The Mouth in the Earth
Rava taught: What is the meaning of that which is written: “But if the Lord creates a new creation and the earth opens its mouth” (Numbers 16:30)? Moses said before the Holy One, Blessed be He: If Gehenna is already created, good, but if not, God should create it now. The Gemara asks: For what was Moses asking? If we say to actually create Gehenna, but isn’t it written: “There is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)? Rather, Moses asked God to bring the opening of Gehenna close, so that the assembly of Korah would be buried alive.
(ו) עֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בֵּין הַשְּׁמָשׁוֹת, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן, פִּי הָאָרֶץ, וּפִי הַבְּאֵר, וּפִי הָאָתוֹן, וְהַקֶּשֶׁת, וְהַמָּן, וְהַמַּטֶּה, וְהַשָּׁמִיר, וְהַכְּתָב, וְהַמִּכְתָּב, וְהַלּוּחוֹת. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף הַמַּזִּיקִין, וּקְבוּרָתוֹ שֶׁל משֶׁה, וְאֵילוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים, אַף צְבָת בִּצְבָת עֲשׂוּיָה:
(6) Ten things were created on the eve of the Sabbath at twilight, and these are they: [1] the mouth of the earth, [2] the mouth of the well, [3] the mouth of the donkey, [4] the rainbow, [5] the manna, [6] the staff [of Moses], [7] the shamir, [8] the letters, [9] the writing, [10] and the tablets. And some say: also the demons, the grave of Moses, and the ram of Abraham, our father. And some say: and also tongs, made with tongs.
Yitz Greenberg, Sage Advice, Pirkei Avot 5:6
At first glance, this records the creation of ten miraculous objects, plus, some say, four additional, inexplicable phenomena. However, the deeper meaning of the mishna may be the reverse of its superficial message. The average person thinks of manna, Miriam's well...and other changes in nature as miraculous phenomena and that God overrode natural laws to create these items for when they would be needed. But the mishna says no. All these phenomena were created in the course of the natural creation of the cosmos. Therefore, their appearance is the expression of natural process and scientific law, not a reversal of natural law. They were built into the essence of nature, says the mishna. The miracle is in the timing, in their appearance precisely when needed. From this perspective, one need not contradict science and the laws of nature in order to believe in miracles. (p. 250)
The Sons of Korach Did Not Die
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani said another explanation of the verse “And there was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim (I Samuel 1:1)”: A man who comes from two heights [ramot] that face [tzofot] one another. Rabbi Ḥanin said: A man who descends from people who stood at the height of [rumo] the world. The Gemara asks: And who are these people? These are the sons of Korah, as it is written: “But the sons of Korah did not die” (Numbers 26:11). It is taught in the name of our teacher, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi: A high place was set aside for them in Gehenna, as the sons of Korah repented in their hearts, and were consequently not propelled very far down in Gehenna when the earth opened to swallow Korah and his followers; and they stood on this high place and sung to the Lord. They alone stood at the height of the lower world.
Psalms attributed to the sons of Korach: 42, 44–49, 84, 85, 87 and 88
(1) For the leader. Of the Korahites. A psalm. (2) All you peoples, clap your hands, raise a joyous shout for God. (3) For the LORD Most High is awesome, great king over all the earth; (4) He subjects peoples to us, sets nations at our feet. (5) He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom He loved.Selah. (6) God ascends midst acclamation; the LORD, to the blasts of the shofar. (7) Sing, O sing to God; sing, O sing to our king; (8) for God is king over all the earth; sing a hymn. (9) God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne. (10) The great of the peoples are gathered together, the retinue of Abraham’s God; for the guardians of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
Who was swallowed?
And Rabbi Yoḥanan says: Korah was neither among the swallowed nor among the burned; he was neither among the swallowed, as it is written: “And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their houses and all the men who were with Korah” (Numbers 16:32): But not Korah himself. Nor was he among the burned, as it is written: “When the fire consumed two hundred and fifty men” (Numbers 26:10), but not Korah. It was taught in a baraita: Korah was both among the burned and among the swallowed. He was among the swallowed, as it is written: “And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them with Korah” (Numbers 26:10). He was among the burned, as it is written: “And fire came forth from the Lord, and devoured the two hundred and fifty men that burned the incense” (Numbers 16:35), and Korah was with them.
Why Korach?
Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: Joseph hid three treasures in Egypt. One was revealed to Korah, one was revealed to Antoninos ben Asveiros, king of Rome, and one is hidden for the righteous in the future. With regard to Korah’s wealth: “Riches kept by his owner to his hurt” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: This is the wealth of Korah. As it is stated: “And what He did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, son of Reuben; how the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the sustenance that was at their feet” (Deuteronomy 11:6). Rabbi Elazar said: This is referring to a person’s money that stands him upon his own two feet. Rabbi Levi said: The keys to Korah’s treasuries were a load of three hundred strong white mules, and they were all keys [aklidei] and locks made of leather.