Shabbat Parashat Korach - 5785

Shabbat Parashat Korach - 5785

Rabbi Hal Miller

   Moshe heard and fell on his face. [Bamidbar 16:4]

What did Moshe hear to fall on his face? Since the attack was mainly about Aharon, why was it only Moshe who did this?

Rashbam says that Aharon stayed out of it to preserve his dignity and because Moshe directed him to stay out, and Ramban says something very similar. Both note that even though Aharon's silence could be interpreted as his agreeing that Korach had a valid complaint, Moshe's ruling pushed that aside. Rav Hirsch explains this that "Aharon only held office at Moshe's behest, so the genuineness of Moshe was the sole deciding factor." Thus Aharon had no need to get involved.

Various commentators assign different reasons to Moshe's action here. Saadiah Gaon tells that it was to receive a vision from God. Tanchuma says it was in anguish over the confrontation. Rashbam understands that Moshe prayed. Bechor Shor says Moshe was embarrassed and wanted to hide. Torah Temimah relates that Moshe heard they charged him with adultery. Or HaChayim sees this as an answer to the premise of Korach, that instead of raising himself over the congregation, Moshe was humbling himself.

The Brisker Rav cites Rashi that this was the fourth rebellion Moshe faced (the calf, the complainers about food, the spies, and now Korach). In the prior three, Moshe went to God to beg forgiveness. According to Rashi, Moshe felt his position with God was weakened, that he could not in all honesty tell God that the people were repenting and would do better. Rambam concurs, citing  Amos [2:6] that God would overlook "for three sins of Israel, but for the fourth I shall not acquit them".

According to Rav Hirsch, Moshe understood the event to be a challenge to his appointment by God, and that he knew he would have to prove that it was not his own doing, but God's that he and Aharon held the positions they did. Rav Hirsch writes, "The truth of a messenger can only be proved by his sender, in this case by God Himself. That is why no word of an answer from Moshe himself could refute the accusations of Korach." Thus he merely fell to the ground to pray for Divine help rather than engage in what would be a fruitless argument.

What Moshe heard was self-centered controversy from among the Jews. False charges were invented, mainly against Moshe and Aharon, but by extension they were against God. Such controversy is the exact opposite of the unity that Moshe was trying, on behalf of God, to establish in the people.