Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Numbers 16:32/רמב"ן על במדבר ט״ז:ל״ב
אוְאֵת כָּל הָאָדָם אֲשֶׁר לְקֹרַח – קָנָה לוֹ עֲבָדִים וּשְׁפָחוֹת וּבְנֵי בַיִת הָיוּ לוֹ מִצְרִיִּים וְכוּשִׁיִּים וּכְנַעֲנִיִּים, קִנְיַן כַּסְפּוֹ, וְנֶעֶנְשׁוּ בִּכְלַל הָרְכוּשׁ שֶׁלָּהֶם שֶׁהֵם לָקוּ בְגוּפָם וּבְמָמוֹנָם. וְאוּלַי גַּם מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל הָיוּ בְבֵיתוֹ גֵּרִים וְתוֹשָׁבִים וְנִמְשְׁכוּ אַחַר עֲצָתוֹ וְנֶעֶנְשׁוּ, כִּי אֵינֶנּוּ רוֹמֵז לְזַרְעוֹ דִּכְתִיב: "וּבְנֵי קֹרַח לֹא מֵתוּ" (במדבר כ״ו:י״א), כִּי הָיוּ גְּדוֹלִים צַדִּיקִים וְטוֹבִים וּזְכוּתָם עָמְדָה לָהֶם, וְלֹא הָיוּ לוֹ בָּנִים וּבָנוֹת קְטַנִּים כִּי לֹא הִזְכִּיר הַכָּתוּב בְּקֹרַח טַף:
1AND ALL THE MEN THAT APPERTAINED UNTO KORACH. He [Korach] had acquired [heathen] slaves and bondmaids, and had as members of his household Egyptians, Ethiopians, and Canaanites — the purchase of his money165 — and these people were punished because they were part of their goods [i.e., those of Korach’s men], for they were punished both personally and in their belongings. Perhaps there were also in Korach’s house Israelites as sojourners and residents, and they were influenced by his counsel and were therefore punished [with Korach]. But it [the phrase all the men that appertained unto Korach] cannot refer to his children, for it is written, But the children of Korach died not,166 because they were adults, righteous and good men, and their [own] merit stood in their stead [so that they were not swept away with their father]. He had no minor sons and daughters, since Scripture does not mention “little ones” in the case of Korach [as it does when referring to Dathan and Abiram].167