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1 ‎[1] NOW KORAH, THE SON OF IZHAR…TOOK. This event occurred in the wilderness of Sinai when the first-born were set aside and the Levites were placed in their stead. Israel thought that our master Moses acted out of his own will in giving his brother an elevated position. They suspected that he acted similarly towards the sons of Kohath, who were his relatives, and to all the sons of Levi who were of his family. The Levites rebelled against Moses because they were subservient to Aaron and his sons. Dathan and Abiram rebelled because Moses removed the birthright from Reuben their forefather, and gave it to Joseph. It is also possible that they suspected that Moses favored the tribe of Joseph because Joshua was his assistant. Korah too was a first-born, as Scripture clearly states. The banner of Reuben camped in the south. So did Korah, for he was a Kohathite. The princes of the congregation were first-born. They offered the burnt offering. They therefore took the fire pans. The miracle of the staff, which demonstrated to all of Israel that God chose the Levites in place of the first-born, is proof that this explanation is correct. Hence Scripture reads, *that there may be made an end of their murmurings against Me* (Num. 17:25), for the murmuring was an account of this. Moses also said, *that I have not done them of mine own mind* (v. 28). He said the aforementioned because Israel had come to believe that he had acted on his own. Furthermore, Moses said, *then the Lord hath not sent me* (v. 29) in this thing, because Israel had come to believe in him. Here is another rigorous proof: *seeing all the congregation are holy* (v. 3). The aforementioned alludes to the first-born who are holy, for Scripture states, *Sanctify unto Me all the first-born* (Ex. 13:2). The first-born were the priests *that come near to the Lord* (Ex. 19:22). They were the most important ones of the congregation.
‎[2] NOW KORAH…TOOK. This is short for, now Korah took men. Compare, *an ass bread* (I Sam. 16:20). There are many such instances in Scripture. Rabbi Jonah says that the meaning of *Now Korah took* is now Korah took himself to rise against Moses.
Version: Ibn Ezra's commentary on the Pentateuch, tran. and annot. by H. Norman Strickman and Arthur M. Silver. Menorah Pub., 1988-2004
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH001102376/NLI
License: CC-BY-NC