Korah Rebels and the Earth Swallows Him Alive

Book of Jasher Jasher 84 View source
Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team ·

The ancient Israelites certainly did! And this chapter of the Book of Jasher throws us right into the middle of their long, winding journey.

Remember Korah's rebellion? The Book of Jasher reminds us that it was a pretty big deal. Korah, a Levite, challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron, and the consequences were… well, let's just say the earth wasn't happy. The text tells us the earth opened up and swallowed Korah and his followers, along with their homes and belongings. Yikes! After that, according to Jasher, God made the people wander "by the way of Mount Seir for a long time."

And speaking of wandering, there's a whole lot of not fighting going on here. God tells Moses, explicitly, several times, "Don't mess with these people!" Specifically, the descendants of Esau, who lived in Mount Seir. God says, "I will not give to you of any thing belonging to them, as much as the sole of the foot could tread upon, for I have given Mount Seir for an inheritance to Esau." (Jasher 84:4). The Israelites are told to buy food and water from them, and to generally be good neighbors. It's a stark reminder that even divinely ordained journeys can have… complicated neighborly relations.

The Israelites then spend nineteen years going around the wilderness of Moab. Again, God's instructions are clear: "besiege not Moab, and do not fight against them, for I will give you nothing of their land" (Jasher 84:12). It’s interesting, isn't it? That even with a promised land in sight, there were boundaries, both physical and divine, that couldn't be crossed.

So, what did happen during all this wandering? Well, according to Jasher, King Latinus of the Chittim (often associated with Cyprus or other Mediterranean regions) died after a 45-year reign, and Abimnas took over. More significantly, the text details a fascinating conflict between Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Moab. It's like a mini-drama unfolding on the sidelines of the Israelite journey!

Sihon, apparently feeling ambitious, hires Beor and his son Balaam (yes, that Balaam!) to curse Moab. We know Balaam from the Book of Numbers as the prophet who couldn't curse Israel. But here, in Jasher, he's cursing Moab on behalf of Sihon. The result? Sihon defeats Moab, takes their cities, including Heshbon, and expands his territory. The Book of Jasher even includes a little ditty, a parable, about the rebuilding of Heshbon. "Come unto Heshbon," it says, "the city of Sihon will be built and established."

All this conquering nets Balaam and his dad a hefty reward of silver and gold, and they head back to Mesopotamia.

Finally, after all that meandering, the Israelites circle back to Edom. Moses sends messengers, asking for passage through their land. But Edom, remembering past conflicts or simply being unwelcoming, refuses. Again, the Israelites are commanded not to fight. They're stuck wandering again, this time around Edom.

Eventually, they arrive at Mount Hor. And here, we reach a somber moment. God tells Moses that his brother, Aaron, will die there. Aaron ascends the mountain and passes away at the age of 123. It’s a powerful reminder of the human cost, even for those closest to God, of this long and arduous journey.

So, what do we take away from this chapter of Jasher? It's a reminder that even with a grand destination, the journey can be circuitous, filled with detours, and encounters with others. It highlights the importance of boundaries, both physical and divinely ordained, and the need to navigate a complex world even when you're on a sacred mission. And ultimately, it reminds us that even in the midst of a nation's journey, individual lives, with their own beginnings and endings, continue to unfold.

Themes

Creation Patriarchs Joseph Moses Torah Repentance Holy Land Egypt Sinai

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