This week begins the 5th portion, out of 10, in the book of Numbers. The portion contains three chapters with the following main Relational Depth (RD) themes that I will discuss below: (1) Unholy pursuits by firstborns, (2) Holy vindication of Aaron, and (3) Inheritances for Relational Depth (RD). I encourage you to stay engaged through the longer discussion of chapter 16, pictured below, which will pay off in understanding the riches of God Himself as our ultimate inheritance!
(1) Chapter 16 - Unholy Pursuits by Firstborns
The battle that unfolds in the opening chapter of Korah is about leadership rights. Specifically, the grumblers complained to Moses,
You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly? (Numbers 16:4)
This complaint must be understood in light of God’s promise to the community at Mt. Saini that the entire community would be “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). The heart of this complaint, however, arose because of God’s choices of exclusivity for leadership that required setting some apart from others. And as I argue here and elsewhere—setting apart with exclusivity actually promotes inclusivity. The Levites were set apart from the Israelites. Aaron and his family were set apart from the Levites.
At the heart of it, this conflict in Numbers 16 is about the rights of the firstborn. God takes the rights of the firstborn very seriously. But even more than rights, God is concerned with, and committed to, relationships. He wants His people to be holy, as He is holy, and to live and love well.
This issue of firstborn rights is a deep well. The rights of the firstborn include aspects of inheritance, authority, and intimacy.
The reason this RD theme is so important as it relates to firstborn rights is because firstborn rights inform both family dynamics and national callings. These are two levels (micro-family and macro-global) display similar features. Specifically, these features include relational dynamics of jealousy and sibling rivalry. These family dynamics are seen throughout the Torah. These national callings are seen throughout history.
Family dynamics and the firstborn rights can be seen in this portion through Jacob’s family and in his son Levi’s family. This family story is so important because you—if you are a gentile—are grafted into this family story. And God is using this family story as part of His plan to restore all things through the firstborn rights of Israel (Jacob’s God-renamed identity). Specifically, God uses Israel (people and land) as a stage upon which to reveal Himself to the world as the covenant-keeping God He is.
Inheritance rights of the firstborn
The original description of the birth of 11 of Jacob’s children, and their birth order, is in Genesis 29:31-30:24 with Benjamin’s birth described in Genesis 35:16-18 to round out the 12 sons who will grow into tribes in the incubator of Egypt and will then become a set apart nation at Mt. Sinai. For a similar record of all Jacob’s children listed according to their mothers, see Genesis 46:8-27.
Hundreds of years later, within the context of God’s plan to liberate this chosen and growing family from slavery in Egypt, Reuben is again identified as Jacob’s firstborn son.
Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, and gave them a charge to the sons of Israel and to Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt. These are the HEADS of their fathers’ households. The sons of REUBEN, ISRAEL’S FIRSTBORN…these are the families of REUBEN. (Exodus 6:13-14)
But Reuben made some bad choices that disqualified him from his double portion inheritance as the firstborn. Years later, the writer of Chronicles explained this family dynamic of inheritance rights transferring from Reuben to Joseph.
Now the sons of REUBEN the FIRSTBORN of Israel (for he was the FIRSTBORN, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his BIRTHRIGHT was given to the sons of JOSEPH the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the BIRTHRIGHT. (1 Chronicles 5:1)
So, certain rights of the firstborn went to Joseph. Other firstborn rights, however, included aspects of authority and leadership. The firstborn was supposed to provide leadership for the growing family. On Jacob’s deathbed, he prophesied over his sons and foretold Judah’s future role of leadership and authority through an anointed ruler to come. This unique future authority is described in Genesis 49:8-12.
This “authority” theme is easier to see in this week’s portion as Korah and some Reubenites lead a rebellion against God’s anointed and appointed leadership. This right of authority is the more familiar storyline of Numbers 16.
There is another theme, however, that I want to identify that can be seen through an RD4KB lens (i.e., Relational depth for Kingdom breadth). This is a theme of relational access and intimacy. The language the Bible uses in this portion is of “coming near” or “drawing near” to God. God is wooing all of His image bearers back to Himself by creating a beachhead in the family of Abraham grown into the nation of Israel who was to become a tree into whom God’s children from the other nations could be grafted in. The relational glue on our end is faith but the real power stems from God’s faithfulness.
Firstborn rights of intimacy seen through an RD4KB lens are about relational access to God. This is the storyline I want to help you see here.
Let me help you identify the firstborn status in Jacob’s family and Levi’s family so you can make better sense of what’s going on in God’s covenant community. Exodus 6:14-24 lays out the landscape of firstborn status.
Korah Is A Firstborn
Korah’s name means “bald” and he is a firstborn from the line of Levi. While Reuben is Jacob’s firstborn, Levi receives the priestly calling with the accompanying rights of intimacy through access to God’s Presence. Korah came through Levi’s line as the grandson of Kohath, as seen through the genealogy back in Exodus.
These are the names of the sons of LEVI according to their generations: Gershon and KOHATH and Merari…(Exodus 6:16)
The sons of KOHATH: Amram and IZHAR and Hebron and Uzziel…(Exodus 6:18)
The sons of IZHAR: KORAH and Nepheg and Zichri. (Exodus 6:21)
The sons of KORAH: Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites. (Exodus 6:24; this family gets dramatically and tragically swallowed up in this week’s parashah)
So, based on this genealogical record, let’s summarize and review the family lineage from Jacob/Israel to Korah noting the birth order status:
Levi was Jacob’s third born son.
Kohath was Levi’s second born son.
Izhar was Kohath’s second born son.
Korah was Izhar’s firstborn son. Korah was not only a firstborn but was a firstborn from the line of set apart Levites.
Thus, Korah was a firstborn from the line of Levi. Furthermore, he was from the line of Kohath—responsible for the care of the sanctuary (Numbers 3:27-28). This was an honor. In contrast, the descendants of Levi’s other two sons—Gershon and Merari—were responsible to carry the Tabernacle infrastructure. In contrast, however, Kohath was responsible for carrying the most holy furniture of the Tabernacle (Numbers 4:1-20). This responsibility was a double honor and a holy privilege. But Kohathites were only allowed to carry these most holy objects after they have been completely covered by Aaron and his sons. While allowed to carry this most holy furniture, the Kohathites weren’t even allowed to look at them or touch them uncovered. The set apart status of holiness is a big deal.
And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, as the camp sets out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry these, but they must not touch the holy things, lest they die. These are the things of the tent of meeting that the sons of Kohath are to carry. (Numbers 4:15, ESV)
Korah was tempted and offended by the particularism and exclusiveness of the unique priestly calling given to Aaron and his line of priestly access and intimacy.
With all this family background, we are now ready to read the opening verse of this week’s portion through an RD4KB lens:
KORAH son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain REUBENITES—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 ISRAELITE MEN, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. (Numbers 16:1-2)
Thus, all those who rose up against Moses were firstborns and community leaders. They had a taste of set apart leadership but they didn’t have the humility to discern and defer to God’s leadership. This is what God was doing in His covenant community. This is still what God is doing in His covenant community.
This is one reason why understanding the micro family dynamics within Israel are so important. They will help you to discern God’s purposes for Israel within the macro family dynamics between Israel and the nations of the world. God’s covenant fidelity will ultimately be vindicated as God’s mercy will be displayed as His people rise up in faith-fueled obedience.
(2) Chapter 17 - Holy Vindication of Aaron
After the dramatic confrontation of chapter 16, God dramatically vindicates Aaron as God’s chosen priestly leader. It’s an amazing story. Twelve staffs are deposited in the Presence of the Lord and one of them not only sprouted but “budded, blossomed and produced almonds” (Numbers 17:8).
Don’t miss the relational dynamics and tension at the end of this chapter between God and Israel. God is trying to “put an end to their [Israelites] grumbling against me [God], so that they [Israelites] will not die” (Numbers 17:10). The last two verses in this chapter reflect a convicted people trembling at the reality of God’s holiness. They are getting it. God is cultivating the fear of God in His people which is designed to draw us close to Him. Every other fear drives us away from God, deeper into ourselves, and ultimately deprives us of our full inheritance as God’s children.
The unholy pursuits of firstborns and others offended by God’s choice for a set apart leader resulted in judgment and vindication. Those who rebelled against God’s chosen leader were judged. Aaron the chosen High Priest—highly imperfect like you and me (remember the golden calf debacle!?!)—was vindicated. Aaron was not vindicated based on his perfections but by God’s sovereign choice.
God’s choice of Aaron as the appointed and anointed High Priest was for the blessing and benefit of drawing the whole community near to God. In drawing near to God, we are postured to receive our inheritance as His people. Let’s look now at inheritances.
(3) Chapter 18 - Inheritances for RD
Exclusivity and role distinction are designed for inclusivity and access into Relational depth between God and His people. The first verse of this third and final chapter in parashah Korach identifies some of these distinctions.
Adonai said to Aaron, “You, your sons, and the house of your father with you [Set Apart Levites] will bear the guilt for the Sanctuary, and you and your sons [Anointed Priests] will bear the guilt for your priesthood…” (Numbers 18:1)
Don’t miss the fact that God speaks this directly to Aaron! This is a big deal. It can be easy to just read over the text of Scripture and miss things. God speaks directly to Aaron and teaches him—and through him, us—about the demands of holiness. These demands are not intended to burden us but to bless us. God’s love is so deep but the demands of holiness are not trivial.
So much could be explored here—and I hope you take time exploring God’s Word and taking the time to talk to Him and receive from Him! The Parashah Project and this Scripture for ALL theme of my Substack publication are designed as Scriptural scaffolding to help you find deeper points of access into God’s Word to go deeper. Deeper not into only deeper understanding of God but to help you go deeper into your relationship with God and encouraging your relational dynamics with God in ways that result in deeper soul-rest (cf. Matthew 11:28-30).
God speaks again to Aaron later in chapter 18 about inheritances.
Adonai said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land nor share among them. I am your portion and your share among Bnei-Yisrael [the children of Israel]. (Numbers 18:20)
God is the inheritance of the priest.
In the very next verse, the tithes are identified as the inheritance designated for the Levites for their prescribed work of service. Similarly, land-related inheritances are prescribed in the economy of God’s holy purposes of rescuing and redeeming.
If you call yourself a Jew or you call yourself a follower of the Jewish Messiah—Yeshua (Jesus)—then you have a priestly calling. You are called to be a priest of God Most High. Don’t be offended at God’s ways like Korah but seek to model Paul’s wonder expressed at the end of Romans 11:33-35.
O the depth of the riches,
both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are His judgments
and how incomprehensible His ways!
For who has known the mind of Adonai,
or who has been His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him,
that it shall be repaid to him?
Readings for the Week:
Torah: NUMBERS 16:1–18:32
Prophets: 1 SAMUEL 11:14–12:22
Apostolic Writings: ACTS 5:1–11
Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary. (If you prefer a printed copy, please email me at thomas@faithforall.org)
Shalom,
Thomas