June 21, 2025: Torah Portion Parashat Korach - "Korah"

In this study, we will explore the Torah Portion Korach - "Korah"

• Torah Portion: Numbers 16:1-18:32

• Haftarah: 1Samuel 11:14-12:22

• Psalm: Psalm 99

• Brit Chadashah (New Testament): Romans 13:1-7, Jude 1:11, Hebrews 5:1–10

Korach - "Korah"

📖 Torah Portion: Numbers 16:1-18:32 - Rebellion Against God’s Authority

When the hard truth of their condition began to sink in, the people groaned about their situation and rebelled further by attempting to overthrow the LORD's designated leadership and return to Egypt.

The Four Rebellions...

Four separate rebellions are mentioned in this Parashah:

1) Korach against Aaron

2) Dathan and Abiram against Moses

3) the tribal chiefs against Aaron

4) the entire community against Moses

The chief conspirator and organizer, however, was Moses' cousin Korach, a member of the Kohathite clan who appears to be involved in all four of the rebellious movements. Korach's co-conspirators were two brothers named Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben, Israel's firstborn son.

Since traditionally the firstborn son obtained the leadership of the people, these tribal leaders would have resented Moses' leadership of Israel. So they gathered 250 leaders to challenge Moses and Aaron’s leadership, claiming:

"You have gone too far! All the community is holy… why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of ADONAI?" Numbers 16:3

Moses then fell on his face and challenged Korach and his company to offer the sacred ketoret (incense) at the Holy of Holies in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) the following morning. This ritual was the most sacred of the services in the sanctuary, permitted only to the Kohen Gadol (high priest), and only under special circumstances.

If their incense was accepted, that would prove their worthiness for the Aaronic priesthood.

But this was not merely a rebellion against Moses—it was a direct defiance against God’s divine order.

The following morning, Korach and the 250 leaders of Israel appeared before the Mishkan with their fire pans, ready to offer the incense. The whole assembly of Israel stood nearby and watched the power encounter unfold.

The Shechinah (glory) of the LORD suddenly appeared and the LORD spoke to Aaron and Moses saying that He would now destroy the people in an instant. But they fell upon their faces and said:

"But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”

Numbers 27:16

⚖ God’s Judgment and Confirmation:

The LORD then told them to instruct all the people to move away from the surroundings of Korach, Dathan, and Abiram. Moses then went before the tents of his rivals Dathan and Abiram and affirmed that the LORD had chosen him to lead Israel. He then pronounced the LORD's judgment and the earth opened up and swallowed Korach and his followers alive.

Next, "fire from LORD" went forth and consumed the 250 men who offered unauthorized incense. This was to serve as a warning that no one who is not of the family of Aaron should presume to come and offer incense at the altar, lest they suffer the fate of Korach.

The following day, however, the entire community of Israel rose up in rebellion against Moses and Aaron, accusing them of "bringing death upon the LORD's people."

When the mob looked toward the Tabernacle, however, the Glory of the LORD appeared, and God descended to tell Moses and Aaron that He was going to destroy the entire congregation.

Despite Moses and Aaron's fervent intercession, however, a deadly plague broke out among the people. Moses then instructed Aaron to take a fire pan with incense and bring it in the midst of the congregation to make atonement for them (though this was not part of the ritual use for the incense). Aaron did so;

"And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped."

Numbers 16:48

The Torah tells us that 14,700 Israelites died because of the plague, not including the deaths of those involved in the rebellion of Korach.

As a final test to vindicate Aaron as God's chosen priest, each of the twelve tribal heads of Israel, as well as Aaron himself, were instructed to bring their staffs to Moses. Moses then inscribed their names on each staff and brought them into the sanctuary before the ark of the testimony.

"The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.” Numbers 17:5

Aaron’s rod buds, flowers, and bears almonds—God confirms Aaron’s priestly line.

God instructs on the duties of priests and Levites, affirming the sacredness of their service and the principle of atonement through the priesthood.

💬 Messianic Insight

YESHUA is the Divinely appointed High Priest in the order of Melchizedek

"5 So also MESSIAH did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him:

“You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” 6And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek." Hebrews 5:5-6

Just as Aaron was confirmed by miraculous signs, Yeshua's resurrection is God’s public declaration of His authority.

Who is Melchizedek - "King of Righteousness"?

Melchizedek first appears in the Bible as King of Salem (possibly ancient Jerusalem):

"Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High," Genesis 14:18

Priest of El Elyon (God Most High) He blesses Avram (before he was renamed to Avraham), and receives a tithe of everything Avram had. Showing spiritual superiority, Melchizedek represents a heavenly, eternal priesthood that is not based on Levitical lineage or Temple rituals.

He appears suddenly and mysteriously, prefiguring a divine priesthood that would later be fulfilled in MESSIAH YESHUA.

Psalm 110:4 says: “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5–10 explains how Yeshua fulfills this:

• He is from the tribe of Judah, not Levi.

• Yet He functions as a High Priest because His priesthood is: Eternal, Perfect, Heavenly, andnot earthly.

• YESHUA entered not an earthly tabernacle, but the Heavenly Holy of Holies to intercede for us, offering His own blood, not the blood of animals:

  
  

  "11 But when MESSIAH came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. 12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." Hebrews 9:11 12

WHERE IS YESHUA INTERCEDING?

“Messiah entered heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” Hebrews 9:24

“He always lives to make intercession for them.”

Hebrews 7:25

YESHUA is in the Heavenly Holy of Holies, ministering continually as our Kohen Gadol (High Priest) before the Father. His work is ongoing, not once a year like on Yom Kippur, but eternal and unceasing.

In Torah (Leviticus 16) – On Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol entered the Holy of Holies. He sprinkled the blood of the goat on the Mercy Seat for atonement .

Atonement requires blood:

" For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life." Leviticus 17:11

In YESHUA'S Fulfillment:

He is the Lamb of God —( John 1:29, Isaiah 53:7) His blood was shed at the crucifixion. He presented His blood before the Father in the heavenly Temple — Hebrews 9:23–26

"23 It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself." Hebrews 9:23–26

He made a perfect and final offering, providing eternal kapparah (Atonement).

YESHUA does not abolish Torah, He fulfills it in depth and truth:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Matthew 5:17

The Levitical priesthood was a shadow of Heavenly realities — (Hebrews 8:5)

He fulfills both roles: The sacrificial Lamb AND The High Priest!

This unity reflects deeper patterns seen in Avraham’s binding of Isaac, where God provides Himself a lamb (Genesis 22:8)

COMPARISON CHART

Earthly Priesthood (Levi) Temporary:	Yeshua (Melchizedek Order):
Temporary, repeated offerings	One eternal offering
Animal blood	His own perfect blood
Earthly sanctuary	Heavenly sanctuary
Once a year (Yom Kippur)	Constant intercession

FINAL WORD:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Yeshua...” Hebrews 10:19

Through Him we now have: Eternal atonement, and direct access to the Father. A perfect, loving, and living High Priest — who understands us, carries us, and intercedes daily.

IN YESHUA WE HAVE:

• Torah fulfilled

• Kapparah

• secured Intercession

• continuing access granted to the Heavenly Throne, He is the fulfillment of all Temple patterns, priesthoods, and sacrifices — forever.

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II. HAFTARAH - 1 Samuel 11:14-12:22

Samuel warns Israel about rejecting God's leadership. Just like Moses, he emphasizes God's past faithfulness and calls the people to repent. This mirrors Israel's rejection of YESHUA, the ultimate Prophet-Priest-King. But God still offers mercy to those who turn back to Him.

III. PSALMS - Psalm 99

This Psalm emphasizes God's holiness and justice. Moses and Aaron are acknowledged as faithful priests.

God answers their prayers and disciplines with mercy. This reflects YESHUA's continual intercession for us as High Priest in the heavenly Temple (Hebrews 7:25).

IV. BRIT CHADASHAH - New Covenant Insights

Romans 13:1-7 affirms that all authority comes from God, echoing the lesson from Korach's rebellion.

Hebrews 5:1-10 shows YESHUA's priesthood is eternal and divinely appointed.

Jude 1:11 warns against those who follow the rebellious spirit of Korach.

KEY THEMES & TAKEAWAY:

Rebellion: Korach defies GOD's order; YESHUA was also rejected.

Priesthood: Aaron's rod buds; Yeshua's resurrection affirms His priesthood.

Intercession: Aaron stops the plague; Yeshua stands for us before God.- Judgment and Mercy: God judges sin but always offers a path to return.

Application: Submit to God's order, avoid pride, honor Messiah as our High Priest, and walk in humility and holiness.

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