I realize that posting my "Friday Thoughts" on Friday is not the best time to do so, because many of you don't have the time on Friday to check the Blog and you won't have the Dvar Torah to use on Shabbos. So, I think I will try posting my "Friday Thoughts" earlier in the week, when I have the time.
Thus, this week is Parshas Korach. We all probably know that Korach revolted against Moshe and his being the Boss, because he said that the entire nation is holy and why should Moshe elevate himself over them.
The Midrash points out that what really bothered Korach was the appointment of Elizafan Ben Uziel as the Nasi for the Bais Av of Kehos. (See Parshas Bamidbar ) . As you know, Levi had 3 sons: Gershon, Kehos and Merari. Kehos had 4 sons: Amram, Yitzhar, Chevron & Uziel.
Korach reasoned as follows: the children of Amram, as the oldest son, were entitled to lead the tribe of Levi. Aron & Moshe took that job, leading not only Shevet Levi , but the whole nation as well. They had to give up the title of Nasi of the Bais Av of Kehos, as that was a lesser job..
Korach thought that he, as the son of Yitzhar, the second son of Kehos, should be entitled to the Nasi position. However, it was awarded to Elizafan, a son of Uziel , the youngest son of Kehos, instead. This did not sit well with Korach and he decided to revolt.
But the question arises; Why didn't he revolt at the time he was passed over for Nasi ??. The Nasiim were appointed right after the incident of the EGEL. Why did he wait until after the incident of the M'RAGLIM to start his revolt??
There are several answers given by the Commentators, including the fact that after the M'RAGLIM incident, the time was ripe for revolt because the Yidden were very unhappy at that time, crying on the night of Tisha B'Av, when the M'RAGLIM returned with their report, and because a plague was raging, etc.
I'm sure those conditions figured into Korach's plans. But I would like to advance another, more practical reason, which I just heard this week, (without attribution to any Gadol, by the way).
Korach truly made up his mind to revolt at the time he was passed over for Nasi. But, almost at the same time, he heard the prophecy of Eldad and Medad to the effect that "Moshe Mais, Yehoshua Machnis", (Moshe will die and Yehoshua will take over and lead the Yidden to Eretz Yisroel).
Korach figured: Why waste time revolting now. I'll wait until Moshe dies and then I can claim the leadership I am entitled to. Yehoshua is, anyway, a much less formidable adversary than Moshe. And, since our entry into Canaan is imminent, (we are even sending spies out in preparation), and Moshe will NOT be leading us in, then Moshe's death must be very close. Therefore, he did not revolt at the time he was passed over for Nasi.
However, when the M'RAGLIM returned with their bad report, and it was decreed that the Yidden will have to wander in the Midbar, for FORTY MORE YEARS, (until that generation died out), Korach decided that enough was enough. He would not, and could not, wait all that time for leadership. And so, he decided to revolt then and there, right after the M'RAGLIM returned.
I do not have a source for this reasoning of Korach, although the Ramban skirts around the issue somewhat without actually coming up with that reason. But the more you think about it, the more logical it seems. Hope you all agree. LOVE, ZAIDA