Korah
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Korah or Kórach (Hebrew: קֹרַח, Standard Qóraḥ Tiberian Qōraḥ; "Baldness; ice; hail; frost") is the name associated with at least two Biblical villains. Some older English translations, and many Eastern European translations translate Korah as Korak:
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[edit] Esau's Son who fought against Israel
According to Genesis 36:5, Korah was the son of Esau and Aholibamah, and had two brothers, "Jeush, and Jaalam". Genesis 36:14 has Korah's mother, Aholibamah being descended from Anah, the daughter of Zibeon, making Zibeon, Korah's maternal grandfather. The same verses, repeats Genesis 36:5 and names his two brothers again.
Esau had multiple wives, and Korah is also listed as a grandson of Esau through Eliphaz, causing some confusion. Esau and his wife Adah, bore Eliphaz. Genesis 36:16 states that Eliphaz bore a number of sons (called here, dukes that came from his son Eliphaz), and one of them is Duke Korah. It is not unreasonable that Esau had a son and a grandson named Korah.
Korah fought against Israel.
[edit] Izhar's Son (the Levite) who rebelled against Moses
Exodus 6:21 cites another Korah as being descended from Izhar son of Kohath. Korah's brothers through Izhar were Nepheg and Zichri. Exodus 6:18 connects this Korah with Hebron, Uzziel and Amram who where his father's brothers (Izhar son of Kohath). 1 Chronicles 6:2,18,38, and 23:12, repeat this genealogy; however, this reference could have been inspired by the Exodus genealogies. Hebron is the patriarch from whom the region is named.
Numbers 16:1 traces this lineage back further to Levi, son of the Patriarch Israel. According to Numbers 16:21, his lineage goes back;Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, making him the great-grandson of the patriarch Levi and the cousin of Moses and Aaron.
Numbers 16:32 indicates that Korah rebelled against Moses, and was punished for his rebellion when the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up all those who had rebelled.
[edit] Significance
The Biblical name Korah is important because it became associated with Biblical villains and traitors for two reasons;
- In the case of Korah son of Esau, both Esau and Korah waged war against Israel, and Esau was hated by God because of it according to Malachi 1:3. In these struggles Korah became renowned as a warrior and a fighter, and was legendary in Canaan because of abilities.
- In the case of Korah son of Izhar, he is remembered for the rebellious action together with Dathan and Abiram against Moses according to Numbers 6:21. This story also appears in the Qur'an, where Korah is named Qarun (see Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an).
[edit] Other References
Korah is referenced in the New Testament in Jude 11: "Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam's error; they have been destroyed in Korah's rebellion." (NIV) Some translations have this name as "Core" or "Korach".
Korah is mentioned in the 1768 edition of the New England Primer. Here, as part of an alphabet, we read that "Proud Korah's troop was swallowed up" which is a paraphrasing of Numbers 16:32.
Korach or Korah is also the 38th weekly parshah or portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Numbers. The parshah tells the story of Korah son of Izhar.
Korah is also mentioned by Irenaeus in his anti-Gnostic work Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies), written in about 180. He criticized the notion that some Biblical villains were credited with obtaining their power from God. Specifically he wrote there are some who:
- declare that Cain derived his being from the Power above, and acknowledge that Esau, Korah, the Sodomites, and all such persons, are related to themselves.
Korah is mentioned briefly in the Qur'an. See Similarities between the Bible and the Qur'an.
The Dead Sea Scrolls also provide addition details about Korah, though which of the two is not certain.
