RR Torah Portion Korach Numbers 16:1-18:32 By Jeffery Freeman
Shabbat Shalom,
Torah Portion is Korach is named after the Levite Korah. He was a great grandson of Levi and a cousin of sorts to Moses and Aaron. He was a clan leader and had some significant responsibilities caring for and transporting the Tabernacle. Although he had an important position, Korah envied Moses and Aaron and sought a more venerated position. I could easily make a lesson out of envy and coveting…but we will save that for another time.
Numbers 16:32-33 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with all their households, all of Korah’s people and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol, they and everything that was theirs. The earth closed over them and they were gone from among their community.
Now wait a minute. Eleven Psalms were written by the sons of Korah. How is this possible if all of Korah’s household were swallowed up by the earth? In Numbers 26, we get the second census taken just before the Israelites entered the land. In Numbers 26:11 we get the answer – Korah’s sons, however, did not die. Rashi comments that although Korah’s three sons initially joined in with their father and his complaints, before things came to a head, they all repented. Therefore they were not with Korah when the earth swallowed him and all his people.
Not only did the sons of Korah write Psalms, the Great Prophet Samuel was also a “son” of Korah…well, grandson with more than a few greats in front (1 Chronicles 6:33-35). The point is, that had none of the sons of Korah repented and survived, there would have been no Prophet Samuel and fewer Psalms.
So, what is the lesson for us? Even though Korah lives in infamy in the Bible, his family legacy does not. Through Korah’s line we get great people who are true men of God, like the Prophet Samuel, the Korahites, and skilled singers and Psalm writers.
Ezekiel 18:20-22 The soul that sins, he will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father with him…The righteousness of the righteous will be on him and the wickedness of the wicked will be on him. But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all My Laws and does what is lawful and right, he will surely live…none of his transgressions that he committed will be remembered…
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.
Mathew 4:17 Turn away from your sins (repent), for the kingdom of heaven is near.
2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things (prior sins) have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua.
Your family history and prior repented sins do not have to define your relationship with the LORD, your eternal salvation or your family legacy. Regardless of where you come from, or what baggage you are carrying, if you turn your life over to Yeshua and truly repent of your prior sinful activity you can rewrite your future and potentially the future of all your descendants. Your legacy can be like that of the sons of Korah. Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat13-June-2026 28th of Sivan, 5786 Parashat Sh’lach
Nu 15:27-41Jos 2Heb 3:7-17; 4:9-10
Torah Portion is Korach is named after the Levite Korah. He was a great grandson of Levi and a cousin of sorts to Moses and Aaron. He was a clan leader and had some significant responsibilities caring for and transporting the Tabernacle. Although he had an important position, Korah envied Moses and Aaron and sought a more venerated position. I could easily make a lesson out of envy and coveting…but we will save that for another time.
Numbers 16:32-33 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, along with all their households, all of Korah’s people and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol, they and everything that was theirs. The earth closed over them and they were gone from among their community.
Now wait a minute. Eleven Psalms were written by the sons of Korah. How is this possible if all of Korah’s household were swallowed up by the earth? In Numbers 26, we get the second census taken just before the Israelites entered the land. In Numbers 26:11 we get the answer – Korah’s sons, however, did not die. Rashi comments that although Korah’s three sons initially joined in with their father and his complaints, before things came to a head, they all repented. Therefore they were not with Korah when the earth swallowed him and all his people.
Not only did the sons of Korah write Psalms, the Great Prophet Samuel was also a “son” of Korah…well, grandson with more than a few greats in front (1 Chronicles 6:33-35). The point is, that had none of the sons of Korah repented and survived, there would have been no Prophet Samuel and fewer Psalms.
So, what is the lesson for us? Even though Korah lives in infamy in the Bible, his family legacy does not. Through Korah’s line we get great people who are true men of God, like the Prophet Samuel, the Korahites, and skilled singers and Psalm writers.
Ezekiel 18:20-22 The soul that sins, he will die. The son will not bear the iniquity of the father with him…The righteousness of the righteous will be on him and the wickedness of the wicked will be on him. But if the wicked turns from all his sins that he has committed, and keeps all My Laws and does what is lawful and right, he will surely live…none of his transgressions that he committed will be remembered…
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death.
Mathew 4:17 Turn away from your sins (repent), for the kingdom of heaven is near.
2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things (prior sins) have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Romans 8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Messiah Yeshua.
Your family history and prior repented sins do not have to define your relationship with the LORD, your eternal salvation or your family legacy. Regardless of where you come from, or what baggage you are carrying, if you turn your life over to Yeshua and truly repent of your prior sinful activity you can rewrite your future and potentially the future of all your descendants. Your legacy can be like that of the sons of Korah. Shabbat Shalom.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat13-June-2026 28th of Sivan, 5786 Parashat Sh’lach
Nu 15:27-41Jos 2Heb 3:7-17; 4:9-10
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