Says the Luzzatto in Path of the Just, Chapter 11: "The desire for honor tugs at a persons heart more than any of the other...desires in the world. If not for the concern over his honor, a person would be content to eat whatever was at hand, to clothe himself with whatever would cover his nakedness, and to dwell in a house which would afford him protection from the elements. He would obtain his livlihood with little effort and would feel no need to exert himself to become rich. But so as not to see himself as lower than his friends, he places a yoke upon his neck and there is no end to all his labors." Envy, lust, and honor seeking remove a person from the world, Avos 4:20. With these words we begin to understand what Korach was all about. The Torah tells us that Korach had 250 leaders with him. They demonstrated against Moshe and Aaron, and said to them, You have gone to far. Meaning, you have taken to much upon yourself. All of the people in the community are holy and G-d is with them, why are you setting yourselves above G-ds congregation. When Moshe heard this, he threw himself on his face. He said to Korach and the boys, tommorrow morning G-d will show who is his and who is holy. Moshe tells Korach take firepans place fire on them and offer incense, the man whom G-d chooses shall be the holy one. In simple Brooklynese, each one of the 250 people will bring incense. One from the 250 will be chosen. What did all of the 250 think. Did each one of them think he would be chosen. If Moshe said only one of the 250 would be chosen, what did the others think. They all thought they would be the one. When a person doesn't want to be subservient, when a person pursues envy and honor he is willing to risk his life at all costs. The Gemara tells in Yuma 9:A, During the time of the 2nd Temple, they had over 300 Kohanim Gedolim. The first Temple, had either 8 or 18. What does this teach us? During the time of the Second Temple people would buy the Priesthood. Even though they knew they would not walk out of the Holy of Holies alive. The meaning is that a person wants glory and fame today even though he knows he is going to die tommorrow. An athlete is willing to take steroids just to be a winner, even though he may die before the age of 30. The Gemara says in Sota 9A: Whoever sets his eyes on that which is not his, is not granted what he seeks and what he possesses is taken away from him. 9:B This we find with the serpent in the Garden of Eden. He wanted Chava and he didn't get her, and that which he had that he walked upright, was taken away from him. The Gemara says he should be king of the animals and look what happened to him. The Gemara gives a few more examples, Cain, Cain wanted the extra twin that was born with Hevel and we know what happened over there. Then the Gemara says Korach, wanted priesthood and he was swallowed. Hashem changed the laws of nature to show everyone what happens when people aren't content with what they have. Korach carried the Aron, or to say better the Aron carried him, because the Aron carried its carriers. But if a person is envious, if a person is greedy, he is showing he doesn't agree with what Hashem has allocated him. May we be happy with our lot. Torah Blessings, Y. Bertram bertram@ohr.israel.net