Rich like Korach

Trump's grift and the appeal of wealth

With the financial disclosure revealing that President Trump has raked in more than two billion dollars over the last year, primarily from the sale of his crypto coins, the extent of his grift is beginning to come into view. Not only has he used the presidency as a way to enrich himself, he’s no longer even pretending otherwise. Whereas during his first term, a foreign government trying to curry favor with the president might rent out one of his properties, now they can just pay him directly. (Of course, this is the precise scenario the founders sought to prevent through the Foreign Emoluments Clause.)

Trump is hardly the only world leader to try to make a buck off of his position. Corruption and greed in government have been constants for millennia. In the Bible, when the people approach the prophet Samuel to ask for a king, he attempts to dissuade them by predicting that any king will eventually compel their sons and daughters to work for him, and will “take a tenth part of your flocks, and you shall become his slaves.” (I Samuel 8:4-20) The Torah even tries to head off this possibility by prohibiting any future king from acquiring too many horses, or amassing gold and silver, lest he become haughty, forget Torah, and jeopardize the people’s sojourn in the land. (Deuteronomy 17:14-20)

Korach, whose story we read in full two weeks ago (three weeks ago if you live in Israel) makes a brief reappearance in this week’s Torah portion, in the midst of a genealogy:

The sons of Eliab were Nemuel, and Dathan and Abiram. These are the same Dathan and Abiram, chosen in the assembly, who agitated against Moses and Aaron as part of Korach’s band when they agitated against GOD.

Whereupon the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with Korach—when that band died, when the fire consumed the two hundred and fifty men—and they became an example.

The sons of Korach, however, did not die.

(Numbers 26:9-11)

Not only do Korach’s sons not die, but they even show up again in the book of Psalms as meshorerim, Levitical singers in the Temple and the authors of nearly a dozen psalms. A long rabbinic tradition imagines them initially following their father, but then doing teshuva last minute and ending up permanently suspended between life and death. (Sanhedrin 110a). Or perhaps “the Holy Spirit rested upon them and they prophesied about the exiles, the destruction of the Temple, and the Kingdom of David.” (Rashi on Psalms 42:1)

What prompted these sons to do teshuvah? The Netziv (R’ Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin 1816-1893) suggests that these sons may originally have believed that their father was acting out of righteousness, “but once their father Korach followed after Dathan and Aviram, the haters of Moses, since the sons of Korach were disciples of Moses, for this reason, they did not follow him and did not die.”

Korach’s complaint against the existing leadership seems, at first glance, justified, even—or especially—to his sons. “The whole community is holy!. . . Why then do you raise yourselves above God’s congregation?” (Numbers 16:3). Korach is even a member of the Tribe of Levi, just like Moses and Aaron.

A rabbinic tradition imagines Korach as exceedingly wealthy, perhaps through ill-begotten gains. (There’s even a Hebrew phrase, ashir k’Korach, to describe someone super wealthy)

“Wealth is kept for the owner to his detriment.” (Kohelet 5:12). Reish Lakish says: This is the wealth of Korach. . . And Rabbi Levi says: The keys to Korach’s treasury were a burden requiring three hundred white mules, and all the keys and locks were of leather. (Sanhedrin 110a)

Where did all of this wealth come from? There are a few possibilities:

Joseph concealed three buried treasures in Egypt. One was revealed to Korach, one was revealed to Antoninus son of Asvirus [emperor of Rome], and one is hidden for the righteous in the future. (ibid).

Or:

“He will dwell in desolate cities, in houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps” (Job 15:28) this is Koracḥ, who was a treasurer in Pharaoh’s palace, and had in his possession the keys to Pharaoh’s treasuries. The Holy Blessed One said to him, “What benefit are these to you? You don’t control them,” as it says: “Houses in which one would not live, which are destined to become heaps [legalim].”’ For whom are they destined? For those who are exiled [golim], for Israel who were exiled from Egypt. But Koracḥ will not become rich, and his portion will not endure – even when he dies, it will not endure. (Bamidbar Rabbah 18:15)

Another version:

Rav said, Koracḥ was very rich; the treasury of Pharaoh was revealed to him between Migdol and the Sea. (Yerushalmi, Sanhedrin 10:1)

There’s at least the suggestion that Korach may have stolen from Pharaoh’s treasury, or perhaps improperly taken advantage of wealth that Joseph left for future generations.

How did this all work out for Korach? “Wealth is accrued for its owner to his detriment” (Ecclesiastes 5:12). One midrash ascribes this verse to a series of biblical characters who pursue wealth, only to meet ruin, including Haman and Korach. (B’reishit Rabbah 50:11)

Korach enticed people to follow him by making a claim that sounded reasonable—a few people have too much power! It’s the deep state! I’m going to help you get what you deserve! God will stand with me! Perhaps Korach’s success in gaining wealth by questionable means persuaded him that he can get away with anything, that he can persuade more and more people to follow him in his pursuit of power, in his desire to hold onto his wealth (and perhaps accumulate more), and in his willingness to sacrifice his own people. “[He is called] Korach, because he made a gap (korcha) among the people of Israel.” (Sanhedrin 109b)

President Trump seems determined to drag the entire country into the pit with him in his relentless pursuit of riches and of power. Korach’s sons were eventually able to spot their father’s evil intentions, to save themselves (sort of), and to devote the rest of their time to composing praises to God. Here’s hoping that most Americans are also figuring out that Trump doesn’t have their interests, or any more lofty goals in mind, but is enriching himself at our, and the world’s expense.

I’ll just leave you with Psalm 49, attributed to the sons of Korach, with some apt messages for those who seek riches and glory (trans. JPS 2023):

לַמְנַצֵּ֬חַ ׀ לִבְנֵי־קֹ֬רַח מִזְמֽוֹר׃

For the leader. Of the sons of Korach. A psalm.

שִׁמְעוּ־זֹ֭את כׇּל־הָעַמִּ֑ים הַ֝אֲזִ֗ינוּ כׇּל־יֹ֥שְׁבֵי חָֽלֶד׃

Hear this, all you peoples;
give ear, all inhabitants of the world,

גַּם־בְּנֵ֣י אָ֭דָם גַּם־בְּנֵי־אִ֑ישׁ יַ֝֗חַד עָשִׁ֥יר וְאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

both low and high,
rich and poor alike.

פִּ֭י יְדַבֵּ֣ר חׇכְמ֑וֹת וְהָג֖וּת לִבִּ֣י תְבוּנֽוֹת׃

My mouth utters wisdom,
my speech is full of insight.

אַטֶּ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֣ל אׇזְנִ֑י אֶפְתַּ֥ח בְּ֝כִנּ֗וֹר חִידָתִֽי׃

I will turn my attention to a theme,
set forth my lesson to the music of a lyre.

לָ֣מָּה אִ֭ירָא בִּ֣ימֵי רָ֑ע עֲוֺ֖ן עֲקֵבַ֣י יְסוּבֵּֽנִי׃

In time of trouble, why should I fear
the encompassing evil of those who would supplant me—

הַבֹּטְחִ֥ים עַל־חֵילָ֑ם וּבְרֹ֥ב עׇ֝שְׁרָ֗ם יִתְהַלָּֽלוּ׃

those who trust in their riches,
who glory in their great wealth?

אָ֗ח לֹא־פָדֹ֣ה יִפְדֶּ֣ה אִ֑ישׁ לֹא־יִתֵּ֖ן לֵאלֹהִ֣ים כׇּפְרֽוֹ׃

Ah, it cannot redeem anyone,
or pay one’s ransom to God;

וְ֭יֵקַר פִּדְי֥וֹן נַפְשָׁ֗ם וְחָדַ֥ל לְעוֹלָֽם׃

the price of life is too high;
and so one ceases to be, forever.

וִיחִי־ע֥וֹד לָנֶ֑צַח לֹ֖א יִרְאֶ֣ה הַשָּֽׁחַת׃

Shall anyone live eternally,
and never see the grave?

כִּ֤י יִרְאֶ֨ה ׀ חֲכָ֘מִ֤ים יָמ֗וּתוּ יַ֤חַד כְּסִ֣יל וָבַ֣עַר יֹאבֵ֑דוּ וְעָזְב֖וּ לַאֲחֵרִ֣ים חֵילָֽם׃

For one sees that the wise die,
that the foolish and ignorant both perish,
leaving their wealth to others.

קִרְבָּ֤ם בָּתֵּ֨ימוֹ ׀ לְֽעוֹלָ֗ם מִ֭שְׁכְּנֹתָם לְד֣וֹר וָדֹ֑ר קָרְא֥וּ בִ֝שְׁמוֹתָ֗ם עֲלֵ֣י אֲדָמֽוֹת׃

Their grave is their eternal home,
the dwelling-place for all generations
of those once famous on earth.

וְאָדָ֣ם בִּ֭יקָר בַּל־יָלִ֑ין נִמְשַׁ֖ל כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת נִדְמֽוּ׃

Mortals do not abide in honor;
they are like the beasts that perish.

זֶ֣ה דַ֭רְכָּם כֵּ֣סֶל לָ֑מוֹ וְאַחֲרֵיהֶ֓ם ׀ בְּפִיהֶ֖ם יִרְצ֣וּ סֶֽלָה׃

Such is the fate of those who are self-confident,
the end of those pleased with their own talk. Selah.

כַּצֹּ֤אן ׀ לִ֥שְׁא֣וֹל שַׁתּוּ֮ מָ֤וֶת יִ֫רְעֵ֥ם וַיִּרְדּ֘וּ־בָ֤ם יְשָׁרִ֨ים ׀ לַבֹּ֗קֶר (וצירם) [וְ֭צוּרָם] לְבַלּ֥וֹת שְׁא֗וֹל מִזְּבֻ֥ל לֽוֹ׃

Sheeplike they head for Sheol,
with Death as their shepherd.
The upright shall rule over them at daybreak,
and their form shall waste away in Sheol
till its nobility be gone.

אַךְ־אֱלֹהִ֗ים יִפְדֶּ֣ה נַ֭פְשִׁי מִֽיַּד־שְׁא֑וֹל כִּ֖י יִקָּחֵ֣נִי סֶֽלָה׃

But God will redeem my life from the clutches of Sheol,
by taking me. Selah.

אַל־תִּ֭ירָא כִּֽי־יַעֲשִׁ֣ר אִ֑ישׁ כִּי־יִ֝רְבֶּ֗ה כְּב֣וֹד בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

Do not be afraid when someone else becomes rich,
when their household goods increase;

כִּ֤י לֹ֣א בְ֭מוֹתוֹ יִקַּ֣ח הַכֹּ֑ל לֹֽא־יֵרֵ֖ד אַחֲרָ֣יו כְּבוֹדֽוֹ׃

for when they die they can take none of it along;
their goods cannot follow them down.

כִּֽי־נַ֭פְשׁוֹ בְּחַיָּ֣יו יְבָרֵ֑ךְ וְ֝יוֹדֻ֗ךָ כִּי־תֵיטִ֥יב לָֽךְ׃

Though they congratulate themselves in their lifetime
—“All must admit that you did well by yourself”—

תָּ֭בוֹא עַד־דּ֣וֹר אֲבוֹתָ֑יו עַד־נֵ֝֗צַח לֹ֣א יִרְאוּ־אֽוֹר׃

yet they must join the company of their ancestors,
who will never see daylight again.

אָדָ֣ם בִּ֭יקָר וְלֹ֣א יָבִ֑ין נִמְשַׁ֖ל כַּבְּהֵמ֣וֹת נִדְמֽוּ׃ {פ}

Mortals do not understand honor;
they are like the beasts that perish.