ויקח קרח (במדבר טז א). זש"ה אח נפשע מקרית עוז ומדינים כבריח ארמון (משלי יח יט), אח נפשע זה קרח, שחלק כנגד משה, ומרד וירד מכבוד שהיה בידו, ואין נפשע אלא מרידה, שנאמר מלך מואב פשע בי (מ"ב ג ז), ואומר אז תפשע לבנה (שם ח כב), ומדינים כבריה ארמון (שם), שחלק על הקב"ה ועל משה.
(Numb. 16:1:) NOW KORAH <BEN IZHAR BEN KOHATH BEN LEVI> BETOOK HIMSELF. This text is related (to Prov. 18:19): A BROTHER OFFENDED (rt.: PSh') IS MORE FORMIDABLE THAN A FORTIFIED CITY; <SUCH> CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE A CASTLE BAR. The BROTHER OFFENDED is Korah, in that he sided against Moses.1Tanh., Numb.5:1; Numb. R. 18:1, 14. So he rebelled and sank from whatever glory that he possessed. Now OFFENDED (rt: PSh') can only imply rebellion, since it is stated (in II Kings 3:7): THE KING OF MOAB HAS REBELLED (PSh') AGAINST ME. It also says (in II Kings 8:22): THEN DID LIBNAH REBEL (rt.: PSh'). (Prov. 18:19:) <SUCH> CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE A CASTLE BAR. <These words also refer to Korah,> who sided (PSh') against the Holy One and against Moses.2See the commentary of Enoch Zundel on the parallel text in Tanh., Numb.5:1. He would have the text read: “The earth raised its bars against him as <if it were> a castle.” This explanation is also given by Issachar Berman Ashkenazi in his commentary, Mattenot Kehunnah, on Numb. R. 18:1.
ויקח קרח (במדבר טז א). זש"ה אח נפשע מקרית עוז ומדינים כבריח ארמון (משלי יח יט), אח נפשע זה קרח, שחלק כנגד משה, ומרד וירד מכבוד שהיה בידו, ואין נפשע אלא מרידה, שנאמר מלך מואב פשע בי (מ"ב ג ז), ואומר אז תפשע לבנה (שם ח כב), ומדינים כבריה ארמון (שם), שחלק על הקב"ה ועל משה.
(Numb. 16:1:) NOW KORAH <BEN IZHAR BEN KOHATH BEN LEVI> BETOOK HIMSELF. This text is related (to Prov. 18:19): A BROTHER OFFENDED (rt.: PSh') IS MORE FORMIDABLE THAN A FORTIFIED CITY; <SUCH> CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE A CASTLE BAR. The BROTHER OFFENDED is Korah, in that he sided against Moses.1Tanh., Numb.5:1; Numb. R. 18:1, 14. So he rebelled and sank from whatever glory that he possessed. Now OFFENDED (rt: PSh') can only imply rebellion, since it is stated (in II Kings 3:7): THE KING OF MOAB HAS REBELLED (PSh') AGAINST ME. It also says (in II Kings 8:22): THEN DID LIBNAH REBEL (rt.: PSh'). (Prov. 18:19:) <SUCH> CONTENTIONS ARE LIKE A CASTLE BAR. <These words also refer to Korah,> who sided (PSh') against the Holy One and against Moses.2See the commentary of Enoch Zundel on the parallel text in Tanh., Numb.5:1. He would have the text read: “The earth raised its bars against him as <if it were> a castle.” This explanation is also given by Issachar Berman Ashkenazi in his commentary, Mattenot Kehunnah, on Numb. R. 18:1.