offer similar offerings. Yet Moses suggested that they offer incense. He hinted that Korach's vision reflected an underlying truth, but one for the distant future, when sin-offerings will no longer be needed to atone for our wrongdoing.
[Based on Shemu'ot Riya, Korach 5691]
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Chanan Morrison, of Mitzpeh Yericho, runs a website (RavKook.n3.net) dedicated to presenting the Torah commentary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, to the English-speaking community.
At first glance, Korach's argument does not seem silly at all. "All of the congregation is holy, and God is in their midst." (Numbers 16:3) Is not Korach simply restating God's command to the entire nation, "You shall be holy, for I, God your Lord, am holy"? (Leviticus 19:1) What was so wrong with his claim? Why did Moses insist that only Aaron and his descendants could serve as priests?
Korach's mistake is rooted in the dialectic between two distinct forms of divine rule: inclusion (kirva), and selection (bechira). During some periods, service of God was inclusive, reaching out to all. At other times, God chose certain persons and places to bear a higher level of sanctity and closeness to the Divine, elevating the rest of the world through them.
A classic example of the historical give-and-take between these two conflicting approaches is the Torah's treatment of bamot, private altars used to bring offerings to God.
Until the Tabernacle was set up in Shilo, individuals were permitted to serve God on private altars throughout the country. During the 369 years that the Tabernacle stood in Shilo, these bamot were prohibited; all offerings to God had to be brought to the central service in Shilo. After the destruction of the Shilo Tabernacle, the bamot were again permitted. With the selection of the city of Jerusalem and the building of the Temple on Mount Moriah, however, the bamot were forever forbidden.
When permitted, these private altars could be established in any location. They allowed all to approach God; even non-priests could offer sacrifices. The periods when bamot were permitted reflect an inclusive form of divine worship, attracting all to approach God and serve Him. For the service in the Tabernacle and the Temple, on the other hand, only the descendants of Aaron were allowed to serve. When Shilo and later Jerusalem were chosen to host the Holy Ark, the divine service was limited to the boundaries of those cities, and their holy structures. Unlike the bamot, accessible to all, the Tabernacle and the Temple were enclosed buildings, set apart by walls and barriers. The various levels of holiness were spatially restricted. "That lies between my breasts" (Song of Songs 1:13) - the Divine Presence was confined to the space "between the two poles of the Ark." (Yoma 54a)
A second example of the contrast between these two approaches may be seen in the use of a single pillar (matzeiva) to serve God. The pillar was an open form of worship, attracting people to gather around it, without walls or restrictions. This form of divine service was appropriate for the time of Abraham, who tried to spread the concept of monotheism and God's Name throughout the world. In Moses' day, however, the accessible service of God though pillars became forbidden. After the election of the Jewish people, it became necessary to first elevate the people of Israel. Only afterwards will the rest of the world attain recognition of God. Divine service thereafter required boundaries - the walls of the Tabernacle and Temple - in order to cultivate the holiness within.
A similar process took place regarding prophecy. Until the Sinaitic revelation, all nations experienced the phenomenon of prophecy. At Sinai, however, Moses requested that God's Divine Presence only dwell within the people of Israel: "(If You accompany us), I and Your people will be distinguished from every nation on the face of the earth." (Exodus 33:16, see Brachot 7a)
While the boundaries created by the selection of Jerusalem and the Jewish people will always exist, the distinction of the Aaron's descendants as kohanim is not permanent. In the future, all of Israel will be elevated to the level of priests. "You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation to Me." (Exodus 19:6) As the Midrash explains, Korach was misled by his prophetic vision. He discerned the essential truth, "All of the congregation is holy, and God is in their midst." Yet the time for this vision belongs to the future. Korach only saw a private vision (ruach hakodesh), not a universal prophecy meant to be publicized and acted upon.
Moses alluded to the future nature of Korach's vision when he dictated the type of test to be used. The dedications of Aaron and the Tabernacle involved sin- and burnt-offerings. It would have been logical to suggest that Korach's men attempt to offer similar offerings. Yet Moses suggested that they offer incense. He hinted that Korach's vision reflected an underlying truth, but one for the distant future, when sin-offerings will no longer be needed to atone for our wrongdoing.
[Based on Shemu'ot Riya, Korach 5691]
--------------------------------------------------------
Chanan Morrison, of Mitzpeh Yericho, runs a website (RavKook.n3.net) dedicated to presenting the Torah commentary of Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of Eretz Yisrael, to the English-speaking community.