Core

CORE. - The best known of the biblical figures of this name, the first of whom is a son of Esau (Gen. 36:5, 14), is a contemporary of Moses (Ex. 6:21, 24; 1 Chron. 6:37), of the family of Levi, of which he was a great-grandson. K. promoted a rebellion in the desert against Moses (Num. 16:1 ff.). To all appearances, it was a reaction against the institution of the Aaronic priesthood (v. ARONNE).

K. made himself the spokesman for the discontent of the various descendants of Levi against Aaron of the same tribe, because he had been consecrated priest together with his sons with a hereditary right, while the other Levites were declared subordinate servants in the functions of worship. Some descendants of Reuben also took part in the revolt; perhaps recalling the original birthright of their forefather, they now resented the ascendancy of Moses and Aaron of the tribe of Levi. Among the Reubenites, Dathan and Abiram appear in the front rank as accomplices (Num. 16:1). The rebels immediately organized a worship different from that prescribed by Moses, probably with the intention of restoring practices that predated the reform. In the ideological struggle God intervened directly in favor of Moses, causing the earth to open and swallow the rebels (Num. 16:25-34). The episode remained famous in Jewish tradition (besides the detailed account of Num. 16:1-50, cf. Ps. 105:17; Deut. 11:6; Ecclus. 45:22; Wis. 18:20-25; Jude 11).

The sons of K. were preserved from the terrible punishment. Their descendants held an honorable place in the ritual functions in Solomon's Temple (cf. 1 Chron. 9:19; 26:1, 19). The Korahites are remembered down to the time of Jehoshaphat (2 Chron. 20:19). They were predominantly singers (cf. 1 Chron. 6:37). A series of psalms (41, 43-48, 83, 84, 86, 87) is attributed to them.

Angelo Penna