The neshamah of Korach descended into Sheol - but the story did not end there. The Yerushalmi (סנהדרין פ"י ה"א) teaches that Channah prayed for Korach and his congregation, and thus saved them from sinking ever deeper into Gehenom. This is grounded in the verse from Channah's song of thanksgiving (שמואל א ב ו): ה' מֵמִית וּמְחַיֶּה מוֹרִיד שְׁאוֹל וַיָּעַל - "Hashem brings death and gives life; He lowers to Sheol and raises up."
What gave Channah the spiritual standing to pray on behalf of Korach's company? This can be understood in light of the aforementioned principle regarding the virtue of one who submits before Hashem. Channah's adversary, Peninnah, tormented her ceaselessly - "וְכִעֲסַתָּה צָרָתָהּ גַּם־כַּעַס" - and her rival would provoke her greatly (שמואל א א ו). Yet the childless Channah did not retaliate. She did not answer, did not compete, did not press her claim before anyone other than the One who could answer it. She poured her heart before Hashem alone - "וְחַנָּה הִיא מְדַבֶּרֶת עַל־לִבָּהּ" - and Channah, she spoke upon her heart (שם יג).
The Midrash Rabbah (אסתר ו ג) draws a precise distinction between the wicked and the righteous:
"The wicked are in the power of their hearts - (as scripture says:) 'Esav said in his heart,' 'the fool said in his heart,' 'Yeravam said in his heart,' 'Haman said in his heart.' But the tzaddikim - their hearts are in their power: 'and Channah spoke upon her heart,' 'Daniel set upon his heart,' 'and Dovid said to his heart.' And they resemble their Creator: 'And Hashem said to His heart.'"
Korach had been in the power of his heart. His jealousy ruled him; his pride commanded him; his heart dictated his actions. But Channah had achieved the opposite. Her heart was in her power. She felt the wound of Peninnah's taunting, yet she turned inward and upward - not outward in retaliation. In doing so, she effected a tikkun for Korach's deepest flaw. And from that place of inner sovereignty - of a heart mastered, not mastering - she prayed, and her prayer carried weight enough to lift Korach from the depths.
