Moses's Transgression of Kora

Midrash Rabbah Bamidbar Rabbah 18:20 View source
Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team ·

We often focus on the leaders, the prophets, the ones making history. But what about the everyday folks caught in the crossfire? Today, we're diving into a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah 18, a Midrash (rabbinic commentary) on the Book of Numbers, that gives us a glimpse into just that.

The story starts with the rebellion of Koraḥ against Moses, a challenge to Moses’s leadership and Aaron’s priesthood. Remember the verse, "And On son of Pelet" (Numbers 16:1)? The Midrash asks, why was he named On? Because, it answers, all his days were spent in acute mourning. He regretted his association with Koraḥ.

But here's where it gets really interesting. The Midrash tells us that On ben Pelet was saved by his wife. Rav says she was a woman for whom wonders, pelaot, were performed. She saw the writing on the wall, realizing that this power struggle was a no-win situation for her husband. "What is in it for you in this dispute?" she asked him. "If Aaron is the High Priest, you are a disciple, if Koraḥ is the High Priest, you are still a disciple!"

She knew, as the verse says, "The entire congregation, all of them are holy" (Numbers 16:3). This wasn’t about holiness; it was about power and ego. So, what did she do? She got him drunk, laid him in bed, and then, in a truly remarkable act, she sat at the door with her daughter, unbound her hair (a sign of immodesty), deterring anyone who came looking for On. Meanwhile, Koraḥ and his followers were swallowed by the earth.

The Midrash then contrasts her with Koraḥ’s wife, quoting (Proverbs 14:1): "The wise among women builds her house – this is On’s wife. And the foolish will destroy it with her hands – this is Koraḥ’s wife." Can you imagine the courage and foresight it took for On's wife to stand against the tide, to protect her family even if it meant defying social norms?

But the story doesn't end there. The Midrash goes on to explore the gravity of challenging authority, especially spiritual authority. Rabbi Ḥisda says that anyone who enters into a dispute with his teacher, it is as though he enters into a dispute with the Divine Presence, as it is stated: “Who agitated against the Lord” (Numbers 26:9).

The Midrash also touches on the idea of lashon hara, evil speech. Rabbi Abbahu said: Anyone who thinks ill of his teacher, it is as though he thinks ill of the Divine Presence.

Then we get a fascinating, almost surreal, account. Rava expounds on the verse "But if the Lord creates a creation?" (Numbers 16:30). He explains that Moses wasn't asking God to literally create Gehenna (hell), because "There is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Instead, he was asking God to bring the opening of Gehenna near.

And what about Koraḥ's sons? "But Koraḥ’s sons did not die" (Numbers 26:11). Why? Because they repented. Rabba bar bar Ḥana recounts a tale of an Arab showing him the place where Koraḥ's followers were swallowed, two fissures emitting smoke. He lowered a wet woolen fleece into the fissure; it was singed and fell. He then heard voices crying out, "Moses and his Torah are truth, and they are liars." The Arab explained that every thirty days, Gehenna returns them to this place, like meat in a cauldron.

But there's a glimmer of hope. The Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to take them out in the future. Hannah's prayer is quoted: “The Lord puts to death and brings to life; He lowers to the abyss and elevates” (I Samuel 2:6).

So, what can we take away from this rich and complex Midrash? It's a reminder that even in the midst of grand narratives and epic conflicts, individual choices matter. It highlights the power of wisdom, the importance of humility, and the enduring possibility of repentance. And perhaps most importantly, it shows us that even those who make mistakes, even those who find themselves on the wrong side of history, can still find a path to redemption. It is a reminder that we all have a role to play, not just in the big picture, but in the everyday moments that shape our lives and the lives of those around us.

Themes

Heaven Hell/Gehenna Joseph Moses King David Solomon Torah Wisdom Holy Land Egypt Shabbat Women of the Bible

Continue Reading

Midrash Rabbah Manasseh's Prince and the Tension of Obeying the King To a fascinating passage from Bamidbar Rabbah 14, a Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary), or interpretation, on th... Midrash Aggadah The Woman of Valor and the Secrets of Creation It's more than just a nice sentiment; it's a springboard for some incredible midrashic (rabbinic interpretive commentary... Midrash Aggadah The Righteous Cry That Pierced Through Heaven A discussion of "rana," which can be translated as a cry or supplication. But it's not just any cry; it's a cry of right... Midrash Rabbah Elazar in Battle We can see this theme beautifully illustrated in Bamidbar Rabbah (Numbers Rabbah) 4, which draws a powerful lesson from ... Midrash Rabbah When Kings of the Earth Recognized Divine Justice It turns out, even ancient texts grapple with these questions, offering surprising insights into universal ethics. to Ba... Midrash Rabbah Righteous Action and the Rewards of the Patriarchs It’s a story of belonging, reward, and the enduring power of righteous action. The text begins with a quote from Psalms:... Midrash Rabbah Teachings of Rabbi Meir There’s a fascinating teaching attributed to Rabbi Meir in Bamidbar Rabbah 9 that gets right to the heart of it. He asks... Midrash Rabbah Wisdom of Solomon of Temple Today, we're diving into a fascinating story from Bamidbar Rabbah 10, a section of the larger Midrash Rabbah, a collecti... Midrash Rabbah Solomon's Palanquin as a Metaphor for All of Creation What if the answer wasn’t a cold, scientific explanation, but a beautiful, poetic description hidden within our sacred t...