One Chorach Two Chorach Red Chorach Blue Chorach

Covering for the מזבּח

פּסוקים א-ה

We are sad to say that the rebellion has come to a painful end,

with the deaths of many important men.

Hashem told Moshe to tell Elazar  וְיָרֵ֤ם אֶת־הַמַּחְתֹּת֙ מִבֵּ֣ין הַשְּׂרֵפָ֔ה וְאֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ זְרֵה־הָ֑לְאָה to throw away the ashes from the holy fire pan,

but the fire pans will be flattened and made into sheets to cover the Mizbeach which will be a sign for every single man.

Aharon didn’t clean up the mess since it wouldn’t be fitting for him because he was the Kohen Gadol,

also, because he was very involved in the rebellion even though the death of the rebels wasn’t his goal.

Since the firepans are now holy because they were used by the rebels for a commandment of Hashem,

we can’t get benefit from it ואסורין בהנאה unless we do a Mitzvah with them.

Only a Kohen can bring Ketoret, is what we learn from the creation of the covering for the Mizbeach,

it also reminds us כדי שלא יהיה כקרח to not be like the rebels and Korach.

Although there are many times that people have an argument or a fight,

there will never be a time that one side is completely wrong and the other is 100 percent right.

Bnei Yisroel Complain so Hashem Wants to Destroy Them

פּסוקים ו-י

Bnei Yisroel were complaining to Moshe and Aharon because they were feeling frustrated,

they felt that they were causing death to Bnei Yisroel אַתֶּ֥ם הֲמִתֶּ֖ם אֶת־עַ֥ם הֹ, the holy nation that Hashem created.

Hashem reacted by telling Moshe and Aharon to separate from the nation הֵרֹ֗מּוּ מִתּוֹךְ֙ הָֽעֵדָ֣ה הַזֹּ֔את because He wanted to destroy Bnei Yisroel,

so Moshe and Aharon went to the Ohel Moed to try to save the nation, and on their faces they fell.

Moshe and Aharon Make a Plan to Save Bnei Yisroel

פּסוקים יא-טו

Moshe Rabeinu came up with a plan,

he told Aharon to put Ketoret on a fire pan.

The reason they brought Ketoret was to show Bnei Yisroel what the reason of their punishments have been,

it was not because of the Ketoret, והחטא הוא הממית it was only because of their sin.

Aharon ran because he didn’t want Bnei Yisroel to be killed,

he stopped the Malach Hamavet and the plague וַתֵּֽעָצַ֖ר הַמַּגֵּפָֽה, and his mission was fulfilled.

All of Bnei Yisroel almost died but they didn’t because Aharon was so brave,

14,700 people died before Aharon stopped the Malach, but the rest he did save.

The Miracle with Aharon’s Staff

פּסוקים טז-כו

Moshe commanded each Nasi to get a stick,

their were 12 sticks in total for the 12 people picked.

On their sticks אֶת־שְׁמ֔וֹ תִּכְתֹּ֖ב עַל־מַטֵּֽהוּ they were told to write their name,

Aharon was the representative for Shevet Levi and was commanded to do the same.

The sticks were placed in the Ohel Moed where you will find the Shechina of Hashem,

He will choose which stick will blossom which will show who should be Kohen Gadol out of all of them.

People would see all of the sticks in the Ohel Moed when they would enter,

and to show that Aharon’s stick wasn’t closer to the Shechina of Hashem, it was placed in the center.

Aharon’s staff blossomed with flowers, buds and almonds while it was in the Ohel Moed,

To show how great this miracle was and to stop people from complaining in the future, that’s where his staff stayed.

Just like almonds are the fastest fruit to grow,

when someone opposes the Kehuna, their punishment will come quickly אף המעורר על הכהונה פורענותו ממהרת לבא, not slow.

Bnei Yisroel are Scared They’re Doomed to Die

פּסוקים כז-כח

Bnei Yisroel think that they are lost כֻּלָּ֥נוּ אָבָֽדְנוּ and they will perish and to Moshe they begin to cry,

they believe that כֹּ֣ל הַקָּרֵ֧ב הַקָּרֵ֛ב אֶל־מִשְׁכַּ֥ן ה’ יָמ֑וּת whoever goes near the Mishkan will surely die.