Occasional Vort II

by Netanel Livni

Simcha Raz brings the following vort in his book שבעים פנים לתורה:

The parsha begins with the words (במדבר טז:א):

ויקח קרח - Korah took

Rashi comments on these words:

לקח את עצמו - He took himself

Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa expanded on Rashi’s comment. You see, Korah was a talented and well rounded individual – in truth, he deserved the mantle of leadership which he so desired. Why then, did he lose everything? Because, as Rashi says, he “took for himself”; he did not wait until his hour had arrived – the hour at which he would have been chosen by the people to be a leader. Rather, he impatiently tried to grab power through conflict and rebellion and thus (במדבר טז:לב):

ותפתח הארץ את פיה ותבלע אתם - And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up

Measure for measure! Just like he was not able to exercise patience until the hour of his leadership would arrive – the ground could not wait until he was returned to her dust.

וירדו הם וכל אשר להם חיים שאלה - So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit