The Ambivalent Angel of Death - Parshat Korach

(6) Next day the whole Israelite community railed against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You two have brought death upon the People of the Eternal!” (7) But as the community gathered against them, Moses and Aaron turned toward the Tent of Meeting; the cloud had covered it and the Presence of the Eternal appeared. (8) So Moses and Aaron went to the Tent of Meeting.

(9) The Eternal spoke to Moses, saying, (10) “Remove yourselves from this community, that I may annihilate them in an instant.” They fell on their faces. (11) Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take the fire pan, and put on it fire from the altar. Add incense and take it quickly to the community and make atonement for them. For Wrath has gone forth from the Eternal: the plague has begun!” (12) Aaron took it, as Moses had ordered, and ran to the midst of the congregation, where the plague had begun among the people. He put on the incense and made atonement for the people; (13) he stood between the dead and the living until the plague was checked.

And make atonement for them — This secret the Angel of Death communicated to him (Moses) when he went up unto heaven to receive the Torah, viz., that the incense holds back the plague — as is related in Treatise Shabbat 89a.

And Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When Moses ascended on High the servant angels said before the Holy Blessed One: Master of the Universe, what is one born of a woman doing here among us?

The Holy One said to them: He came to receive the Torah.

They said before the Holy One: A hidden treasure that was concealed by you 974 generations before the creation of the world, and you seek to give it to flesh and blood? “What is human that You are mindful of him and the son of human that You think of him?” (Psalms 8:5) “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all the earth that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” (Psalms 8:2).

The Holy Blessed One said to Moses: Provide them with an answer.

Moses said before the Holy One: Master of the Universe, I am afraid lest they burn me with the breath of their mouths.

The Holy One said to him: Hold on to my Throne of Glory and provide them with an answer. As it is stated: “God causes him to grasp the front of the throne, and spreads The Cloud over it” (Job 26:9), and Rabbi Naḥum said: This teaches that God spread the radiance of The Shekhinah and The Cloud over Moses.

Moses said before God: Master of the Universe, the Torah that You are giving me, what is written in it?

“I am the Lord your God Who brought you out of Egypt from the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2). Moses said to the angels: Did you descend to Egypt? Were you enslaved to Pharaoh? Why should the Torah be yours?

Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3). Do you dwell among the nations who worship idols?

Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “Remember the Shabbat day to sanctify it” (Exodus 20:8). Do you perform labor that you require rest from?

Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “Do not swear by the name of the Eternal your God in vain” (Exodus 20:7) Do you conduct business with one another [that may lead you to swear needlessly]?

Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12). Do you have a father or a mother?

Again Moses asked: What else is written in it? “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal” (Exodus 20:13) Is there jealousy among you, or is there an evil inclination within you?

Immediately they changed their minds and concurred with the Holy Blessed One. [as it is stated: “God our Lord, how glorious is Your name in all the earth” (Psalms 8:10), while “that Your majesty is placed above the heavens” is not written.] And immediately, each and every one of the angels became an admirer of Moses and gave something to him, as it is stated: “You ascended on high, you took a captive, you took gifts for Adam/humanity, and even among the rebellious also that the Lord God might dwell there” (Psalms 68:19). That is, you took these gifts because you are the one called 'Adam/Human.'

And even the Angel of Death gave him something, as it is stated: “And he placed the incense, and he atoned for the people” (Numbers 17:12). And the verse says: “And he stood between the dead and the living, and the plague was stopped” (Numbers 17:13). If the Angel of Death had not told him this remedy, how would he have known it?

And he stood between the dead and the living — He (Aaron) seized the Angel of Death and stopped him by force. The angel said to him, “Let me be, so that I may carry out my commission!” Aaron answered him, “Moses has bidden me prevent you”. The angel replied, “I am the messenger of the Omnipresent whilst you are but the messenger of Moses!” Aaron retorted, “Moses does not say anything out of his own mind, but only at the command of the Almighty. If you do not believe me, behold, the Holy Blessed One and Moses are at the entrance of the appointed tent; come with me and ask them!” This is the meaning of what is stated (v. 15): "And Aaron returned to Moses" (i.e. brought the Angel of Death to Moses) (cf. Midrash Tanchuma, Tetzaveh 15 at end of תצוה).

He said to Aaron: “Let me go that I may complete my task.” Aaron replied: “Moses sent me, and the Holy One, blessed be He, sent you, and both Moses and the Holy One, blessed be He, are in the Tent of Testimony; let us go to them.” The angel refused to go, and so Aaron seized him by his loins and dragged him in, as it is said: And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was checked. (Num. 17:15).