Korach the Sage and the 250 Blue Cloaks Against Moses

(Numbers 16:1:) "Now Korach took." "Took" (the root l-q-ḥ) is nothing but a word of division, for his heart took him away, as it is said (Job 15:12): "How your heart has taken you away." This is what Moses said to them (Numbers 16:9): "Is it too small a thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you, etc."—that whole matter, up to (Numbers 16:29): "the common death of all men." The Sages said: Korach was a great sage, and Korach was one of those who carried the Ark, as it is said (Numbers 7:9): "But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because the service of the holy things belonged to them; they carried them on the shoulder." And Korach was the son of Izhar, son of Kohath. When Moses said (Numbers 15:38): "And they shall put upon the fringe of each corner a thread of blue," what did he do? He immediately commanded, and they made two hundred and fifty cloaks of blue, and those two hundred and fifty heads of Sanhedrin who rose up against Moses wrapped themselves in them, as the matter is stated (Numbers 16:2): "And they rose up before Moses, [together with men of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty, etc.]" Korach arose and made them a feast, and they all wrapped themselves in cloaks of blue. The sons of Aaron came to take their gifts—the breast and the right thigh. They stood against them and said to them: Who commanded you to take thus? They said: Moses. They answered and said: We will give you nothing, for the Holy One, blessed be He, did not command it. They came and informed Moses. He went to appease them. They immediately stood against him, as it is said (Numbers 16:2): "And they rose up before Moses." And who were they? Elizur son of Shedeur and his companions, the men "who were designated by name" (Numbers 1:17). Even though Scripture did not publicize them, it gives their signs, and from the verses you understand who they are. A parable: to what is the matter like? To a son of good family who stole vessels from the bathhouse, and the owner of the stolen goods did not wish to publicize him; he began to give his signs. They said to him: Who stole your vessels? He said: A son of good family, tall of stature, with fine teeth and fine hair. Once he gave his signs, they knew who he was. So too here, where Scripture concealed them and did not specify their names, but came and gave their signs—you know who they are. It is stated there (Numbers 1:16): "These were the called of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of the thousands of Israel." And it is written (Numbers 1:17): "And Moses and Aaron took these men who were designated by name." And here it is written (Numbers 16:2): "princes of the congregation, called of the assembly, men of renown."