He was born a Levite which, as we have seen with respect to the destinies of Aaron’s children (who died fulfilling their role as Temple servants), put him on shaky ground. Indeed, in Korah’s case this was literally true: "The earth opened its mouth and swallowed all the people who were with Korah, and all their goods" (Numbers 16:32).

For a tradition that has survived millenia of prejudice, persecution, disputation, and factionalism there does not seem, during the Wilderness period, much room for individual expression. Divinity was in no mood to be challenged, and when He was, both Heaven and Earth were deployed to administer the punishment. And yet, this tragedy involved much more than Divinity’s concern regarding improper sacrificial offerings. Korah was angry that Aaron and his sons had been elevated to the High Priesthood. Thus, typifying a rebel leader, he posed as a champion of the people, trying to discredit the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Directly confronting his adversaries he declaims: "It is too much for you! For the entire assembly - all of them - are holy and the Lord is among them; why do you exalt yourselves over the Lord’s congregation" (Num. 16:3)?

Not unlike the Wild West the two factions select their weapons. "Fire-pans" are placed before the altar. The Lord will decide which offering is acceptable. The outcome? It is so obvious the rabbis wonder why Korah, a respected Levite and scholar, had acted so brazenly. The rabbinic answer? Blinded by ambition, Korah saw prophetically that the prophet Samuel would be numbered among his offspring, which would include twenty-four groups of Levites. Unfortunately for Korah, this was not his destiny but that of his sons, who would repent and survive, while Korah and his 250 upstarts were swallowed by the earth. Witnessing this desert "phenomenon," one questions why any of the Israelites had the courage to speak with Moses, let alone the chutzpah to challenge his authority. According to the Talmud, the place in which the rebels were buried still has smoke arising from it. If one draws near, he hears voices saying: "Moses and his Torah are true, and we are liars" (Sanhedrin 110a).