Jun 23, 2022
Korach | Three Books: Three Perspectives, by Rav Yitzchak Etshalom
The setting of Parashat Korach raises broader issues about the chronological sequencing of the Torah's narrative; ibn Ezra maintains that Korach's rebellion took place significantly before the "sin of the scouts" story, which precedes it in Bamidbar. We use this observation to explore a larger and broader issue of the Torah's purpose in retelling stories and in the presentation of specific Mitzvot in multiple Sefarim - and conclude that from the middle of Sefer Shemot through the first two thirds of Bamidbar are essentially one narrative, presented from three distinct points of view - which allows us to see the relationship between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael through the different prisms of each side of those interactions.