K Ÿ e¬Y ¦n E −c §a` Ÿ «I©e u ¤x ½ ̈` ̈d Æm¤di¥l£r q³©k §Y©e d ̈l Ÿ ` §W mi¦I©g m¤d ̈l x¤W£` l ̈k§e m¥d Ec §x¥I©e :l« ̈d ̈T©d(dk zy)
They, and all they possessed, descended alive into the grave; the earth covered them up, and they were lost to the assembly. The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh asks: Why does the Torah use the words mi¦I©g d ̈l Ÿ ` §W in Gehinnom, and not mi¦I©g l Ÿ e` §y¦l to Gehinnom? Another question is what is the meaning that they were alive in Gehinnom?
He answers that even though the people of Korach were once great sages, they fell to a very low level. Chazal in Mesichta Eiruvin 19a teach us: l©r ENi ¦t£` mi¦r ̈W §x d ̈aEW §z ¦A oi ¦x§f Ÿ eg m ̈pi¥` m ̈P ¦di¥B l¤W Ÿ eg §z ¦R The wicked do not repent, even at the entrance to Gehinnom.
However, the wicked people are not alive in Gehinnom and they do not suffer as much as an alive person would. However, the Torah is telling us that even in Gehinnom, they were left alive as a punishment. Therefore, their suffering from the fire from Gehinom was unbearable. That is the reason that the Posuk says mi¦I©g d ̈l Ÿ ` §W in Gehinnom they were alive. If the Posuk had said mi¦I©g, l Ÿ e` §y¦l then the meaning would have been that they were swallowed alive only until they arrived at the door of Gehinnom.
(wev ohhjv rut)
The Gaon Harav Shlomo Kluger in his Sefer Imrei Shefer, answers the question of the Ohr Hachaim why does it say mi¦I©g d ̈l Ÿ ` §W as follows: True that they had died before they entered Gehinom, however, most people repent as they die. The followers of Korach were so arrogant, that they felt that they were still alive, and didn’t have the push to repent. This is the meaning of mi¦I©g d ̈l Ÿ ` §W that in the Gehinom they thought that that they were still alive.
