Qorah – Qorah (Bald)
Torah: Bemidbar 16:1-18:32
Haftorah: Shemu’el Aleph 11:14-12:22
Suggested HaBerith HaChadashah Reading: Rom 13:1-7
Torah: Bemidbar 16:1-18:32
Num 16:1 And Qoraḥ, son of Yitshar, son of Qehath, son of Lĕwi, took both Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, and On, son of Peleth, sons of Re’uḇĕn,
Num 16:2 and they rose up before Mosheh with some of the children of Yisra’ĕl, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, called ones of the meeting, men of name.
Num 16:3 And they assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, and said to them, “Enough of you! For all the congregation is set-apart, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you lift up yourselves above the assembly of יהוה?”
Num 16:4 And when Mosheh heard, he fell on his face,
Num 16:5 and spoke to Qoraḥ and all his company, saying, “Tomorrow morning יהוה shall make known who is His and who is set-apart, and bring him near to Him. And let Him bring near to Him the one whom He chooses.
Num 16:6 “Do this: Take fire holders, Qoraḥ and all your company,
Num 16:7 and put fire in them and put incense in them before יהוה tomorrow. And it shall be that the one whom יהוה chooses is the set-apart one. Enough of you, sons of Lĕwi!”
Num 16:8 And Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Hear now, you sons of Lĕwi:
Num 16:9 “Is it little to you that the Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has separated you from the congregation of Yisra’ĕl, to bring you near to Himself, to perform the service of the Dwelling Place of יהוה, and to stand before the congregation to serve them,
Num 16:10 and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all your brothers, the sons of Lĕwi, with you? Yet you seek the priesthood as well?
Num 16:11 “Therefore you and all your company are set against יהוה. And Aharon, what is he that you grumble against him?”
Num 16:12 And Mosheh sent to call Dathan and Aḇiram the sons of Eliyaḇ, but they said, “We are not coming up!
Num 16:13 “Is it little that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you would also seize total rule over us?
Num 16:14 “Also, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Would you bore out the eyes of these men? We are not coming up!”
Num 16:15 And Mosheh became very displeased, and said to יהוה, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I done harm to any of them.”
Num 16:16 Then Mosheh said to Qoraḥ, “Tomorrow, you and all your company shall be there before יהוה, you and they and Aharon.
Num 16:17 “And take each one his fire holder, and you shall put incense in it. And let each one bring his fire holder before יהוה, two hundred and fifty fire holders, and you and Aharon, each one with his fire holder.”
Num 16:18 So each one took his fire holder, and put fire in it, and laid incense on it, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Mosheh and Aharon.
Num 16:19 And Qoraḥ assembled all the congregation against them at the door of the Tent of Meeting. Then the esteem of יהוה appeared to all the congregation.
Num 16:20 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, and to Aharon, saying,
Num 16:21 “Separate yourselves from the midst of this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.”
Num 16:22 But they fell on their faces, and said, “O Ěl, Elohim of the spirits of all flesh! When one man sins, are You wroth with all the congregation?”
Num 16:23 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:24 “Speak to the congregation, saying, ‘Move away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram.’ ”
Num 16:25 So Mosheh rose up and went to Dathan and Aḇiram, and the elders of Yisra’ĕl followed him.
Num 16:26 And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Please turn away from the tents of these wrong men! Do not touch whatever belongs to them, lest you be consumed in all their sins.”
Num 16:27 Then they moved away from around the tents of Qoraḥ, Dathan, and Aḇiram. And Dathan and Aḇiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, with their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Num 16:28 And Mosheh said, “By this you know that יהוה has sent me to do all these works, that they are not from my own heart.
Num 16:29 “If these die as all men do, or if they are visited as all men are visited, then יהוה has not sent me.
Num 16:30 “But if יהוה creates what is unheard of, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the grave, then you shall know that these men have scorned יהוה.”
Num 16:31 And it came to be, as he ended speaking all these words, that the ground under them split apart,
Num 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the men with Qoraḥ, with all their goods.
Num 16:33 So they and all those with them went down alive into the grave, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Num 16:34 And all Yisra’ĕl who were round about them fled at their cry, for they said, “Lest the earth swallow us up!”
Num 16:35 And a fire came out from יהוה and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.
Num 16:36 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:37 “Say to Elʽazar, son of Aharon the priest, to pick up the fire holders out of the blaze, for they are set-apart, and scatter the fire some distance away.
Num 16:38 “The fire holders of these men who sinned against their own lives, let them be made into beaten plates as a covering for the altar. Because they brought them before יהוה, therefore they are set-apart. And let them become a sign to the children of Yisra’ĕl.”
Num 16:39 And Elʽazar the priest took the bronze fire holders, which those who were burned up had brought, and they were beaten out as a covering on the altar –
Num 16:40 a remembrance to the children of Yisra’ĕl that no stranger who is not of the seed of Aharon, should come near to offer incense before יהוה, and not be like Qoraḥ and his company – as יהוה had said to him through Mosheh.
Num 16:41 But all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl grumbled against Mosheh and against Aharon on the next day, saying, “You, you have killed the people of יהוה.”
Num 16:42 And it came to be, when the congregation assembled against Mosheh and against Aharon, that they turned toward the Tent of Meeting. And see, the cloud covered it, and the esteem of יהוה appeared.
Num 16:43 And Mosheh and Aharon came before the Tent of Meeting.
Num 16:44 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 16:45 “Arise from amidst this congregation, and let Me consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces.
Num 16:46 So Mosheh said to Aharon, “Take the fire holder and put fire in it from the altar, and lay incense on, and go, hurry to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from יהוה, the plague has begun.”
Num 16:47 And Aharon took it as Mosheh commanded, and ran into the midst of the assembly, and saw that the plague had begun among the people. And he laid on the incense and made atonement for the people,
Num 16:48 and stood between the dead and the living. And the plague was stopped.
Num 16:49 And those who died in the plague were fourteen thousand seven hundred, besides those who died on account of Qoraḥ.
Num 16:50 Then Aharon returned to Mosheh at the door of the Tent of Meeting, for the plague had stopped.
Num 17:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 17:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and take from them a rod from each father’s house, all their leaders according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. Write each one’s name on his rod,
Num 17:3 and write Aharon’s name on the rod of Lĕwi, for there is one rod for the head of each father’s house.
Num 17:4 “You shall then place them in the Tent of Meeting before the Witness, where I meet with you.
Num 17:5 “And it shall be that the rod of the man whom I choose buds, and I shall rid Myself of the grumblings of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they grumble against you.”
Num 17:6 And Mosheh spoke to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and all their leaders gave him a rod each, for each leader according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods. And the rod of Aharon was among their rods.
Num 17:7 So Mosheh placed the rods before יהוה in the Tent of the Witness.
Num 17:8 And it came to be on the next day that Mosheh went into the Tent of the Witness and saw that the rod of Aharon, of the house of Lĕwi, had budded, and brought forth buds, and blossomed and bore ripe almonds.
Num 17:9 And Mosheh brought out all the rods from before יהוה to all the children of Yisra’ĕl. And they looked, and each man took his rod.
Num 17:10 And יהוה said to Mosheh, “Bring Aharon’s rod back before the Witness, to be kept as a sign against the rebels, so that you put an end to their grumblings against Me, lest they die.”
Num 17:11 And Mosheh did as יהוה had commanded him, so he did.
Num 17:12 And the children of Yisra’ĕl spoke to Mosheh, saying, “See, we shall die, we shall perish, we shall all perish!
Num 17:13 “Anyone who comes near the Dwelling Place of יהוה dies. Shall we be consumed – to die?”
Num 18:1 And יהוה said to Aharon, “You and your sons and your father’s house with you are to bear the crookedness against the set-apart place, and you and your sons with you are to bear the crookedness against your priesthood.
Num 18:2 “But bring with you your brothers of the tribe of Lĕwi too, the tribe of your father to join you and serve you while you and your sons are with you before the Tent of the Witness.
Num 18:3 “And they shall guard your charge, and the duty of all the Tent, but they do not come near the furnishings of the set-apart place and the altar, lest they die, both they and you.
Num 18:4 “And they shall be joined with you and guard the duty to the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent, but a stranger does not come near you.
Num 18:5 “And you shall guard the duty of the set-apart place and the duty of the altar, so that there be no more wrath on the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 18:6 “And see, I Myself have taken your brothers the Lĕwites from the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl – a gift to you, given by יהוה, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 18:7 “But you and your sons with you are to guard your priesthood for all matters at the altar and behind the veil, and you shall serve. I have given you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the stranger who comes near is put to death.”
Num 18:8 And יהוה spoke to Aharon, “And see, I Myself have also given you the charge of My contributions, all the set-apart gifts of the children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you for the anointing, and to your sons, as a law forever.
Num 18:9 “This is yours of the most set-apart gifts, from the fire: all their offerings, all their grain offerings and all their sin offerings and all their guilt offerings which they render to Me, are most set-apart for you and your sons.
Num 18:10 “Eat it in the most set-apart place – every male eats it. It is set-apart to you.
Num 18:11 “This also is yours: the contribution of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl. I have given them to you, and your sons and daughters with you, as a law forever. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.
Num 18:12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the new wine and the grain – their first-fruits which they give to יהוה – I have given them to you.
Num 18:13 “The first-fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to יהוה, are yours. Everyone who is clean in your house eats it.
Num 18:14 “All that is dedicated in Yisra’ĕl is yours.
Num 18:15 “Everyone opening a womb of all flesh, which they bring to יהוה, whether man or beast, is yours. But the first-born of man you shall certainly ransom, and the first-born of the unclean beast you ransom.
Num 18:16 “And ransom their ransomed ones when one month old, according to your valuation, five sheqels of silver, according to the sheqel of the set-apart place, which is twenty gĕrahs.
Num 18:17 “But the first-born of a cow, or the first-born of a sheep, or the first-born of a goat you do not ransom, they are set-apart. Sprinkle their blood on the altar, and burn their fat as an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Num 18:18 “And their flesh is yours, as the wave breast and as the right thigh, it is yours.
Num 18:19 “All the contributions of the set-apart gifts, which the children of Yisra’ĕl present to יהוה, I have given to you and your sons and daughters with you as a law forever. It is a covenant of salt forever before יהוה with you and your seed with you.”
Num 18:20 And יהוה said to Aharon, “You are not to have an inheritance in their land, nor have any portion in their midst. I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Num 18:21 “And see, I have given the children of Lĕwi all the tithes in Yisra’ĕl as an inheritance in return for the service which they are serving, the service of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 18:22 “And let the children of Yisra’ĕl no more come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin and die,
Num 18:23 because the Lĕwites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, so they themselves bear their crookedness. A law forever, throughout your generations: that among the children of Yisra’ĕl they are to have no inheritance,
Num 18:24 but the tithes of the children of Yisra’ĕl, which they present as a contribution to יהוה, I have given to the Lĕwites as an inheritance. That is why I have said to them, ‘Among the children of Yisra’ĕl they have no inheritance.’ ”
Num 18:25 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Num 18:26 “Speak to the Lĕwites and say to them, ‘When you take from the children of Yisra’ĕl the tithes which I have given you from them as your inheritance, then you shall present a contribution of it to יהוה, a tenth of the tithe.
Num 18:27 ‘And your contribution shall be reckoned to you as grain from the threshing-floor and as filling from the winepress.
Num 18:28 ‘Thus you also present a contribution unto יהוה from all your tithes which you receive from the children of Yisra’ĕl. And you shall give from it the contribution to יהוה to Aharon the priest.
Num 18:29 ‘From all your gifts you present every contribution due to יהוה, from all the best of them, the set-apart part of them.’
Num 18:30 “And you shall say to them, ‘When you have presented the best of it, then the rest shall be reckoned to the Lĕwites as the yield of the threshing-floor and as the yield of the winepress.
Num 18:31 ‘And you shall eat it in any place, you and your households, for it is your reward for your service in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 18:32 and bear no sin because of it, when you have presented the best of it, and do not profane the set-apart gifts of the children of Yisra’ĕl, lest you die.’ ”
Haftorah: Shemu’el Aleph 11:14-12:22
1Sa 11:14 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “Come, and let us go to Gilgal and renew the reign there.”
1Sa 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal, and there they set up Sha’ul to reign before יהוה in Gilgal, and there they made slaughterings of peace offerings before יהוה. And there Sha’ul rejoiced, and all the men of Yisra’ĕl, very greatly.
1Sa 12:1 And Shemu’ĕl said to all Yisra’ĕl, “Look, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me, and have set a sovereign over you.
1Sa 12:2 “And now, look, the sovereign is walking before you. And I am old and grey, and look, my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth to this day.
1Sa 12:3 “Look, here I am. Witness against me before יהוה and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I oppressed? Whom have I abused, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? – then I restore it to you.”
1Sa 12:4 And they said, “You have not oppressed us or abused us, nor have you taken any bribe from anyone’s hand.”
1Sa 12:5 So he said to them, “יהוה is witness against you, and His anointed is witness today, that you have found naught in my hand.” And they answered, “He is witness.”
1Sa 12:6 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “It is יהוה who appointed Mosheh and Aharon, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Mitsrayim.
1Sa 12:7 “And now, stand still, so that I judge you before יהוה concerning all the righteous acts of יהוה which He did to you and your fathers:
1Sa 12:8 “When Yaʽaqoḇ had come to Mitsrayim, and your fathers cried out to יהוה, then יהוה sent Mosheh and Aharon, who brought your fathers out of Mitsrayim and made them dwell in this place.
1Sa 12:9 “But they forgot יהוה their Elohim, so He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Ḥatsor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the sovereign of Mo’aḇ. And they fought against them.
1Sa 12:10 “And they cried out to יהוה, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken יהוה and served the Baʽals and the Ashtaroth. And now, deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we serve You.’
1Sa 12:11 “And יהוה sent Yerubbaʽal, and Beḏan, and Yiphtaḥ, and Shemu’ĕl, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies round about, and you dwelt in safety.
1Sa 12:12 “And when you saw that Naḥash sovereign of the children of Ammon came against you, you said to me, ‘No, but let a sovereign reign over us,’ when יהוה your Elohim was your sovereign.
1Sa 12:13 “And now, here is the sovereign whom you have chosen and whom you have asked. And see, יהוה has set a sovereign over you.
1Sa 12:14 “If you fear יהוה, and shall serve Him and obey His voice, and not rebel against the command of יהוה, then both you and the sovereign who reigns over you shall follow יהוה your Elohim.
1Sa 12:15 “But if you do not obey the voice of יהוה, and shall rebel against the command of יהוה, then the hand of יהוה shall be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1Sa 12:16 “And now, stand and see this great matter which יהוה does before your eyes:
1Sa 12:17 “Is today not the wheat harvest? Let me call to יהוה, so that He sends thunder and rain – know then and see that your evil is great, which you have done in the eyes of יהוה, in asking for yourselves a sovereign.”
1Sa 12:18 And Shemu’ĕl called to יהוה, and יהוה sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared יהוה and Shemu’ĕl.
1Sa 12:19 And all the people said to Shemu’ĕl, “Pray for your servants to יהוה your Elohim, that we do not die, for we have added to all our sins this evil of asking for ourselves a sovereign.”
1Sa 12:20 And Shemu’ĕl said to the people, “Do not fear. You have done all this evil. Only, do not turn aside from following יהוה. And you shall serve יהוה with all your heart,
1Sa 12:21 and do not turn aside after worthless matters which do not profit or deliver, for they are worthless.
1Sa 12:22 “For יהוה would not cast away His people, for His great Name’s sake, seeing it has pleased יהוה to make you His people.
Suggested HaBerith HaChadashah Reading: Rom 13:1-7
Rom 13:1 Let every being be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from Elohim, and the authorities that exist are appointed by Elohim.
Rom 13:2 So he who opposes the authority withstands the institution of Elohim, and those who withstand shall bring judgment on themselves.
Rom 13:3 For those ruling are an object of fear, not to good works, but to evil. Do you wish to be not afraid of the authority? Do the good, and you shall have praise from it,
Rom 13:4 for it is a servant of Elohim to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword in vain. For it is a servant of Elohim, a revenger to execute wrath on him who practises evil.
Rom 13:5 Therefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of the conscience.
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are servants of Elohim attending continually to these duties.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all what is due to them: tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll, fear to whom fear, respect to whom respect.
• "Scripture taken from The Scriptures, Copyright by Institute for Scripture Research. Used by permission" On the whole of this website. For more information click [Here]
Korach Aliya Summary
General Overview: Korach stages a rebellion against Moses, accusing him of a power grab. He and his entourage are swallowed up by the earth. The people protest, and a plague ensues. Of the staffs submitted by all the tribes, only Aaron's blossoms; proving that he is G‑d's chosen. The Israelites are instructed the various presents due to the priests and Levites.
First Aliyah: Korach, Moses' first cousin, stages a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Together with a few ringleaders, he gathers 250 men of renown and accuses Moses and Aaron of power hoarding. "The entire congregation is holy, and the L-rd is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above the L-rd's assembly?" They took specific issue with the appointment of Aaron as High Priest. Moses proposes that on the following day they all participate in a test which would determine who indeed was worthy of the mantle of High Priest. Everyone would bring an incense offering to the Tabernacle, and G‑d would make known His choice for High Priest. Moses then tries to placate the rebellious group, unsuccessfully attempting to dissuade them from participating in this suicidal test.
Second Aliyah: Moses pleads with G‑d not to accept the incense offering of the rebellious group. Korach spends the night inciting the Jews against Moses, and gathers them all to the entrance of the Tabernacle to witness the grand spectacle. G‑d's glory appears.
Third Aliyah: G‑d is angered by the Jews' association with Korach, and wishes to destroy them. Moses and Aaron pray on the Jews' behalf and the decree is averted. The earth opens up and swallows Korach and his family, and a heavenly fire consumes the rest of the 250 rebels. Moses instructs Aaron's son Elazar to retrieve the frying pans which were used for the incense offering, to flatten them and plate the altar with them--a visible deterrent for any individual who ever wishes to challenge Aaron's priesthood. The next day, the community complains that Moses and Aaron are to be blamed for the deaths of "G‑d's people."
Fourth Aliyah: G‑d instructs Moses and Aaron: "Separate yourselves from the community, and I will destroy them in an instant." And indeed, a plague struck the nation, and many thousands were dying. Moses tells Aaron to quickly take a firepan with incense and go into the midst of the congregation and atone for their sin. Aaron does so. He stands "between the living and the dead," and the plague is halted.
Fifth Aliyah: This section describes the "test of the staffs." G‑d tells Moses to take a staff from each of the twelve tribes, with the name of each tribe's prince written upon their staff. Another staff was taken to represent the tribe of Levi, and Aaron's name was written on that staff. These staffs were placed overnight in the Holy of Holies chamber of the Tabernacle. Next morning they were removed, and miraculously Aaron's staff had budded with almond blossoms and almonds. This was further proof that Aaron was G‑d's choice for High Priest.
Sixth Aliyah: G‑d commands Moses to return "Aaron's staff" to the Holy of Holies, where it is to remain for perpetuity. The Jews express to Moses their fear of mistakenly entering a restricted area of the Tabernacle, and dying as a result. In response, G‑d commands the priests and the Levites to carefully guard the Tabernacle, to prevent unauthorized entry by non-priests. The Torah then lists the various gifts to which the priests were entitled. These include the privilege of eating certain sacrifices, as well as select portions of other sacrifices; receiving the five shekels for the redemption of Israelite firstborn sons; a portion of all grain, oil, and wine crops; the "first fruit"; and more. Aaron is informed that his descendents will not receive a portion in the land of Israel--instead, G‑d is their inheritance and portion.
Seventh Aliyah: The Levites, too, will not receive a share of the land of Israel. Instead they are entitled to a tenth of all the Israelites' crops--this in return for the Tabernacle and Temple services which they render. Upon receiving this tithe, the Levites must, in turn, separate a tenth of this tithe and give it to the priests.
Chabad.org
No comments:
Post a Comment