The Gemara (Sanhedrin 110a) says that the wife of Ohn ben Peles (one of the co-conspirators of Korach listed at the beginning of the parsha (Bamidbar 16:1) but not later on) saved him from utter destruction. She came to her husband and said, “Listen here. You have nothing to gain out of this. Regardless of whoever comes out on top here, you will just be second or third or fourth fiddle. Either Moshe Rabbeinu will come out on top and you will stay in the same position or Korach will come out on top and you will stay in the same position. What difference does it make to you?”
Ohn ben Peles (who was probably not the sharpest knife in the shed) responded. “Do you know what? You’re right. But I am already too far into this. How do I get out of it?” The famous Gemara records the response of Mrs. Ohn ben Peles. “Don’t worry. I will take care of you.” She got her husband drunk with wine until he fell asleep. When the band of Korach’s followers came around to pick up Ohn ben Peles, his wife sat by the door of her house and uncovered the hair of her head.
Korach’s followers saw this woman sitting by the door with her hair uncovered. They could not proceed any further into the house so they immediately went on their way. That is how she saved Ohn ben Peles.
The sefer Siach Yaakov brings two observations, which, in a sense, are contradictory.
Observation #1: Note the great level of the kedusha that resided in Am Yisrael at that time. People who were not fazed by the prospect of challenging the prophecy of Moshe Rabbeinu as the nation’s leader, nevertheless, would not approach a woman who was immodestly dressed.
Observation #2: Note the great power of machlokes. People who are so holy that they don’t want to look at an immodestly dressed woman, are nevertheless willing to go ahead and fight with Moshe Rabbeinu. In other words, when even the holiest Jews get involved in machlokes, nothing else counts.
