“And Korach son of Yitzhar, son of Kehas took…” (16:1)
Reish Lakish expounded upon the names of Korach. Korach: Who made a tear (korcha) in Yisrael; son of Yitzhar: that he heated up the world upon him like the bright afternoon (tzeharayim); son of Kehas: that he blunted (hikehah) the teeth of his parents. (Sanhedrin 109b)
What prompted Chazal to expound Korach’s names in this way? Perhaps it is because the Gemara says that wherever scripture singles out one’s father’s for vilification, it is evident that he was a wicked man. But we know that Yitzhar and Kehas were righteous. Therefore Chazal expounded all the names referring to Korach alone.
- Korach: Who made a tear (korcha) in Yisrael; through Korach’s rebellion thousands of Jews died.
- son of Yitzhar: that he heated up the world upon him like the bright afternoon (tzeharayim); The concept of the afternoon sun is when something is out in the open and visible to all. Korach‘s rebellion was brought out into the open like the bright sun.
- son of Kehas: that he blunted (hikehah) the teeth of his parents. This refers to the deep shame to the family of Kehas. Kehas were the lofty family of Leviim who carried the Aron Hakodesh. The more sanctified, the greater the disgrace. (Torah Temimah)
