Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Numbers 16:35/אבן עזרא על במדבר ט״ז:ל״ה
אה"א החמשים מושכת עצמה ואחרת עמה. י"א כי קרח מהנבלעים היה והראיה ותבלע אותם ואת קרח וי"א כי נשרף היה והעד ואת קרח במות העדה באכול האש וחז"ל אמרו כי נשרף ונבלע ולפי דעתי שלא נבקע רק מקום דתן ואבירם כי לא נזכר וקרח היה עומד עם מחתתו עם אהרן ועם נשיאי העדה מקריבי הקטרה ופירוש הפסוק ואת קרח איננה דבק עם ותבלע אותם רק עם במות העדה ואם יטעון טוען ויאמר למה לא הזכיר קרח עם השרופים התשובה כי אחר שהזכיר הכתוב שנשרפה עדתו שבאה לעזרה אין צורך להזכיר קרח כי מקל וחומר יודע הדבר וכמוהו מרכבות פרעה וחילו ולא הזכיר בשירה פרעה שטבע ובאמת טבע כי כן כתוב ונער פרעה וחילו והעד הנאמן כי קרח היה מהשרופים ולא יהיה כקרח וכעדתו:
1[AND FIFTY MEN.] The heh of ha-chamishim (the fifty) is to be read as if written twice.87 (and…fifty men). Our text, which reads ha-chamishim u-matayim, should be read as if written, ha-chamishim ve-ha-matayim (and…the two hundred and fifty men). The latter is the correct grammatical construction. Hence I.E.’s comment. Some say that Korah was among the ones who were swallowed. They offer as proof, And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah (Num. 26:10). Others say that Korah was burned. They offer, with Korah, when that company died; what time the fire devoured (Ibid.) as proof. Our sages say that Korah was burned and swallowed.88I believe that only the place of Dathan and Abiram split open,89 for no other place is mentioned.90 Korah was standing with his fire-pan with Aaron and the leaders of the congregation who were offering incense.91 With Korah (Num. 26:10) is not connected to and swallowed them up (Ibid.) but rather to when that company died (Ibid.). This is the way the aforementioned verse is to be interpreted. If someone should argue and say, “Why isn’t Korah mentioned among those who were burned?” the answer is: once Scripture mentions that Korah’s company, which came to his aid, was burned, it is not necessary to mention Korah. For we know this by arguing from a minor to a major premise.92 Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath He cast into the sea (Ex. 15:4) is similar.93 Moses does not mention in the song94 is stated. that Pharaoh drowned. The truth is that Pharaoh drowned, for Scripture explicitly states, But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea (Ps. 136:15). The verse that he fare not as Korah, and as his company (Num. 17:5) is proof that Korah was among those who were burned.95