What are the connotations of "Rav lachem" and "u'Madu'a Tisnas'u al K'hal Hashem?
Rashi: 'You have taken for yourselves more than your fair share of greatness; If you (Moshe) took for yourself the kingship, you should not have picked for your brother the Kehunah!'
Seforno: Refer to 16:3:2:2 ... 'and why did you therefore block the B'choros from performing the Avodah, inasmuch as you first acted as Kohen Gadol during the Shiv'as Yemei ha'Milu'im and then appointed Aharon as Kohen Gadol permanently?
What did Korach mean when he said "Ki Chol ha?Eidah Kulam Kedoshim"?
Rashi (citing the Tanchuma) and Ramban (in Pasuk 19): He meant that all of Yisrael were on the same footing (since they all heard Hashem's voice on Har Sinai - Rashi). 1
Seforno: He meant that they were all holy 2 to perfection, from the soles of their feet till the tops of their heads. 3
Ramban: Prior to the appointment of Aharon and his sons, all of Yisrael were eligible to bring Korbanos - just as they could offer on Bamos. And when Korach declared "Ki Chol ha'Eidah Kulam Kedoshim", he wanted the Avodah to revert to all of Yisrael. Refer to 16:2:3:2*.
Implying that Moshe and Aharon were no better than the rest of Yisrael.
Seforno: As the Torah wrote in Sh'lach-L'cha, 15:40 "Vih'yisem Kedoshim l'Elokeichem".
Why did Korrach add the (otherwise superfluous) word "Ki Chol ha'Eidah Kulam Kedoshim"?
Oznayim la'Torah: Because, based on the principle 'Rubo ke'Kulo', "Kol ha'Eidah" implies the majority of the congregation, and he wanted to stress that every single Jew is holy.
Seforno: Refer to 16:3:2:2.
What did Korach mean when he said "u'Madu'a Tisnas'u al K'hal Hashem?
Rashi: He meant that if Moshe took for himself the kingship, he had n o right to appoint his brother aas Kohen Gadol.
Seforno: He meant that, since everyone was equally holy, he had no right to withdraw the Avodah from the Bechoros. And why did he perform the Avodah during the Shiv'as Yemei ha'Milu'im, and why did he appoint Aharon and his sons as Kohanim - to the exclusion of the Bechoros and the rest of the tribe of Levi?
How is it possible for such great men to accuse the most humble man of all time of being conceited?
Oznayim la'Torah #1 (in Pasukf 1): Based on the Midrash which states that Korach made them a feast, and Rashi, who states in Pasuk 5 that Moshe put them off until the next day because now was a time of drunkenness, it is fair to say that they were drunk and were speaking from a state of drunkenness. 1
Oznayim la'Torah #2: Because, like a person who is sickwith a high temperature, sometimes speaks unintelligably, so too, in the heat of Machlokes, people tend to say unashamedly, say falsehoods that have no bearing on reality. 2
Why did Korach say "u've'Socham Hashem"?
Alshich: 'Do not say that we were Kadosh, but lost it following the sin of the Eigel, because Hashem subsequently commanded us to build a Mishkan and dwell among us!'
How could Korach demand Kehunah even for Zarim - seeing as On ben Peles was not a Levi?
Hadar Zekenim (in Pasuk 5): Because Hashem said in Yisro Sh'mos, 19:6 that all of Yisrael will be a "Mamleches Kohanim".
On was from Reuven; refer to 16:2:3:1*.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes that all of Yisrael were Kadosh, for they all heard Hashem's voice on Sinai. But only Moshe was able to hear all of the Aseres ha'Dibros?
Gur Aryeh: We cannot explain simply, that it says "ve'Hiskadeshtem vi'Heyisem Kedoshim" (Vayikra 11:44), since this is not a reason not to be a leader over them. Rather, we all heard Anochi and Lo Yihyeh L'cha from Hashem, so we do not need someone else between us and Hashem. 1
Sifsei Chachamim (citing the Nachalas Ya'akov(: Granted, it is proper that you (Moshe) be king, for you heard all Aseres ha'Dibros. However, Aharon is no better than the rest of us! Why did vou pick him to be Kohen Gadol?
Erech Apayim 1 (Vayosef Avraham 20): Korach admitted that Moshe and Aharon raised Yisrael from the 49th level of Tum'ah to a great level. However, now that they are at a great level, they do not need Moshe and Aharon, rather, they blemish them, like Parah Adumah, which is Metaher the Tamei and Metamei the Tahor.
How does this answer the question? All others died from Hashem's voice, and needed to be revived, and asked Moshe to hear the rest (Sh'mos 20:16)! Perhaps amidst Korach's envy, he overlooked this. (PF)
