The Chumash describes
how Korach attempts to depose our teacher Moshe from being leader of the nation
of Israel. He is joined by 250 distinguished personalities, all claiming that
Moshe has set himself up as a dictator and seized rights that should have been
left to all of the people. They explain that the entire community is holy and
that Hashem is among them and specifically contest the exclusive right of the
Cohanim to offer incense in the Temple. It’s in fact a rebellion and has the
support of the general population.
The rebellion is put
down directly by G-d. Pits in the earth open and swallow up the ringleaders
with their families, houses, and possessions. Fire from heaven descends and
burns up those that improperly made incense offerings. The entire community
grumbles against Moshe and Aaron saying that they have killed Hashem’s people.
When they assemble themselves into a mob, the Almighty strikes them with a
plague.
The plague ends when
incense is properly offered by Moshe and Aharon. HaKadosh Baruch Hu then tells
Moshe to have the leaders of each tribe put their staffs into the sanctuary,
with Aharon representing the tribe of Levy. The staff of the man chosen to be
High Priest will sprout almonds. When this is done, Aharon’s staff flowers and
fruits before their eyes. The people act like babies but accept the decision.
The haftorah for
parshas Korach also deals with a rebellion but it’s a subtle one. In it the
prophet Samuel yields to the nation’s request and appoints a king. He strongly
rebukes them saying that their evil is very great, than calls upon G-d to send
thunder and rain. The people are very frightened, acknowledge their wrong, and
ask Shmuel to pray on their behalf. Shmuel does so and assures the people that
they will not be harmed.
He adds though that
they must not stray after emptiness which has no benefit and cannot help them.
Rather they should serve Hashem with all their heart. Also he, himself, must be
careful not to sin against heaven by failing to daven for them or to instruct
them in the good and straight path. This is because Hashem is determined to
make them into His nation.
To understand the
problem of the request for a king, one must start earlier in the book of the
prophet. This story starts when Shmuel is getting old. He has been Israel’s
judge for many years and now is training his sons to replace him. The Tanakh
censures the sons for being motivated by financial gain and accepting bribes.
The Gemara says that one who reads this literally is mistaken, rather they did
not dedicate their lives to this service as did their father. In any case the
elders of Israel noted their shortcomings and requested that a king be placed
upon them to judge them “like all the nations” (1 Samuel 8:5).
The request is bad in
the eyes Shmuel because they said “to judge us like all the nations”. The
commentaries explain that they were saying that judgement need not be according
to the Torah rather it should be according to the opinion of the king and the
customs of the people. Shmuel is upset and inquires of Hashem. The reply is
that the people have not rejected Shmuel rather they have rejected Hashem.
Never the less he must grant their request.
Shmuel anoints Saul as
king and even though he’s a tsadik, he fails. G-d then has Shmuel anoint David
as king because of the beauty of his soul. David has lived up to his noble
characteristics of being principled, righteous, persevering, and obedient.
David will be a king of the people but he will be a king of Torah first. He
will have travails, will be well compensated for them, and the righteous will
crown themselves by saying they are like him.
The point is that every
nation is free to make their own standards. If the standards are good it will
be reckoned as a righteous nation, and if not, not. Israel is different in that
its standards must be Torah standards. If we appoint a leader to make our own
standards, whether he is a false tsadik or a real tsadik, it’s an act of
rebellion. The calling is a high one with much to be gained, but even so, we
are still draftees in the army of Hashem.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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