RABBI LABEL LAM (Torah.org)
Place fire into them and put incense upon them before HASHEM tomorrow, and the man whom HASHEM chooses he is the holy one; you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi.” (Bamidbar 16:7)
you have taken too much upon yourselves, sons of Levi: – ...What did Korach, who was astute, see [to commit] this folly? His vision deceived him. He saw [prophetically] a chain of great people descended from him: Samuel, who is equal to Moshe and Aharon... – Rashi
Welcome to the crime scene with yellow tape and lights flashing. What just happened here? What is the cause of the death of Korach and his congregation?
It seems a toxic combination of hubris and being too smart. Rashi tells us he knew a little too much and a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. This may help explain what the Talmud means when it says, “Chochom Adif M’Navi” – “A wise person is greater than a prophet!” Korach felt he would succeed because he saw a great person like Shmuel would descend from him and he did, but only because one son was saved from the pit of destruction. The Chidushei HaRim says that Korach was actually on the same level as Moshe but what he didn’t realize is that his spiritual level came from Moshe. He effectively cut off the branch that he was standing on, and from there he went all the way down.
How could such a person produce someone as great as Shmuel HaNavi and how could Shmuel be equal to Moshe and Aharon? No one was greater than Moshe and Aharon. The Talmud in Chulin engages in a great debate. Who was greater than whom? The measuring stick for greatness is much different than what we might imagine. Greater is that which is said about Moshe and Aharon than what is said about Avraham. Regarding Avraham it is written, “I am dust and ashes....” However, by Moshe and Aharon it is written, “What are we...? The world is only maintained because of Moshe and Aharon. It’s written here, “What are we...?”
