פָּרָשַׁת קֹרַח

Parshat Korach tells of the rebellion against Moshe and Aharon, and how Hashem shows that the kehunah (priesthood) is His choice. Korach, of the tribe of Levi and the family of Kehat, joins with Datan and Aviram of the tribe of Reuven and 250 leaders of the congregation: "The whole congregation is holy; why do you raise yourselves above it?" Moshe answers that Korach, who already serves as one of the Leviim (Levites), now seeks the kehunah too, and he sets a test: each of the 250 is to offer ketoret (incense) on a machtah (shovel) before Hashem, and Hashem will show whom He has chosen. Datan and Aviram refuse even to come.

Moshe says that if these men die a natural death, Hashem has not sent him. The earth opens its mouth and swallows Datan and Aviram, their households, Korach's people and all their possessions, and fire from Hashem consumes the 250 men offering ketoret. The next day the people complain, "You have killed the people of Hashem," and a plague begins. Aharon runs into the congregation with ketoret and stands between the dead and the living, and the plague stops after 14,700 have died. Then each tribe's leader places a staff in the Ohel Moed (the Tent of Meeting), and by the next day only Aharon's staff has blossomed and ripened almonds.

The frightened people cry that anyone who comes near the Mishkan (Tabernacle) will die. Perek 18 answers them: the kohanim (priests) and the Leviim guard the Mishkan, so that no anger falls on Bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). Instead of land, the kohanim receive terumah, the most holy offerings, the firstborn and the bikkurim (first fruits), and the Leviim receive maaser (the tithe), from which they give a tenth to the kohen. Hashem tells Aharon, "I am your portion and your inheritance."