Within in the latest census found in Parshat Pinchas, we, the readers, find a number of interesting stories. The daughters of Tzelophachad successfully make their case before Moses and God. We see the same Serach bat Asher mentioned in Parshat Pinchas as was mentioned in the book of Genesis. Serach bat Asher, still around after so many years!?!
And then we read a small and unassuming sentence BUT THE SONS OF KORAH DID NOT DIE. What? I remember when they were buried alive in Parshat Korach?
Now they appear again? Here they are in the census!
The rabbis try to come to grips with this inconsistency. Rashi quotes from Mashechet Sanhedrin,
— They were in the plot,
originally, but at the moment when the rebellion broke out they had thoughts of repentance in their hearts; therefore a high spot was fenced round for them in Gehinnom and they stayed there (Sanhedrin 110a).
So, the sons of Korach (They are Asir, Elkana, and Evyasaf) harbored thoughts of teshuva during the rebellion. These words of teshuva were not said aloud, but were in their minds and this was enough to provide them with a safe spot in Gehinnom, that place where "unrighteous souls go." One has to wonder how how did they ever leave Gehinnom? They must have, because they went on to writing eleven psalms in the book of Psalms!
I am not sure about how all of this proceeded and how the sons of Korach slipped under the earth and then reappeared, but this does prove that one should not fall asleep during the torah reading of the census. You never know what you will find!
As for these past nine months, let's hope to hear good news soon.
Leann
The Sons of Korach: A Psalm is Born
As the earth opened they changed their minds.
Smoke rises from blackened earth
its sulfured tendrils looping lazily
upward.
One can almost
feel the earth
holding its exhale,
deep within.
On the edge
sit
three sons of Korach
Dangling their scorched feet over the abyss
Dirt clotted between their toes,
Soot burrowed under their nails
eyelashes gone
eyebrows singed
lungs scorched
mouth sucked dry.
Still
they raise their blistered hands
open their mouths.
and
begin a song of praise.
The sound?
Muffled croaks.
The croaking sounds rise,
but slowly
soften at their edges
and words of praise,
emerge
soft at first.
and then louder,
just a little louder.
and then
Louder still.
Halleluyah!
For the leader. Of the Korahites;
A song.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.”
Psalm 46:1-3
If there is hope for
the sons of Korach
as they sit on the precipice
of the underworld,
there is hope for us.
All of us.
Yes, there is hope.
Still.
AI generated image.
More about the sons of Korach.
Other posts on Words Have Wings on Parshat Pinchas
https://www.wordshavewings.net/post/to-my-daughters-a-letter-to-mahlah-noa-choglah-milcah-and-tirzah
וּבְנֵי־קֹ֖רַח לֹא־מֵֽתוּ׃
This proves to us that Gd will even accept thoughts of doing the right thing!! How fortunate we are!!!