Parsha Q&A - Korach

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Parsha Q&A

Parshas Korach

Outside of Israel, for the week ending 5 Tamuz 5756; 21 & 22 June 1996
In Israel, for the week ending 28 Sivan 5756; 14 & 15 June 1996
Contents:
  • Parsha Questions
  • Bonus Question
  • I Did Not Know That!
  • Recommended Reading List
  • Answers to Parsha Questions
  • Answer to Bonus Question
  • Back issues of Parsha Q&A
  • Subscription Information
  • Ohr Somayach Home Page

    • Parsha Questions

    1. What did Korach "take"?
    2. Why is Yaakov's name not mentioned in Korach's genealogy?
    3. What motivated Korach to rebel?
    4. Why did Moshe delay the confrontation with Korach's congregation until the next day?
    5. What warning did Moshe give the rebels regarding the offering of the incense?
    6. Korach knew prophetically that great men would descend from him. Who were the descendants of Korach?
    7. What event did Korach not foresee?
    8. What did Korach do the night before the final confrontation?
    9. In verse 16:25, why did Moshe approach Dasan and Aviram?
    10. Before what age is a person not punished by the Heavenly Tribunal for his sins?
    11. The censers used by Korach's assembly were made into an overlay for the Mizbe'ach. This was to serve as a warning. What was the purpose of the sign?
    12. What happens to one who rebels against the institution of Kehuna? Who suffered such a fate?
    13. How did Moshe know that burning incense would stop the plague?
    14. Which tribe was divided into two families?
    15. Why was Aaron's staff placed in the middle of the other eleven staffs?
    16. Aaron's staff was kept as a sign. What did it signify?
    17. After Aaron's Kehuna was firmly established, what fear did the Jewish People express to Moshe?
    18. Why are the 24 gifts for the Kohanim taught in this week's Parsha?
    19. Who may eat the Kodshei Kodashim (most holy sacrifices), and where must they be eaten?
    20. If a Levi comes to the pile of grain on the threshing floor before terumah gedolah has been separated, what must he do before receiving his own tithe?
    Bonus Question
    Answer
    Contents    		In verse 16:1 the Torah mentions that Ohn ben Peles as one of the leaders of Korach's rebellion. But, Ohn ben Peles is not mentioned even one more time in the Parsha after this incident. What happened to Ohn ben Peles?

    I Did Not Know That!

    Among the members of Korach's congregation were the 12 Nesi'im (Princes of the Tribes) who offered their gifts at the dedication of the Mishkan.
    Rabbeinu Bachaye

    Recommended Reading List

    Ramban
    16:21
    The Sin of the Congregation
    16:29
    The Sin of Dasan and Aviram
    16:30
    A New Creation
    18:7
    The Gifts of the Kehuna
    18:20
    Inheritance of the Kehuna

    Sefer Hachinuch
    389
    Defined Roles
    394
    Service of the Levi'im
    395
    Ma'aser Rishon (The First Tithe)

    Sforno
    16:15
    Nullifying Atonement
    16:32
    Why Also Their Possessions

    Answers to this Week's Questions

    Questions | Contents

    All references are to the verses and Rashi's commentary, unless otherwise stated

    1. 16:1 - He 'took himself' out of the community in order to incite dissension.
    2. 16:1 - Yaakov prayed that his name would not be mentioned in connection with Korach's rebellion (Bereshis 49:6).
    3. 16:1 - He was jealous that Elzaphan ben Uziel was appointed as leader of the family of Kehas instead of himself.
    4. 16:5 - In order that they might repent.
    5. 16:6 - Only one person would survive.
    6. 16:7 - Shmuel HaNavi, and 24 groups of Levi'im who served in the Beis Hamikdash, all of whom were Nevi'im.
    7. 16:7 - That his sons would repent. (Shmuel and the 24 groups of Levi'im descended from them).
    8. 16:19 - He went from tribe to tribe in order to rally support for himself.
    9. 16:25 - He felt that if he himself approached them, they might back down.
    10. 16:27 - 20 years old.
    11. 17:3 - To serve as remembrance of the challenge to the Kehuna and that the rebels were burned.
    12. 17:5 - He is stricken with tzara'as, as was King Uziyahu (Divrei HaYamim II 26:16-19).
    13. 17:11 - He was told on Har Sinai by the Angel of Death that the ketores (incense) has the power to stop plagues.
    14. 17:18 - Levi. It was divided into the family of Kohanim, and the family of Levi'im.
    15. 17:21 - So that people would not say that Aaron's staff bloomed because Moshe placed it closer to the Shechina.
    16. 17:25 - That only Aaron and his children were selected for the Kehuna.
    17. 17:28 - Since they were permitted in the courtyard of the Ohel Mo'ed, they feared that they might accidentally enter the Ohel Mo'ed itself and be punished.
    18. 18:8 - Since Korach claimed the Kehuna, the Torah emphasizes Aaron's and his descendants' rights to Kehuna by recording the gifts given to them.
    19. 18:10 - Male Kohanim may eat them and only in the Azara (fore-court of the Beis Hamikdash).
    20. 18:29 - He must first set aside 1/50 of the pile - the average amount given as teruma gedolah - before taking his tenth from the pile.
    Bonus Question
    Question
    Contents    		When Ohn ben Peles told his wife of his role in the rebellion, she realized that he was behaving foolishly. That night she gave him strong wine to drink and he fell asleep. She and her daughter sat in front of the family tent. When Korach's messengers came to summon Ohn they were forced to turn back at the sight of his wife and his daughter. When the earth swallowed Korach's assembly, Ohn ben Peles was sleeping peacefully in his bed, saved by his wife's great wisdom.
    Bamidbar Rabbah 18:15
    Written and Compiled by Rabbi Eliyahu Kane
    General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
    Production Design: Lev Seltzer
    HTML Design: Michael Treblow
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