This Shabbat, the Torah selection shares the revolt against Moses and Aaron. Korah, a first cousin of Moses and Aaron, challenges their positions of authority. Korah's complaint is that Moses and Aaron have asserted their superiority without justification. Since the entire people of Israel are holy, Korah challenges the roles assumed by these two men.

Moses responds that G-d will determine the genuine leaders of His people. The divine response to offerings of incense will demonstrate the true leadership of Moses and Aaron. An alternate tradition portrays Dathan and Aviram as the rebels of the wilderness. Dathan and Aviram claim that Moses has not brought the Israelites to the Promised Land but rather to a desolate wilderness

Moses warns the people to separate themselves from the rebels. The ground swallows up the rebels against Moses. The fire pans of the 250 rebels are collected and hammered into plates for the altar of the burnt offering.

Again, the Israelites rebel against Moses and Aaron. A plague breaks out among the people with a horrendous loss of life. The symbolic flowering of the rod of Levi testifies to the authenticity of Aaron's leadership.

Numbers chapter eighteen shares the special role of the kohanim and the Levites. The gifts of the priestly classes are detailed. The portions of the sacrifices that are described that are given to the priests as opposed to those that are smoked on the altar. The support due to the kohanim from the Levites is explained.