It should hit us like a thunderbolt!

In the two great revolts of Bnei Yisrael against Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership, namely the golden-calf episode and the incident of the spies, the stabilising force was the Levites.

When, following the golden-calf episode, Moses stands in the gateway of the camp and calls out Whoever is for G-D join me, only Moses’ fellow Levites flock to his banner.  Every single one of them (Ex. 32:26).  They alone are willing to execute justice against the main perpetrators of the sin.  As a result, the Levites replace the firstborn as the ecclesiastical elite of the nation, ministering in the mishkan and gaining exemption from military service. When the nation encamps, the Levi’im form the inner corps. They offer spiritual protection to the nation while being protected by the other tribes materially and physically.

As a result, when the tribes each select an emissary to reconnoitre Eretz Yisrael in preparation for the conquest, shevet Levi do not. And while Caleb of the tribe of Judah and Joshua from the tribe of Ephraim distance themselves from the nefarious conduct of the other scouts, the military-age men of these two tribes act no differently to the rest.  The entire male population rises in revolt.

Except the Levites. They feel no need to send an emissary. Nor do they press the other tribes to send.  Consequently, they aren’t waiting with bated breath for the report, ready to pounce.  Therefore, no Levite was implicated in the sin of the spies or subject to the decree of death in the desert.  This is not mere Midrash as many think but is clearly stated in the Torah. In this Wilderness shall your carcasses fall, all of you who were counted in any of your numberings from twenty years of age and up. (Num. 14:29). The Leviim “were not counted among the children of Israel” (2:33).  They were counted subsequently in separate reckonings from one month and upwards (3:15) and later from thirty and upward (4:3, 4:22, 4:30) but never from twenty and upward.

As a result of their loyalty to G-D and to Moses, all their men, as well as all the womenfolk of all the tribes, were to be graced with unrestricted entry into the Land 40 years later

The Leviim are thus presented as the uncorrupted and seemingly uncorruptible model segment of Bnei Yisrael.  Which is why the sudden revolt of the Levite Korach and, it would seem, some other Levites too, shocks us to the core.

Were other Levites involved?

It would appear so (see Num. 16:8).  Rabenu Chananel (990-1053) declares that most of Korach’s assembly were Levites whom he had won over by accusing Moses of nepotism in allegedly appointing (of course........

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