Rabba expounded that which is written (in Hab. 3:11), “Sun and moon remain on high (zevul)”: [This] teaches that the sun and moon ascended to Zebul and said to Him, “Master of the world, if you act justly toward the son of Amram, we shall go forth; but if not, we shall not go forth.” [So they refused to shine,] until He hurled darts at them, as stated (in Hab. 3:11, cont.), “they go for the light of your darts.”
He said to them, “For My honor you did not protest, but for flesh and blood you did protest.” And at the present time until they are hit, they do not come out. Rabba expounded what is written (in Numb. 16:30), “But if the Lord creates something new, [and the earth opens its mouth]”: To what [does the verse refer]?
If we say to an actual creation of something, then is it not written (in Eccl. 1:9), “For there is nothing new under the sun.” Rather [it refers] to bringing the opening (into gehinnom) up close (to the surface of the earth where Korah was standing). (Numb. 26:11:) “The sons of Korah, however, did not die.” It was taught in the name of our master, “A place was set aside for them in gehinnom where they sat [and uttered hymnody].” Rabbah bar bar Hanah said, “One time it happened that we were travelling on the road, when a certain Arab merchant said to me, ‘Come, I will show you chasms of Korah.’ I went and saw two fissures out of which was coming smoke. He took a ball of clipped wool, steeped it in water, placed it on a spearhead, [and raised it] over them. Then he said to me, ‘Listen, what do you hear?’ I heard them saying, ‘Moses and his Torah represent truth, but they (i.e., Korah and his community) are liars.’”
But in the future to come the Holy One, blessed be He, is going to take them out [of gehinnom]. Moreover, it is with reference to them that Hannah said (in I Sam. 2:6), “The Lord brings death and gives life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up.”