Our story comes from Midrash Tehillim, a fascinating collection of interpretations on the Book of Psalms. Here, the Midrash tells us about a particularly insidious act of dissent led by none other than Korah. You might remember him: Korah, who dared to challenge the authority of Moses and Aaron.
But how did he do it? He didn't just stand up and shout. Oh no. He was far more clever, far more devious than that. According to the Midrash, Korah gathered the entire congregation. Imagine the scene – a crowd buzzing with discontent, ripe for manipulation. And what was his weapon of choice? A story.
He tells the people about a poor widow, a sympathetic figure. She owns a single field and is trying to make an honest living. But at every turn, Moses, he claims, burdens her with impossible demands, twisting God's laws to squeeze her dry.
"When she came to plow," Korah says, "Moses told her, 'You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together' (Deuteronomy 22:10)." Then, sowing time came. "You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed" (Leviticus 19:19), Moses allegedly declared. Harvest? "You shall leave some stalks for the poor and the stranger" (Deuteronomy 24:19). And it just keeps going. Tithes, terumah (priestly gifts), first tithe, second tithe...
The poor woman, according to Korah, complies at every turn. She's the picture of righteousness. She even sells her field to buy two lambs, hoping to clothe herself and benefit from them. But then, Aaron's firstborn son shows up, demanding the firstborn of her flock, citing the commandment, "Every firstborn that is born in your cattle and your flock, the male [belongs to] Him" (Deuteronomy 15:19).
Even slaughtering the lambs doesn't bring her peace. She's told to hand over the foreleg, cheeks, and stomach! It's an endless cycle of giving, and she's left with nothing. Finally, broken and destitute, she and her daughters weep.
Korah's point is clear: Moses and Aaron are exploiting the people, hiding behind divine law to justify their greed. They "taunt others and hang their claims on the Holy One, Blessed be He." They have done so much harm, the Midrash laments, "yet they still continue [to provoke] the Holy One, Blessed be He."
It's a powerful indictment, isn't it? A story designed to stir up anger and resentment. And it worked. We know how the story ends. Korah’s rebellion led to catastrophic consequences.
This passage from Midrash Tehillim reminds us of the power of narrative. How easily stories can be twisted to serve a particular agenda, how quickly doubt can take root. It's a cautionary tale, urging us to be critical thinkers, to question narratives, and to seek truth beyond the surface. Were Moses and Aaron truly acting out of greed, or were they following God's commands, however difficult they might seem? And how do we discern the difference? These are the questions this ancient story still asks us today.