Parashat Korach (Numbers 16-18)
(已加上2024注释。2024 Comment added. I used ChatGPT partly when doing Chinese to English translation .)
Numbers 16
16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Pallu, the son of Reuben, made themselves ready,
Comment: The genealogy given here is not purposeless at all. Korah is a Levite (descendant of Levi) who is a cousin of Aaron the high priest, so he is assigned as an assistant to the priests. He leads a rebellion recorded in this chapter, maybe because he perceives “unfairness against” himself. He seems to covet for the position of priesthood (see v.10 later). Even among the assistants of the priests, i.e. among the Levites, he is not assigned to be the leader of his division; instead, his cousin Elizaphan from a lower genealogical priority is assigned as the division leader (according to Rashi’s comments for the current verse) .
16:3 They came together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, You take overmuch on yourselves, seeing that all the people are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; why then have you put yourselves in authority over the people of the Lord?
Comment: A lot of conflicts in this world arise from similar arguments. Marxists (by the way, Marx might be a descendant of Levite too) consider people to be divided in different classes and encourage “class struggles”. In Marx’s mindset, the ancient Israelites would be divided into three classes: the priests (descendants of Aaron who is a descendant of Levi a son of Israel), the Levites (other descendants of Levi a son of Israel), and the Israelites (other descendants of Israel). The Israelites pay 10% “tax” to the Levites, and the Levites pay 10% “tax” to the priests. However, a positive consequence arises as an after fact of Korah’s rebellion: These three “classes” of Israelites accept their respective roles willingly and cooperate in harmony. Even nowadays, during public Bible-reading in Jewish synagogues, a priest reads the Bible first, then a Levite, and then the Israelites.
16:7 And put spices on the fire in them before the Lord tomorrow; then the man marked out by the Lord will be holy: you take overmuch on yourselves, you sons of Levi.
Comment: Rashi mentioned here that a descendant of Korah is the future prophet Samuel. I noticed that although here Korah is the “bad guy” who challenges the authority of priesthood, and Aaron is the “good guy” and the high priest, the roles of their respective descendants are reversed in the Book of I Samuel. Samuel, a descendant of Korah, willingly accepts his role of a Levite and assists the high priest Eli (a descendant of Aaron). The Levite Samuel corrects the mistake of his ancestor Korah and becomes a successful judge and prophet. On the other hand, the high priest Eli does not successfully carry out the heritage of his ancestor Aaron. Eli’s sons sin and cause their descendants to be cursed with shortened lives. We see here that being in a lower “class” of Levites or in a higher “class” of priests (or even the high priest) is not the decisive factor to one’s success. If a “class” is assigned by Gd, then serving Gd wholeheartedly in this position is the best “class”. In addition to Samuel, Korah had other righteous descendants（I Chronicles 6:31-38； 25:4-6）who are very satisfied with their roles as Levites and they sing praises of Gd in Gd’s House. Quite a few psalms were written by Korah’s descendants. One of them says (Psalm 84:10) “For a day in your house is better than a thousand. It is better to be a door-keeper in the house of my God, than to be living in the tents of sin.”
The essence of high class for the priests is not in the priesthood as a profession per se, but in its special role in serving Gd. Indeed, let us all remember: Serving our Gd is the best profession!
16:9 Does it seem only a small thing to you that the God of Israel has made you separate from the rest of Israel, letting you come near himself to do the work of the House of the Lord, and to take your place before the people to do what has to be done for them; (民数记16:9）以 色 列 的 神 从 以 色 列 会 中 将 你 们 分 别 出 来 ， 使 你 们 亲 近 他 ， 办 耶 和 华 帐 幕 的 事 ， 并 站 在 会 众 面 前 替 他 们 当 差 。
2024注释: 将民16:9这里的“分 别 出 来 ， 使 你 们 亲 近 他” ，对比民6:5“…必 指 示 谁 是 属 他 的 ， 谁 是 圣 洁 的 ， 就 叫 谁 亲 近 他 。 他 所 拣 选 的 是 谁 ， 必 叫 谁 亲 近 他 ”，我们可以看到“圣洁”的意思：那就是被主拣选，从某个人群中分别出来，更加亲近祂，属于祂的意思。这种亲近，可以是利未人从以色利人中被分别出来的亲近，也可以是祭司（亚伦家）从利未族中进一步被分别出来的更加亲近。圣洁和亲近主有一层又一层不同的程度。有人以为虽然得救靠恩典，成圣却需靠个人的选择，其实归根到底，圣洁的程度（包括个人的选择）也是主所拣选的。亚伦的后代作祭司，除了民数记25:11-13记载的嫉恶如仇的非 尼 哈以外，我没有看到他们比其他的利未人在行为上有什么地方更好。有可能是因为他们作为摩西的亲戚，学到了更多的圣经道理。而利未人与其他以色利人相比，虽然他们在惩罚拜金牛犊的行为时选择站在了正确的一边（出32:28），但这也可能是与他们和摩西同是利未族人有关。亚伦家与利未人与摩西的血缘关系，这只有造物主能决定，不是个人能选择的。也就是说，虽然他们的圣洁程度可能与他们的个人选择有关，但最终他们的个人选择的背后还是主的拣选。一个人为着他的圣洁程度，是没有任何可以夸口的。
2024 Comment: In Numbers 16:9, the phrase “has made you separate from …, letting you come near himself” contrasts with Numbers 16:5, which states “…will make clear who are his, and who is holy, and who may come near him: the man of his selection will be caused to come near him.” This shows us the meaning of “holy”: it signifies being chosen by the Lord, separated from a group of people, and brought closer to Him, belonging to Him. This closeness can be seen in the Levites being separated from the Israelites, or in the priests (Aaron’s family) being further separated from the Levites for closer proximity.
Holiness and closeness to the Lord have different levels. Some believe that while salvation is by grace, becoming holy requires personal choice. In reality, the degree of holiness (including personal choices) is also determined by the Lord’s selection. Concerning Aaron’s descendants as priests, apart from the incident of Phinehas recorded in Numbers 25:11-13, I haven’t seen them behaving better than other Levites. Perhaps because they were relatives of Moses, they learned more biblical teachings. Compared to other Israelites, although the Levites stood on the right side during the punishment for worshiping the golden calf (Exodus 32:28), this may be related to their shared Levite heritage with Moses. The blood relationship of Aaron’s family and the Levites with Moses is determined by the Creator, not something individuals can choose. Therefore, although their level of holiness may be related to personal choices, ultimately, behind these choices are the Lord’s selections.
No one can boast about their own level of holiness.
16:19 And Korah made all the people come together against them to the door of the Tent of meeting: and the glory of the Lord was seen by all the people.可 拉 招 聚 全 会 众 到 会 幕 门 前 ， 要 攻 击 摩 西 ， 亚 伦 。 耶 和 华 的 荣 光 就 向 全 会 众 显 现 。
2024注释: 这是本章第一次提到主的荣光显现。 按照希伯来字母所表示的数字，主的荣光的数字是32+26=58。
2024 Comment: This is the first time that this chapter mentions that the Lord’s glory appeared. According to the numbers represented by the Hebrew letters, the number represented by “the Lord’s glory” is 32 + 26 = 58.
16:42 Now when the people had come together against Moses and Aaron, looking in the direction of the Tent of meeting, they saw the cloud covering it, and the glory of the Lord came before their eyes. 会 众 聚 集 攻 击 摩 西 ， 亚 伦 的 时 候 ， 向 会 幕 观 看 ， 不 料 ， 有 云 彩 遮 盖 了 ， 耶 和 华 的 荣 光 显 现 。
2024注释: 这是本章第二次记载主的荣光显现，这是可拉和他的同党受惩罚后第二天发生的事。
2024 Comment: This is the second time that this chapter mentions that the Lord’s glory appeared. It happened on the next day after Korach and his companions had been punished.
16:45 Come out from among this people, so that I may send sudden destruction on them. And they went down on their faces. 你 们 离 开 这 会 众 ， 我 好 在 转 眼 之 间 把 他 们 灭 绝 。 他 们 二 人 就 俯 伏 于 地 。
2024注释: “把他们灭绝”， 这与前文16:21类似(16:21 “你 们 离 开 这 会 众 ， 我 好 在 转 眼 之 间 把 他 们 灭 绝 “)。经节16:19,21 可以与经节16:42,45相对照。有罪的人看不见主的荣光，不要抱怨或讥笑，因为这是出于主的怜悯，因为在主的荣光前，罪人本该灭绝。庆幸的是，主的荣光所表示的数字，58，与恩典חן所表示的数字相同。我们没有因着罪而被灭绝，是因为主有恩典。
2024 Comment: “send sudden destruction on them.” This is similar to an earlier verse 16:21 (“Come out from among this people, so that I may send sudden destruction on them.”) . Verses 16:19,21 and 16:42,45 can be studied together. If the sinful men cannot see the glory of the Lord, do not complain or mock, for this is due to the Lord’s mercy. In the presence of the Lord’s glory, sinners should have been destroyed. Fortunately, the number represented by the glory of the Lord, 58, is the same as the number represented by grace, חן (chen). We have not been destroyed because of our sins, because the Lord is gracious.
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Numbers 17
17:5 And the rod of that man who is marked out by me for myself will have buds on it; so I will put a stop to the outcries which the children of Israel make to me against you.
Comment: Who is this chosen one “marked out by me for myself” whose staff will bud? Aaron the high priest (v.8 later). But “his staff will bud” מטהו יפרח has the same numerical value 358 as “Messiah” משיח, which usually refers to the anointed king of the ideal world! (See, e.g., https://i2zion.com/2020/12/27/enter-the-gematrix/)
So this verse alludes to both the high priest and the great king Messiah. But how can the high priest, who has to come from the tribe of Levi, be also the king, who has to come from the tribe of Judah? Well, as the budding staff suggests, this is not going to be an ordinary phenomenon. The New Testament (in Hebrews 7) suggests that the Messiah takes both the roles of a king and a priest, as the king Melchizedek did in the very ancient time. While the Messiah reigns like a king who defeats enemies of Gd, he also functions like a high priest, bringing people closer to Gd.
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Numbers 18
18:8 And the Lord said to Aaron, See, I have given into your care my lifted offerings; even all the holy things of the children of Israel I have given to you and to your sons as your right for ever, because you have been marked with the holy oil.
Comment: Rashi comments here that the priests are given 24 kinds of gifts. They also serve in 24 divisions. See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohen. The Pirkei Avot 6:6 (https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.6.6) says that priesthood requires 24 virtues. An ordinary Israelite may be precluded by birth to be a priest (if not a descendant of Aaron) or precluded by birth to be a king (if not a descendant of David), but fortunately he is always welcome to be a Bible scholar.
The crown of Torah (or Bible) is bigger than the crown of priesthood and the crown of kingship, since it requires 48 virtues (Pirkei Avot 6:6). These three crowns correspond to the three crowns in the tabernacle (https://aish.com/84338802/). In the tabernacle, correspondingly, the crown on the ark (holding Torah verses on two stone tablets) is 48 handbreadths in perimeter, doubling the 24 handbreadth perimeter of the crown of the incense altar (used in priestly service). It is noted that the (36 handbreadth) perimeter of the crown of the table in the tabernacle (corresponding to kingship) is also smaller than that of the crown of the ark. (There is a discrepancy between the 36 handbreadth perimeter of the crown of table and the 30 virtues needed by the crown of kingship. A detailed analysis is included in the Appendix below commenting on Exodus 37.)
The “crown of Torah” corresponds to the crown of ark, which is not only the largest of the three crowns in the tabernacle, but is also the only crown located in the holy of holies. In the New Testament, correspondingly, “the crown of Torah (God’s word in writing)” corresponds to the crown of the Messiah in his highest divine identity, Gd’s word in flesh (John 1). Since the messiah also functions both as the king (Luke 23:3) and as the high priest (Hebrews 4:14), he in fact has all three crowns on his head (crown of Torah, crown of king, and crown of priest). His followers will reign together with him on the ideal earth in the thousand year millennium, teaching Gd’s words , bringing people to Gd. So they will also figuratively wear all three crowns: of the kings, priests, and the Bible teachers (Matthew 28:19-20). This is alluded to in the New Testament (Revelation 20).
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Appendix: Comments on Exodus 37 regarding the three golden crowns
Exodus 37:1 And Bezaleel made the ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it:
Comment: A cubit is an elbowlength, which is 6 handbreaths. So the perimeter of the top surface of the ark is (2.5+1.5+2.5+1.5)*6=48 handbreadths. The ark contains the two tablets with the ten commandments from the Torah.
Exodus 37:2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and without, and made a crown of gold to it round about.
Comment: From the computation in v1, the perimeter of the ark’s golden crown is (2.5+1.5+2.5+1.5)*6=48 handbreadths, corresponding to the 48 cities assigned to the Levites (Numbers 37:5) who teach Torah (Deuteronomy 33:8-10). The crown of the ark corresponds to the crown of Torah, which is said to be acquired with 48 virtues in Pirkei Avot 6:6 (https://www.sefaria.org/Pirkei_Avot.6.6) . (One of these 48 virtues stresses the importance of citing other peoples’ work.)
(For the function of the 48 Levite cities as torah centers of instruction, see: Harvie M. Conn, Manuel Ortiz， Urban Ministry: The Kingdom, the City the People of God， InterVarsity Press, Feb 12, 2010 , p89.)
Exodus 37:10 And he made the table of shittim wood: two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof:
Comment: The table’s perimeter is (2+1+2+1)cubits*6handbreadth/cubit=36handbreaths. The table may allude to the Jewish kingship/rulership, which belongs to David and his descendants. Scripture allusions may be found at David’s Psalm 23:5 “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies”, as well as at Ezekiel 44:3 “the prince, he shall sit … to eat bread before the LORD”.
Exodus 37:11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about.
Comment: The golden crown of the table’s has a perimeter of (2+1+2+1)cubits*6handbreadth/cubit=36handbreaths. This crown of the table in Jewish tradition symbolizes the Jewish kingship/rulership (https://aish.com/84338802/). The kingship is said to require 30 virtues in Pirkei Avot 6:6. The value 30 is related to the numerical value of Judah יהודה (https://www.betemunah.org/thirty.html), the name of the tribe to which kingship belongs until the time of the messiah (Genesis 49:10). The additional 36-30=6 virtues come from the Holy Spirit and are required for the ideal king messiah.
These are the 6 additional virtues of the ideal king messiah (https://aish.com/48944241/), as mentioned in Isaiah 11:2: “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of (1) wisdom and (2) understanding, the spirit of (3) counsel and (4) might, the spirit of (5) knowledge and of (6) the fear of the LORD.”
These 6 additional virtues are from the spirit of Gd, bringing the total number of virtues to 36, which now has the same numerical value of Leah לאה, a maternal ancestor of the Messiah, instead of the patriarch Judah יהודה. This hints at the New Testament account of the birth of the Messiah, as conceived from the Holy Spirit and born by a woman.
The New Testament accounts for the Messiah’s ministry starting at age 30, when he receives the Holy Spirit, which endows him with the extra 6 spiritual gifts for the messiah. These values also add to 36. (Source: Luke 3:22-23 “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, …”)
Exodus 37:25 And he made the incense altar of shittim wood: the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit; it was foursquare; and two cubits was the height of it; the horns thereof were of the same.
Comment: The incense altar has a perimeter of (1+1+1+1)cubit*6handbreath/cubit=24 handbreaths. The incense altar is a place of service for the priests, who are descendants of Aaron (Exodus 30).
Exodus 37:26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it: also he made unto it a crown of gold round about.
Comment: The incense altar’s golden grown has a perimeter of (1+1+1+1)cubit*6handbreath/cubit=24 handbreaths. This corresponds to the 24 shifts of the priests (I Chronicles 24). So the crown of the incensed altar symbolizes the crown of priesthood. Pirkei avot 6:6 mentions that the crown of priesthood requires 24 virtues.