(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 certain other Israelites, two hundred and fifty of them: chieftains of the community, chosen in the assembly, men of repute.

With regard to this matter, Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: Joseph hid three treasures in Egypt. One of them was revealed to Korah, one was revealed to Antoninos ben Asveiros, king of Rome, and one is hidden for the righteous in the future.

With regard to Korah’s wealth, the Gemara cites the verse: “Riches kept by his owner to his hurt” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: This is the wealth of Korah, which caused him to grow arrogant and lead to his destruction. As it is stated: “And what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben; how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the sustenance that was at their feet” (Deuteronomy 11:6). Rabbi Elazar said: This is referring to a person’s money that stands him upon his own two feet. Rabbi Levi said: The keys to Korah’s treasuries were a load of three hundred strong white mules, and they were all keys [aklidei] and locks made of leather.

The cause of Korach's dispute was twofold. First, he became wrapped up in the trait of jealousy, a harmful trait and an affliction for which there is no cure…As for jealousy: it is well known that when a person envies someone who has attained wealth and possessions, he adds worry upon worry until he acquires the same. If he succeeds in obtaining it, this leads him to love of honor and a desire for positions of authority among the world's acquisitions. From the love of honor, he progresses to seeking power, and from power, he may ultimately even come to idolatry. But if he does not attain what he envies, all his days will be filled with pain, and he will live a life of suffering. In the end, he may destroy either himself or another person…

Those called to the assembly, men of renown. It appears that men of bitter heart who loved excessive honor and authority gathered to Korach, thinking that he would give positions of authority to all of them. For this was the desire of all men of renown who said among themselves, "Let us make a name for ourselves lest we be held in contempt" (Genesis 11:4).

Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: In the world to come the Holy One, Blessed be He, will make each righteous person inherit three hundred and ten worlds, for it is written: "That I may cause those that love me to inherit yesh (numerical value of; and that I may fill their treasuries" (Proverbs 8:21. Rabbi Shimon ben Halafta said: the Holy One, Blessed be He, found no vessel that could contain blessing for Israel save that of peace, as it is written: "The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).

It also comes to sweeten and awaken the hearts. For although the Mishnayot are filled with the disputes that existed among the Sages, lest it occur to the hasty-minded person that their disagreements were quarrels and strife, he teaches that this is not so. For the strength of Torah—the vessel filled with the blessing of God—is peace. There is within it not even a trace of contention or division of hearts.