This week’s parashat is the 5th parashat in the book of Bamidbar also called Numbers, and is called Korach which means ‘Baldness’.
Bullet Point Summary
– Korach, Datan, and Aviram gathered 250 men against Moshe and Aharon
– Moshe tells the men to meet before YHWH and He will choose who is holy to Him
– Moshe tells Korach he has lightly esteemed what YHWH has given him
– Datan and Aviram accuse Moshe of forcing them to be his followers
– Moshe told Korach to bring his men and come before YHWH with censers tomorrow
– All the men, Moshe, and Aharon gathered at the door with incense in their censers
– YHWH tells Moshe and Aharon to separate from the men so He may consume them
– YHWH tells the people to separate from Korach, Datan, and Aviram
– Moshe said if the Earth opens up and swallows them then YHWH has sent me
– The Earth opened up and swallowed them, Korach and all their households
– Fire came out and consumed the 250 men
– YHWH told Moshe to take the censers of them that died and make a covering for the altar
– The people complained that Moshe and Aharon killed the people of YHWH
– YHWH plagued the people but Aharon and Moshe interceded and stopped the plague
– YHWH commanded that the leaders of each tribe bring a rod with their name and He shall choose one
– Aharon’s rod blossomed because he was YHWH’s chosen one
– Then the people feared and Moshe told them they shall still serve but not in all things
– YHWH tells Aharon all the things that shall be his and the Levi’im’s from the offerings
– YHWH tells Aharon they shall have no inheritance in the land but He shall be their inheritance
– The tithe shall be the Levi’im’s and they shall offer a tenth of it to YHWH
– Haftarah – Shemu’el tells the people they have sinned and returned many times and now they ask for a king and it angered YHWH
Parashat Text with Readers and Daily Portions (Reader 1 Starts on Saturday Evening)
Korach “Baldness”
Num 16:1 – 18:32 , 1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22
Reader 1 (Saturday Evening Portion)
– Korach, Datan, and Aviram gathered 250 men against Moshe and Aharon
Num 16:1 Now Korach, the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi, and Datan and
Aviram, the sons of Eli’av, and On, the son of Pelet, sons of Re’uven, took men:
Num 16:2 And they rose up before Moshe, with certain of the children of Yisra’el, two hundred
and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown:
Num 16:3 And they gathered themselves together against Moshe and against Aharon, and said
unto them, You take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of
them, and YHWH is among them: wherefore then lift you up yourselves above the
congregation of YHWH?
– Moshe tells the men to meet before YHWH and He will choose who is holy to Him
Num 16:4 And when Moshe heard it, he fell upon his face:
Num 16:5 And he spoke unto Korach and unto all his company, saying, Even tomorrow YHWH
will show * who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even
him whom He has chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.
Num 16:6 This do; Take you censers, Korach, and all his company;
Num 16:7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before YHWH tomorrow: and it shall
be that the man whom YHWH does choose, he shall be holy: you take too much upon you,
you sons of Levi.
(Sunday Morning Portion)
– Moshe tells Korach he has lightly esteemed what YHWH has given him
Num 16:8 And Moshe said unto Korach, Hear, I pray you, you sons of Levi:
Num 16:9 Seem it but a small thing unto you, that the Elohim of Yisra’el has separated you
from the congregation of Yisra’el, to bring you near * to Himself to do * the service of the
tabernacle of YHWH, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them?
Num 16:10 And He has brought you near * to Him, and all your brethren the sons of Levi with
you: and seek you the priesthood also?
Num 16:11 For which cause both you and all your company are gathered together against
YHWH: and what is Aharon, that you murmur against him?
– Datan and Aviram accuse Moshe of forcing them to be his followers
Num 16:12 And Moshe sent to call Datan and Aviram, the sons of Eli’av: which said, We will not
come up:
Num 16:13 Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land that flows with milk and
honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except you make yourself altogether a prince over us?
Reader 2 (Sunday Evening Portion)
Num 16:14 Moreover you have not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or
given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: will you put out the eyes of these men? we will
not come up.
Num 16:15 And Moshe was very wroth, and said unto YHWH, Respect not you their offering: I
have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt * one of them.
– Moshe told Korach to bring his men and come before YHWH with censers tomorrow
Num 16:16 And Moshe said unto Korach, Be you and all your company before YHWH, you, and
they, and Aharon, tomorrow:
Num 16:17 And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring you before
YHWH every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; you also, and Aharon, each of
you his censer.
(Monday Morning Portion)
– All the men, Moshe, and Aharon gathered at the door with incense in their censers
Num 16:18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon,
and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moshe and Aharon.
Num 16:19 And Korach gathered * all the congregation against them unto the door of the
tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of YHWH appeared unto all the congregation.
Reader 3 (Monday Evening Portion)
– YHWH tells Moshe and Aharon to separate from the men so He may consume them
Num 16:20 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe and unto Aharon, saying,
Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a
moment.
Num 16:22 And they fell upon their faces, and said, O Elohim, the Elohim of the spirits of all
flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be wroth with all the congregation?
– YHWH tells the people to separate from Korach, Datan, and Aviram
Num 16:23 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of
Korach, Datan, and Avi’ram.
Num 16:25 And Moshe rose up and went unto Datan and Avi’ram; and the elders of Yisra’el
followed him.
Num 16:26 And he spoke unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of
these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.
Num 16:27 So they got up from the tabernacle of Korach, Datan, and Avi’ram, on every side:
and Datan and Avi’ram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and
their sons, and their little children.
– Moshe said if the Earth opens up and swallows them then YHWH has sent me
Num 16:28 And Moshe said, Hereby you shall know that YHWH has sent me to do * all these
works; for I have not done them of my own mind.
Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the
visitation of all men; then YHWH has not sent me.
Num 16:30 But if YHWH make a new thing, and the earth open * her mouth, and swallow them
up, * with all that pertains unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then you shall
understand that these men have provoked * YHWH.
– The Earth opened up and swallowed them, Korach and all their households
Num 16:31 And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking * all these words, that the
ground clave asunder that was under them:
Num 16:32 And the earth opened * her mouth, and swallowed them up, * and their houses, and
all the men that pertained unto Korach, and all their goods.
Num 16:33 They, and all that pertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth
closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.
Num 16:34 And all Yisra’el that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said,
Lest the earth swallow us up also.
– Fire came out and consumed the 250 men
Num 16:35 And there came out a fire from YHWH, and consumed the * two hundred and fifty
men that offered incense.
(Tuesday Morning Portion)
– YHWH told Moshe to take the censers of them that died and make a covering for the altar
Num 16:36 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 16:37 Speak unto El’azar the son of Aharon the priest, that he take up * the censers out of
the burning, and scatter you the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.
Num 16:38 * The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make * them broad
plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before YHWH, therefore they are
hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Yisra’el.
Num 16:39 And El’azar the priest took * the copper censers, wherewith they that were burnt
had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar:
Num 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Yisra’el, that no stranger, which is not of the
seed of Aharon, come near to offer incense before YHWH; that he be not as Korach, and as
his company: as YHWH said to him by the hand of Moshe.
– The people complained that Moshe and Aharon killed the people of YHWH
Num 16:41 But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Yisra’el murmured against
Moshe and against Aharon, saying, You have killed * the people of YHWH.
Num 16:42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moshe and
against Aharon, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the
cloud covered it, and the glory of YHWH appeared.
Num 16:43 And Moshe and Aharon came before the tabernacle of the congregation.
Reader 4 (Tuesday Evening Portion)
Num 16:44 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 16:45 Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a
moment. And they fell upon their faces.
(Wednesday Morning Portion)
– YHWH plagued the people but Aharon and Moshe interceded and stopped the plague
Num 16:46 And Moshe said unto Aharon, Take * a censer, and put fire therein from off the
altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for
them: for there is wrath gone out from YHWH; the plague is begun.
Num 16:47 And Aharon took as Moshe commanded, and ran into the midst of the
congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on * incense,
and made an atonement for the people.
Num 16:48 And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
Num 16:49 Now they that died in the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred,
beside them that died about the matter of Korach.
Num 16:50 And Aharon returned unto Moshe unto the door of the tabernacle of the
congregation: and the plague was stayed.
Reader 5 (Wednesday Evening Portion)
– YHWH commanded that the leaders of each tribe bring a rod with their name and He shall choose one
Num 17:1 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 17:2 Speak unto the children of Yisra’el, and take of every one of them a rod according to
the house of their fathers, of all their princes according to the house of their fathers twelve
rods: write you * every man’s name upon his rod.
Num 17:3 And you shall write Aharon’s name upon the rod of Levi: for one rod shall be for the
head of the house of their fathers.
Num 17:4 And you shall lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony,
where I will meet with you.
Num 17:5 And it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom:
and I will make to cease from me * the murmurings of the children of Yisra’el, whereby they
murmur against you.
Num 17:6 And Moshe spoke unto the children of Yisra’el, and every one of their princes gave
him a rod apiece, for each prince one, according to their fathers’ houses, twelve rods: and
the rod of Aharon was among their rods.
Num 17:7 And Moshe laid up * the rods before YHWH in the tabernacle of witness.
(Thursday Morning Portion)
– Aharon’s rod blossomed because he was YHWH’s chosen one
Num 17:8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moshe went into the tabernacle of witness;
and, behold, the rod of Aharon for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds,
and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.
Num 17:9 And Moshe brought out * all the rods from before YHWH unto all the children of
Yisra’el: and they looked, and took every man his rod.
Reader 6 (Thursday Evening Portion)
Num 17:10 And YHWH said unto Moshe, Bring * Aharon’s rod again before the testimony, to be
kept for a token against the rebels; and you shall quite take away their murmurings from
me, that they die not.
Num 17:11 And Moshe did so: as YHWH commanded him, so did he.
– Then the people feared and Moshe told them they shall still serve but not in all things
Num 17:12 And the children of Yisra’el spoke unto Moshe, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we
all perish.
Num 17:13 Whosoever comes any thing near unto the tabernacle of YHWH shall die: shall we
be consumed with dying?
Num 18:1 And YHWH said unto Aharon, You and your sons and your father’s house with you
shall bear * the lawlessness of the sanctuary: and you and your sons with you shall bear * the
lawlessness of your priesthood.
Num 18:2 And * your brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring you with
you, that they may be joined unto you, and minister unto you: but you and your sons with
you shall minister before the tabernacle of witness.
Num 18:3 And they shall keep your charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall
not come near the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar, that neither they, nor you also, die.
Num 18:4 And they shall be joined unto you, and keep * the charge of the tabernacle of the
congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle: and a stranger shall not come near unto you.
Num 18:5 And you shall keep * the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar: that
there be no wrath any more upon the children of Yisra’el.
Num 18:6 And I, behold, I have taken * your brethren the Levi’im from among the children of
Yisra’el: to you they are given as a gift for YHWH, to do * the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
Num 18:7 Therefore you and your sons with you shall keep * your priest’s office for everything
of the altar, and within the vail; and you shall serve: I have given * your priest’s office unto
you as a service of gift: and the stranger that comes near shall be put to death.
– YHWH tells Aharon all the things that shall be his and the Levi’im’s from the offerings
Num 18:8 And YHWH spoke unto Aharon, Behold, I also have given you * the charge of my
heave offerings of all the hallowed things of the children of Yisra’el; unto you have I given
them by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, by an ordinance forever.
Num 18:9 This shall be yours of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every oblation of
theirs, every minkha offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass
offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for you and for your
sons.
Num 18:10 In the most holy place shall you eat it; every male shall eat it: it shall be holy unto
you.
Num 18:11 And this is yours; the heave offering of their gift, with all the wave offerings of the
children of Yisra’el: I have given them unto you, and to your sons and to your daughters with
you, by a statute forever: every one that is clean in your house shall eat of it.
Num 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of
them which they shall offer unto YHWH, them have I given you.
Num 18:13 And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto YHWH, shall be
yours; every one that is clean in your house shall eat of it.
Num 18:14 Everything devoted in Yisra’el shall be yours.
Num 18:15 Everything that opens the womb in all flesh, which they bring unto YHWH, whether
it be of men or beasts, shall be yours: nevertheless * the firstborn of man shall you surely
redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shall you redeem.
Num 18:16 And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shall you redeem, according to
your estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is
twenty gerahs.
Num 18:17 But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, you
shall not redeem; they are holy: you shall sprinkle * their blood upon the altar, and shall
burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savor unto YHWH.
Num 18:18 And the flesh of them shall be yours, as the wave breast and as the right shoulder
are yours.
Num 18:19 All the heave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Yisra’el offer unto
YHWH, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, by a statute forever: it
is a covenant of salt forever before YHWH unto you and to your seed with you.
– YHWH tells Aharon they shall have no inheritance in the land but He shall be their inheritance
Num 18:20 And YHWH spoke unto Aharon, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither
shall you have any part among them: I am your part and your inheritance among the
children of Yisra’el.
Reader 7 (6th Day Friday Morning Double Portion)
– The tithe shall be the Levi’im’s and they shall offer a tenth of it to YHWH
Num 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Yisra’el for an
inheritance, for their service which they serve, * the service of the tabernacle of the
congregation.
Num 18:22 Neither must the children of Yisra’el henceforth come near the tabernacle of the
congregation, lest they bear sin, and die.
Num 18:23 But the Levi’im shall do * the service of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they
shall bear their lawlessness: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that
among the children of Yisra’el they have no inheritance.
Num 18:24 But * the tithes of the children of Yisra’el, which they offer as a heave offering unto
YHWH, I have given to the Levi’im to inherit: therefore I have said unto them, Among the
children of Yisra’el they shall have no inheritance.
Num 18:25 And YHWH spoke unto Moshe, saying,
Num 18:26 Thus speak unto the Levi’im, and say unto them, When you take of the children of
Yisra’el * the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall
offer up a heave offering of it for YHWH, a tenth part of the tithe.
Num 18:27 And this your heave offering shall be reckoned unto you, as though it were the grain
of the threshingfloor, and as the fullness of the winepress.
Num 18:28 Thus you also shall offer a heave offering unto YHWH of all your tithes, which you
receive of the children of Yisra’el; and you shall give thereof * YHWH’S heave offering to
Aharon the priest.
Num 18:29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer * every heave offering of YHWH, of all the best
thereof, * the hallowed part thereof out of it.
Num 18:30 Therefore you shall say unto them, When you have heaved * the best thereof from
it, then it shall be counted unto the Levi’im as the increase of the threshingfloor, and as the
increase of the winepress.
Num 18:31 And you shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward for
your service in the tabernacle of the congregation.
Num 18:32 And you shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it * the best of
it: neither shall you pollute the holy things of the children of Yisra’el, lest you die.
Haftarah (Shabbat Evening Portion)
– Shemu’el tells the people they have sinned and returned many times and now they ask for a king and it angered YHWH
1Sa 11:14 Then said Shemu’el to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the
kingdom there.
1Sa 11:15 And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Sha’ul king * before YHWH in
Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before YHWH; and there Sha’ul
and all the men of Yisra’el rejoiced greatly.
1Sa 12:1 And Shemu’el said unto all Yisra’el, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all
that you said unto me, and have made a king over you.
1Sa 12:2 And now, behold, the king walks before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and,
behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this
day.
1Sa 12:3 Behold, here I am: witness against me before YHWH, and before his anointed: whose *
ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? * whom have I
oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind my eyes therewith? and I
will restore it you.
1Sa 12:4 And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken
anything of any man’s hand.
1Sa 12:5 And he said unto them, YHWH is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this
day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
1Sa 12:6 And Shemu’el said unto the people, It is YHWH that advanced * Moshe and Aharon,
and that brought * your fathers up out of the land of Mitzrayim.
1Sa 12:7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before YHWH of * all the
righteous acts of YHWH, which He did to you and to your fathers.
1Sa 12:8 When Ya’akov was come into Mitzrayim, and your fathers cried unto YHWH, then
YHWH sent * Moshe and Aharon, which brought forth * your fathers out of Mitzrayim, and
made them dwell in this place.
1Sa 12:9 And when they forgot * YHWH their Elohim, He sold them into the hand of Sisera,
captain of the host of Chatzor, and into the hand of the Pelishtim, and into the hand of the
king of Moav, and they fought against them.
1Sa 12:10 And they cried unto YHWH, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken *
YHWH, and have served * Ba’alim and Ashtarot: but now deliver us out of the hand of our
enemies, and we will serve you.
1Sa 12:11 And YHWH sent * Yerubba’al, and Bedan, and Yiftach, and Shemu’el, and delivered
you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you dwelled safe.
1Sa 12:12 And when you saw that Nachash the king of the children of Ammon came against you,
you said unto me, No; but a king shall reign over us: when YHWH your Elohim was your
king.
1Sa 12:13 Now therefore behold the king whom you have chosen, and whom you have desired!
and, behold, YHWH has set a king over you.
1Sa 12:14 If you will fear * YHWH, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and not rebel against *
the commandment of YHWH, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you
continue following YHWH your Elohim:
1Sa 12:15 But if you will not obey the voice of YHWH, but rebel against * the commandment of
YHWH, then shall the hand of YHWH be against you, as it was against your fathers.
1Sa 12:16 Now therefore stand and see * this great thing, which YHWH will do before your eyes.
1Sa 12:17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto YHWH, and He shall send thunder and
rain; that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in
the sight of YHWH, in asking you a king.
1Sa 12:18 So Shemu’el called unto YHWH; and YHWH sent thunder and rain that day: and all
the people greatly feared * YHWH and Shemu’el.
1Sa 12:19 And all the people said unto Shemu’el, Pray for your servants unto YHWH your
Elohim, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.
1Sa 12:20 And Shemu’el said unto the people, Fear not: you have done * all this wickedness: yet
turn not aside from following YHWH, but serve * YHWH with all your heart;
1Sa 12:21 And turn you not aside: for then should you go after vain things, which cannot profit
nor deliver; for they are vain.
1Sa 12:22 For YHWH will not forsake * His people for His great name’s sake: because it has
pleased YHWH to make you His people.
Review Torah Summaries (Shabbat Morning Portion)