(17) Every dispute that is for the sake of Heaven, will in the end endure; But one that is not for the sake of Heaven, will not endure. Which is the controversy that is for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Hillel and Shammai. And which is the controversy that is not for the sake of Heaven? Such was the controversy of Korah and all his congregation.

(1) Now Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben —(2) to rise up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty Israelites, chieftains of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.(3) They combined (vayikkahalu from "קהל") against Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them, and יהוה is in their midst. Why then do you raise yourselves above יהוה’s congregation?”

(4) ודתן ואבירם ....He [=Korach] arose and assembled 250 men, fitted to be heads of the Sanhedrin, most of them of the tribe of Reuben who were his neighbours... and he attired them in robes of pure purple wool. They then came and stood before Moses and said to him, “Is a garment that is entirely of purple subject to the law of Zizith or is it exempt”? He replied to them: “It is subject to that law”. Whereupon they began to jeer at him: “Is this possible? A robe of any different coloured material, one thread of purple attached to it exempts it, and this that is entirely of purple should it not exempt itself (i.e. ipso facto be exempt) from the law of “Zizith”? (Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 2).

(5) Then he [=Moses] spoke to Korah and all his company, saying, “Come morning, יהוה will make known who is [God’s] and who is holy by granting direct access; the one whom [God] has chosen will be granted access.

(9) Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the communityofIsrael and given you direct access, to perform the duties of יהוה’s Tabernacle and to minister to the community and serve them?(10) Now that [God] has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you seek the priesthood too?(11) Truly, it is against יהוה that youandallyourcompany have banded together. For who is Aaron that you should rail against him?”

(19) Korah gathered thewholecommunity against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Then the Presence of יהוה appeared to the whole community,

(1) ויקהל עליהם קרח AND KORAH CONVENED [ALL THE CONGREGATION] AGAINST THEM, by means of scoffing language: that whole night he went round to all the tribes and tried to win them over: “Do you really think that I care for myself alone? ItisonlyforallofyouthatIhave a care! These men come and occupy every high office: royal rank for himself, for his brother the priesthood!” — until in the end all of them submitted to his persuasion (Midrash Tanchuma, Korach 7).

(6) Next day the wholeIsraelitecommunity railed against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You two have brought death upon יהוה’s people!”

(9)יהוה spoke to Moses, saying,(10) “Remove yourselves from this community, that I may annihilate them in an instant.” They fell on their faces.(11) Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take the fire pan, and put on it fire from the altar. Add incense and take it quickly to the community and make expiation for them. For wrath has gone forth from יהוה: the plague has begun!”

[Now Korach betook himself...

Our Sages stated in Avot [5:17] that "a controversy for the sake of Heaven will endure...an example of a controversy that is not for the sake of heaven is the controversy of Korach and his congregation." The [Mishnah] should have said "thecontroversyofKorachandMoshe" as it said previously "the controversy of Hillel and Shammai."

The Sages have taught us that in the case of a controversy that is for the sake of heaven, each of the two opposing sides is internally united, for they all focdus on one goal for the sake of heaven. In contrast, a controversy that is for the sake not of heaven but of love of glory and self-love, has internal division and controversy among those who have united to stand on one side. For each of the individuals is focused on his personal benefit and opposes the goal of his fellow, so that there was controversy between Korach and his congregation. ...

(15) Moses was much aggrieved and he said to יהוה, “Pay no regard to their oblation. I have not taken the ass of any one of them, nor have I wronged any one of them.”