The Sons of Korach
(ו) זֹ֖את עֲשׂ֑וּ קְחוּ־לָכֶ֣ם מַחְתּ֔וֹת קֹ֖רַח וְכׇל־עֲדָתֽוֹ׃(ז) וּתְנ֣וּ בָהֵ֣ן ׀ אֵ֡שׁ וְשִׂ֩ימוּ֩ עֲלֵיהֶ֨ן ׀ קְטֹ֜רֶת לִפְנֵ֤י יהוה מָחָ֔ר וְהָיָ֗ה הָאִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִבְחַ֥ר יהוה ה֣וּא הַקָּד֑וֹשׁ רַב־לָכֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃(ח) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶל־קֹ֑רַח שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֖א בְּנֵ֥י לֵוִֽי׃(ט) הַמְעַ֣ט מִכֶּ֗ם כִּֽי־הִבְדִּיל֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵעֲדַ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְהַקְרִ֥יב אֶתְכֶ֖ם אֵלָ֑יו לַעֲבֹ֗ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יהוה וְלַעֲמֹ֛ד לִפְנֵ֥י הָעֵדָ֖ה לְשָׁרְתָֽם׃(י) וַיַּקְרֵב֙ אֹֽתְךָ֔ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אַחֶ֥יךָ בְנֵי־לֵוִ֖י אִתָּ֑ךְ וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֖ם גַּם־כְּהֻנָּֽה׃(יא) לָכֵ֗ן אַתָּה֙ וְכׇל־עֲדָ֣תְךָ֔ הַנֹּעָדִ֖ים עַל־יהוה וְאַהֲרֹ֣ן מַה־ה֔וּא כִּ֥י (תלונו) [תַלִּ֖ינוּ] עָלָֽיו׃
(6) Do this: You, Korah and all your*your Lit. “his.” band, take fire pans,(7) and tomorrow put fire in them and lay incense on them before יהוה. Then the candidate*candidate Lit. “participant whose involvement defines the depicted situation”; trad. “man.” See the Dictionary under ’ish. whom יהוה chooses, he shall be the holy one. You have gone too far, sons of Levi!”(8) Moses said further to Korah, “Hear me, sons of Levi.(9)Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has set you apart from the community of Israel and given you direct access, to perform the duties of יהוה’s Tabernacle and to minister to the community and serve them?(10) Now that [God] has advanced you and all your fellow Levites with you, do you seek the priesthood too?(11) Truly, it is against יהוה that you and all your company have banded together. For who is Aaron that you should rail against him?”
(כח) וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ מֹשֶׁה֒ בְּזֹאת֙ תֵּֽדְע֔וּן כִּֽי־יהוה שְׁלָחַ֔נִי לַעֲשׂ֕וֹת אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַֽמַּעֲשִׂ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּי־לֹ֖א מִלִּבִּֽי׃(כט) אִם־כְּמ֤וֹת כׇּל־הָֽאָדָם֙ יְמֻת֣וּן אֵ֔לֶּה וּפְקֻדַּת֙ כׇּל־הָ֣אָדָ֔ם יִפָּקֵ֖ד עֲלֵיהֶ֑ם לֹ֥א יהוה שְׁלָחָֽנִי׃(ל) וְאִם־בְּרִיאָ֞ה יִבְרָ֣א יהוה וּפָצְתָ֨ה הָאֲדָמָ֤ה אֶת־פִּ֙יהָ֙ וּבָלְעָ֤ה אֹתָם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לָהֶ֔ם וְיָרְד֥וּ חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וִֽידַעְתֶּ֕ם כִּ֧י נִֽאֲצ֛וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה אֶת־יהוה׃(לא) וַיְהִי֙ כְּכַלֹּת֔וֹ לְדַבֵּ֕ר אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה וַתִּבָּקַ֥ע הָאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תַּחְתֵּיהֶֽם׃(לב) וַתִּפְתַּ֤ח הָאָ֙רֶץ֙ אֶת־פִּ֔יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֖ם וְאֶת־בָּתֵּיהֶ֑ם וְאֵ֤ת כׇּל־הָאָדָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְקֹ֔רַח וְאֵ֖ת כׇּל־הָרְכֽוּשׁ׃(לג) וַיֵּ֨רְד֜וּ הֵ֣ם וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֛ם חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַתְּכַ֤ס עֲלֵיהֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃
(28) And Moses said, “By this you shall know that it was יהוה who sent me to do all these things; that they are not of my own devising:(29) if these people’s death is that of all humankind, if their lot is humankind’s common fate, it was not יהוה who sent me.(30) But if יהוה brings about something unheard-of, so that the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, you shall know that those involved have spurned יהוה.”(31) Scarcely had he finished speaking all these words when the ground under them burst asunder,(32)and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households, all Korah’s people and all their possessions.(33) They went down alive into Sheol, with all that belonged to them; the earth closed over them and they vanished from the midst of the congregation.
Interestingly, just a few chapters later, during a God-ordained census, we read that the sons of Korah were spared from God’s judgment and punishment during this event.
(ט) וּבְנֵ֣י אֱלִיאָ֔ב נְמוּאֵ֖ל וְדָתָ֣ן וַאֲבִירָ֑ם הֽוּא־דָתָ֨ן וַאֲבִירָ֜ם (קרואי) [קְרִיאֵ֣י] הָעֵדָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצּ֜וּ עַל־מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְעַֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ בַּעֲדַת־קֹ֔רַח בְּהַצֹּתָ֖ם עַל־יהוה׃(י) וַתִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאָ֜רֶץ אֶת־פִּ֗יהָ וַתִּבְלַ֥ע אֹתָ֛ם וְאֶת־קֹ֖רַח בְּמ֣וֹת הָעֵדָ֑ה בַּאֲכֹ֣ל הָאֵ֗שׁ אֵ֣ת חֲמִשִּׁ֤ים וּמָאתַ֙יִם֙ אִ֔ישׁ וַיִּהְי֖וּ לְנֵֽס׃(יא) וּבְנֵי־קֹ֖רַח לֹא־מֵֽתוּ׃ {ס}
(9) The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen in the assembly, who agitated against Moses and Aaron as part of Korah’s band when they agitated against יהוה.(10) Whereupon the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with Korah—when that band died, when the fire consumed the two hundred and fifty men—and they became an example.(11)The sons of Korah, however, did not die.
So then...
Why were the Sons of Korach saved?
And what is their legacy?
The Psalms of the Sons of Korach
Of the 150 Psalms, the person to whom the majority of the psalms are attributed is King David. Of those 150, eleven are attributed to the Sons of Korach. The themes included among these psalms include verses that express highest praise and devotion to the God as well as verses that provide images of deep humility and recognition of our frail humanity before God.
These psalms are psalm 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 84, 85, 87, and 88.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ מַשְׂכִּ֥יל לִבְנֵי־קֹֽרַח׃(ב) כְּאַיָּ֗ל תַּעֲרֹ֥ג עַל־אֲפִֽיקֵי־מָ֑יִם כֵּ֤ן נַפְשִׁ֨י תַעֲרֹ֖ג אֵלֶ֣יךָ אֱלֹהִֽים׃(ג) צָמְאָ֬ה נַפְשִׁ֨י ׀ לֵאלֹהִים֮ לְאֵ֢ל חָ֥֫י מָתַ֥י אָב֑וֹא וְ֝אֵרָאֶ֗ה פְּנֵ֣י אֱלֹהִֽים׃(ד) הָיְתָה־לִּ֬י דִמְעָתִ֣י לֶ֭חֶם יוֹמָ֣ם וָלָ֑יְלָה בֶּאֱמֹ֥ר אֵלַ֥י כׇּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אַיֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃(ה) אֵ֤לֶּה אֶזְכְּרָ֨ה ׀ וְאֶשְׁפְּכָ֬ה עָלַ֨י ׀ נַפְשִׁ֗י כִּ֤י אֶעֱבֹ֨ר ׀ בַּסָּךְ֮ אֶדַּדֵּ֗ם עַד־בֵּ֥ית אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים בְּקוֹל־רִנָּ֥ה וְתוֹדָ֗ה הָמ֥וֹן חוֹגֵֽג׃(ו) מַה־תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ וַתֶּהֱמִ֢י עָ֫לָ֥י הוֹחִ֣לִי לֵ֭אלֹהִים כִּי־ע֥וֹד אוֹדֶ֗נּוּ יְשׁוּע֥וֹת פָּנָֽיו׃(ז) אֱלֹהַ֗י עָלַי֮ נַפְשִׁ֢י תִשְׁתּ֫וֹחָ֥ח עַל־כֵּ֗ן אֶ֭זְכׇּרְךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ יַרְדֵּ֑ן וְ֝חֶרְמוֹנִ֗ים מֵהַ֥ר מִצְעָֽר׃(ח) תְּהוֹם־אֶל־תְּה֣וֹם ק֭וֹרֵא לְק֣וֹל צִנּוֹרֶ֑יךָ כׇּֽל־מִשְׁבָּרֶ֥יךָ וְ֝גַלֶּ֗יךָ עָלַ֥י עָבָֽרוּ׃(ט) יוֹמָ֤ם ׀ יְצַוֶּ֬ה יהוה ׀ חַסְדּ֗וֹ וּ֭בַלַּיְלָה שִׁירֹ֣ה עִמִּ֑י תְּ֝פִלָּ֗ה לְאֵ֣ל חַיָּֽי׃(י) אוֹמְרָ֤ה ׀ לְאֵ֥ל סַלְעִי֮ לָמָ֢ה שְׁכַ֫חְתָּ֥נִי לָֽמָּה־קֹדֵ֥ר אֵלֵ֗ךְ בְּלַ֣חַץ אוֹיֵֽב׃(יא) בְּרֶ֤צַח ׀ בְּֽעַצְמוֹתַ֗י חֵרְפ֥וּנִי צוֹרְרָ֑י בְּאׇמְרָ֥ם אֵלַ֥י כׇּל־הַ֝יּ֗וֹם אַיֵּ֥ה אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃(יב) מַה־תִּשְׁתּ֬וֹחֲחִ֨י ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ וּֽמַה־תֶּהֱמִ֢י עָ֫לָ֥י הוֹחִ֣ילִי לֵ֭אלֹהִים כִּי־ע֣וֹד אוֹדֶ֑נּוּ יְשׁוּעֹ֥ת פָּ֝נַ֗י וֵאלֹהָֽי׃ {פ}
(1) For the leader. A maskil of the Korahites.(2)Like a [deer] crying for water, (a Lit. “watercourses.”)
my soul cries for You, O God;(3) my soul thirsts for God, the living God;
O when will I come to appear before God!(4) My tears have been my food day and night;
I am ever taunted with, “Where is your God?”(5) When I think of this, I pour out my soul:
how I bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.walked with the crowd, moved with them,-b
the festive throng, to the House of God
with joyous shouts of praise.(6) Why so downcast, my soul,
why disquieted within me?
Have hope in God;
I will yet praise Him
cSeveral ancient versions and Heb. mss. connect the first word in v. 7 with the end of 6, reading yeshu‘ot panai we’Elohai, “my ever-present help, my God,” as in vv. 12 and Ps. 43.5.for His saving presence.-c(7) O my God, my soul is downcast;
therefore I think of You
in this land of Jordan and Hermon,
in Mount Mizar,(8) where deep calls to deep
in the roar of bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Your cataracts;-b
all Your breakers and billows have swept over me.(9) By day may the LORD vouchsafe His faithful care,
so that at night a song to Him may be with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.(10) I say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me,
why must I walk in gloom,
oppressed by my enemy?”(11) bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Crushing my bones,-b
my foes revile me,
taunting me always with, “Where is your God?”(12) Why so downcast, my soul,
why disquieted within me?
Have hope in God;
I will yet praise Him,
my ever-present help, my God.
my soul cries for You, O God;(3) my soul thirsts for God, the living God;
O when will I come to appear before God!(4) My tears have been my food day and night;
I am ever taunted with, “Where is your God?”(5) When I think of this, I pour out my soul:
how I bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.walked with the crowd, moved with them,-b
the festive throng, to the House of God
with joyous shouts of praise.(6) Why so downcast, my soul,
why disquieted within me?
Have hope in God;
I will yet praise Him
cSeveral ancient versions and Heb. mss. connect the first word in v. 7 with the end of 6, reading yeshu‘ot panai we’Elohai, “my ever-present help, my God,” as in vv. 12 and Ps. 43.5.for His saving presence.-c(7) O my God, my soul is downcast;
therefore I think of You
in this land of Jordan and Hermon,
in Mount Mizar,(8) where deep calls to deep
in the roar of bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Your cataracts;-b
all Your breakers and billows have swept over me.(9) By day may the LORD vouchsafe His faithful care,
so that at night a song to Him may be with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.(10) I say to God, my rock,
“Why have You forgotten me,
why must I walk in gloom,
oppressed by my enemy?”(11) bMeaning of Heb. uncertain.Crushing my bones,-b
my foes revile me,
taunting me always with, “Where is your God?”(12) Why so downcast, my soul,
why disquieted within me?
Have hope in God;
I will yet praise Him,
my ever-present help, my God.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֣חַ עַל־שֹׁ֭שַׁנִּים לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח מַ֝שְׂכִּ֗יל שִׁ֣יר יְדִידֹֽת׃(ב) רָ֘חַ֤שׁ לִבִּ֨י ׀ דָּ֘בָ֤ר ט֗וֹב אֹמֵ֣ר אָ֭נִי מַעֲשַׂ֣י לְמֶ֑לֶךְ לְ֝שׁוֹנִ֗י עֵ֤ט ׀ סוֹפֵ֬ר מָהִֽיר׃(ג) יׇפְיָפִ֡יתָ מִבְּנֵ֬י אָדָ֗ם ה֣וּצַק חֵ֭ן בְּשִׂפְתוֹתֶ֑יךָ עַל־כֵּ֤ן בֵּֽרַכְךָ֖ אֱלֹהִ֣ים לְעוֹלָֽם׃(ד) חֲגֽוֹר־חַרְבְּךָ֣ עַל־יָרֵ֣ךְ גִּבּ֑וֹר ה֝וֹדְךָ֗ וַהֲדָרֶֽךָ׃(ה) וַהֲדָ֬רְךָ֨ ׀ צְלַ֬ח רְכַ֗ב עַֽל־דְּבַר־אֱ֭מֶת וְעַנְוָה־צֶ֑דֶק וְתוֹרְךָ֖ נוֹרָא֣וֹת יְמִינֶֽךָ׃(ו) חִצֶּ֗יךָ שְׁנ֫וּנִ֥ים עַ֭מִּים תַּחְתֶּ֣יךָ יִפְּל֑וּ בְּ֝לֵ֗ב אוֹיְבֵ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃(ז) כִּסְאֲךָ֣ אֱ֭לֹהִים עוֹלָ֣ם וָעֶ֑ד שֵׁ֥בֶט מִ֝ישֹׁ֗ר שֵׁ֣בֶט מַלְכוּתֶֽךָ׃(ח) אָהַ֣בְתָּ צֶּדֶק֮ וַתִּשְׂנָ֫א־רֶ֥שַׁע עַל־כֵּ֤ן ׀ מְשָׁחֲךָ֡ אֱלֹהִ֣ים אֱ֭לֹהֶיךָ שֶׁ֥מֶן שָׂשׂ֗וֹן מֵחֲבֵרֶֽךָ׃(ט) מֹר־וַאֲהָל֣וֹת קְ֭צִיעוֹת כׇּל־בִּגְדֹתֶ֑יךָ מִֽן־הֵ֥יכְלֵי שֵׁ֝֗ן מִנִּ֥י שִׂמְּחֽוּךָ׃(י) בְּנ֣וֹת מְ֭לָכִים בְּיִקְּרוֹתֶ֑יךָ נִצְּבָ֥ה שֵׁגַ֥ל לִ֝ימִינְךָ֗ בְּכֶ֣תֶם אוֹפִֽיר׃(יא) שִׁמְעִי־בַ֣ת וּ֭רְאִי וְהַטִּ֣י אׇזְנֵ֑ךְ וְשִׁכְחִ֥י עַ֝מֵּ֗ךְ וּבֵ֥ית אָבִֽיךְ׃(יב) וְיִתְאָ֣ו הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יׇפְיֵ֑ךְ כִּי־ה֥וּא אֲ֝דֹנַ֗יִךְ וְהִשְׁתַּֽחֲוִי־לֽוֹ׃(יג) וּבַֽת־צֹ֨ר ׀ בְּ֭מִנְחָה פָּנַ֥יִךְ יְחַלּ֗וּ עֲשִׁ֣ירֵי עָֽם׃(יד) כׇּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃(טו) לִרְקָמוֹת֮ תּוּבַ֢ל לַ֫מֶּ֥לֶךְ בְּתוּל֣וֹת אַ֭חֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶ֑יהָ מ֖וּבָא֣וֹת לָֽךְ׃(טז) תּ֭וּבַלְנָה בִּשְׂמָחֹ֣ת וָגִ֑יל תְּ֝בֹאֶ֗ינָה בְּהֵ֣יכַל מֶֽלֶךְ׃(יז) תַּ֣חַת אֲ֭בֹתֶיךָ יִהְי֣וּ בָנֶ֑יךָ תְּשִׁיתֵ֥מוֹ לְ֝שָׂרִ֗ים בְּכׇל־הָאָֽרֶץ׃(יח) אַזְכִּ֣ירָה שִׁ֭מְךָ בְּכׇל־דֹּ֣ר וָדֹ֑ר עַל־כֵּ֥ן עַמִּ֥ים יְ֝הוֹד֗וּךָ לְעֹלָ֥ם וָעֶֽד׃ {פ}
(1) For the leader; aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.on shoshannim.-a Of the Korahites. A maskil. A love song.
(2) My heart is astir with gracious words;
I speak my poem to a king;
my tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.
(3) You are fairer than all men;
your speech is endowed with grace;
rightly has God given you an eternal blessing.(4) Gird your sword upon your thigh, O hero,
in your splendor and glory;(5) aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.in your glory, win success;
ride on in the cause of truth and meekness and right;
and let your right hand lead you to awesome deeds.-a(6) Your arrows, sharpened,
bOrder of Heb. clauses inverted for clarity.[pierce] the breast of the king’s enemies;
peoples fall at your feet.-b(7) Your cCf. 1 Chron. 29.23.divine throne-c is everlasting;
your royal scepter is a scepter of equity.(8) You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
rightly has God, your God, chosen to anoint you
with oil of gladness over all your peers.(9) All your robes [are fragrant] with
myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from ivoried palaces
lutes entertain you.(10) Royal princesses are your favorites;
the consort stands at your right hand,
decked in gold of Ophir.
(11) Take heed, lass, and note,
incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,(12) and let the king be aroused by your beauty;
since he is your lord, bow to him.(13) O Tyrian lass,
the wealthiest people will court your favor with gifts,(14) aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.goods of all sorts.
The royal princess,
her dress embroidered with golden mountings,(15) is led inside to the king;-a
maidens in her train, her companions,
are presented to you.(16) They are led in with joy and gladness;
they enter the palace of the king.(17) Your sons will succeed your ancestors;
you will appoint them princes throughout the land.
(18) I commemorate your fame for all generations,
so peoples will praise you forever and ever.
(2) My heart is astir with gracious words;
I speak my poem to a king;
my tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.
(3) You are fairer than all men;
your speech is endowed with grace;
rightly has God given you an eternal blessing.(4) Gird your sword upon your thigh, O hero,
in your splendor and glory;(5) aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.in your glory, win success;
ride on in the cause of truth and meekness and right;
and let your right hand lead you to awesome deeds.-a(6) Your arrows, sharpened,
bOrder of Heb. clauses inverted for clarity.[pierce] the breast of the king’s enemies;
peoples fall at your feet.-b(7) Your cCf. 1 Chron. 29.23.divine throne-c is everlasting;
your royal scepter is a scepter of equity.(8) You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
rightly has God, your God, chosen to anoint you
with oil of gladness over all your peers.(9) All your robes [are fragrant] with
myrrh and aloes and cassia;
from ivoried palaces
lutes entertain you.(10) Royal princesses are your favorites;
the consort stands at your right hand,
decked in gold of Ophir.
(11) Take heed, lass, and note,
incline your ear:
forget your people and your father’s house,(12) and let the king be aroused by your beauty;
since he is your lord, bow to him.(13) O Tyrian lass,
the wealthiest people will court your favor with gifts,(14) aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.goods of all sorts.
The royal princess,
her dress embroidered with golden mountings,(15) is led inside to the king;-a
maidens in her train, her companions,
are presented to you.(16) They are led in with joy and gladness;
they enter the palace of the king.(17) Your sons will succeed your ancestors;
you will appoint them princes throughout the land.
(18) I commemorate your fame for all generations,
so peoples will praise you forever and ever.
(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֑רַח עַֽל־עֲלָמ֥וֹת שִֽׁיר׃(ב) אֱלֹהִ֣ים לָ֭נוּ מַחֲסֶ֣ה וָעֹ֑ז עֶזְרָ֥ה בְ֝צָר֗וֹת נִמְצָ֥א מְאֹֽד׃(ג) עַל־כֵּ֣ן לֹֽא־נִ֭ירָא בְּהָמִ֣יר אָ֑רֶץ וּבְמ֥וֹט הָ֝רִ֗ים בְּלֵ֣ב יַמִּֽים׃
(1) For the leader. Of the Korahites;
aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.on alamoth.-a A song.(2) God is our refuge and stronghold,
a help in trouble, very near.(3) Therefore we are not afraid
though the earth reels,
though mountains topple into the sea—
aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.on alamoth.-a A song.(2) God is our refuge and stronghold,
a help in trouble, very near.(3) Therefore we are not afraid
though the earth reels,
though mountains topple into the sea—
(ב) גָּ֘ד֤וֹל יהוה וּמְהֻלָּ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד בְּעִ֥יר אֱ֝לֹהֵ֗ינוּ הַר־קׇדְשֽׁוֹ׃
(2) The LORD is great and much acclaimed
in the city of our God,
His holy mountain—
in the city of our God,
His holy mountain—
(א) לַמְנַצֵּ֥חַ עַֽל־הַגִּתִּ֑ית לִבְנֵי־קֹ֥רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃(ב)מַה־יְּדִיד֥וֹת מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶ֗יךָ יהוה צְבָאֽוֹת׃(ג) נִכְסְפָ֬ה וְגַם־כָּֽלְתָ֨ה ׀ נַפְשִׁי֮ לְחַצְר֢וֹת יהוה לִבִּ֥י וּבְשָׂרִ֑י יְ֝רַנְּנ֗וּ אֶ֣ל אֵֽל־חָֽי׃(ד) גַּם־צִפּ֨וֹר מָ֪צְאָה בַ֡יִת וּדְר֤וֹר ׀ קֵ֥ן לָהּ֮ אֲשֶׁר־שָׁ֢תָה אֶפְרֹ֫חֶ֥יהָ אֶֽת־מִ֭זְבְּחוֹתֶיךָ יהוה צְבָא֑וֹת מַ֝לְכִּ֗י וֵאלֹהָֽי׃(ה) אַ֭שְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ ע֝֗וֹד יְֽהַלְל֥וּךָ סֶּֽלָה׃(ו) אַשְׁרֵ֣י אָ֭דָם עֽוֹז־ל֥וֹ בָ֑ךְ מְ֝סִלּ֗וֹת בִּלְבָבָֽם׃(ז) עֹבְרֵ֤י ׀ בְּעֵ֣מֶק הַ֭בָּכָא מַעְיָ֣ן יְשִׁית֑וּהוּ גַּם־בְּ֝רָכ֗וֹת יַעְטֶ֥ה מוֹרֶֽה׃(ח) יֵ֭לְכוּ מֵחַ֣יִל אֶל־חָ֑יִל יֵרָאֶ֖ה אֶל־אֱלֹהִ֣ים בְּצִיּֽוֹן׃(ט) יהוה אֱלֹהִ֣ים צְ֭בָאוֹת שִׁמְעָ֣ה תְפִלָּתִ֑י הַאֲזִ֨ינָה אֱלֹהֵ֖י יַעֲקֹ֣ב סֶֽלָה׃(י) מָ֭גִנֵּנוּ רְאֵ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֑ים וְ֝הַבֵּ֗ט פְּנֵ֣י מְשִׁיחֶֽךָ׃(יא) כִּ֤י טֽוֹב־י֥וֹם בַּחֲצֵרֶ֗יךָ מֵ֫אָ֥לֶף בָּחַ֗רְתִּי הִ֭סְתּוֹפֵף בְּבֵ֣ית אֱלֹהַ֑י מִ֝דּ֗וּר בְּאׇהֳלֵי־רֶֽשַׁע׃(יב) כִּ֤י שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ ׀ וּמָגֵן֮ יהוה אֱלֹ֫הִ֥ים חֵ֣ן וְ֭כָבוֹד יִתֵּ֣ן יהוה לֹ֥א יִמְנַע־ט֝֗וֹב לַֽהֹלְכִ֥ים בְּתָמִֽים׃(יג) יהוה צְבָא֑וֹת אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י אָ֝דָ֗ם בֹּטֵ֥חַ בָּֽךְ׃ {פ}
(1) For the leader; on the gittith. Of the Korahites. A psalm.(2)How lovely is Your dwelling-place,
O LORD of hosts.(3) I long, I yearn for the courts of the LORD;
my body and soul shout for joy to the living God.(4) Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself
in which to set her young,
near Your altar, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God.(5) Happy are those who dwell in Your house;
they forever praise You. Selah.(6) Happy is the man who finds refuge in You,
whose mind is on the [pilgrim] highways.(7) They pass through the Valley of Baca,
aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.regarding it as a place of springs,
as if the early rain had covered it with blessing.-a(8) They go from bOthers “strength to strength.”rampart to rampart,-b
appearing before God in Zion.(9) O LORD, God of hosts,
hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.(10) O God, behold our shield,
look upon the face of Your anointed.(11) Better one day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere else];
I would rather stand at the threshold of God’s house
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.(12) For the LORD God is suncOr “bulwark,” with Targum; cf. Isa. 54.12. and shield;
the LORD bestows grace and glory;
He does not withhold His bounty from those who live without blame.(13) O LORD of hosts,
happy is the man who trusts in You.
O LORD of hosts.(3) I long, I yearn for the courts of the LORD;
my body and soul shout for joy to the living God.(4) Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself
in which to set her young,
near Your altar, O LORD of hosts,
my king and my God.(5) Happy are those who dwell in Your house;
they forever praise You. Selah.(6) Happy is the man who finds refuge in You,
whose mind is on the [pilgrim] highways.(7) They pass through the Valley of Baca,
aMeaning of Heb. uncertain.regarding it as a place of springs,
as if the early rain had covered it with blessing.-a(8) They go from bOthers “strength to strength.”rampart to rampart,-b
appearing before God in Zion.(9) O LORD, God of hosts,
hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.(10) O God, behold our shield,
look upon the face of Your anointed.(11) Better one day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere else];
I would rather stand at the threshold of God’s house
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.(12) For the LORD God is suncOr “bulwark,” with Targum; cf. Isa. 54.12. and shield;
the LORD bestows grace and glory;
He does not withhold His bounty from those who live without blame.(13) O LORD of hosts,
happy is the man who trusts in You.
(ה) מַה־טֹּ֥בוּ אֹהָלֶ֖יךָ יַעֲקֹ֑ב מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶ֖יךָ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
(5) How fair are your tents, O Jacob,
Your dwellings, O Israel!
Your dwellings, O Israel!
What do we learn from B'nai Korach, the Sons of Korah?
1. Devotion to God - despite ancestral downfalls, we can always do better
2. Obedience - there is no such thing as a "small" task when in service of God
3. Humility - the Sons of Korah are never named in this portion but rather elsewhere throughout the TaNaKH
4. Yirat Hashamayim (Awe and Reverence in God) - The sons of Korah demonstrated an awe of God’s holiness and power, as expressed in their service to the God in the Temple and their poetic images lingering on as a legacy in the Psalms