Sanhedrin

And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty:  they were the most distinguished men of the community; chosen for the appointed times:  meaning, they were skilled in intercalating the year  and fixing new moons; men of renown, famous throughout the whole world. And when Moses heard it, he fell upon his face.  What news did he hear? — R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in R. Jonathan's name: That he was suspected of [adultery with] a married women, as it is written, They were jealous of Moses in the camp,  which teaches that every person warned his wife  on Moses' account, as it is written, And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp. And Moses rose up and went in to Dathan and Abiram.  Resh Lakish said: This teaches that one must not be obdurate in a quarrel;  for Rab said: He who is unyielding in a dispute violates a negative command, as it is written, And let him not be as Korah, and as his company.  R. Ashi said: He deserves to be smitten with leprosy: here it is written, [as the Lord said] to him by the hand of Moses,'  whilst elsewhere, it is said, And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thine hand into thy bosom. [… and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow]. R. Joseph said: Whoever contends against the sovereignty of the House of David deserves to be bitten by a snake. Here it is written, And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth;  whilst elsewhere it is written, with the poison of serpents [zohale]  of the dust.  R. Hisda said: Whoever contends against [the ruling of] his teacher is as though he contended against the Shechinah, as it says, when they strove against the Lord.  R. Hama son of R. Hanina said: Whoever quarrels  with his teacher is as though he quarrelled with the Shechinah, as it is said, This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord.  R. Hanina b. Papa said: Whoever expresses resentment against his teacher, is as though he expressed it against the Shechinah, as it is said, Your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.  R. Abbahu said: He who imputes [evil] to his teacher is as though he imputed [it] to the Shechinah, as it says, And the people spake against God, and against Moses. Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt:  Resh Lakish said: This refers to Korah's wealth. And all the substance that was at their feet:  R. Eleazar said: This refers to a man's wealth, which puts him on his feet. R. Levi said: The keys of Korah's treasure house were a load for three hundred white mules,  though all the keys and locks were of leather. R. Hama son of R. Hanina said: Three treasures did Joseph hide in Egypt: one was revealed to Korah; one to Antoninus the son of Severus,  and the third is stored up for the righteous for the future time. R. Johanan also said: Korah was neither of those who were swallowed up nor of those who were burnt. 'Neither of those who were swallowed up' — as it is written, [And the earth … swallowed them up…] and all the men that appertained unto Korah,  [implying], but not Korah himself. 'Nor of those who were burnt' — for it is written, What time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men,  — but not Korah.  A Tanna taught in a Baraitha: Korah was one of those who were swallowed up and burnt.  'Of those who were swallowed up' — as it is written, … and swallowed them up together with Korah.  'Of those who were burnt' — since it is written, And there came out a fire from the Lord, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men [that offered incense],  which includes Korah. Raba said: What is meant by the verse, The sun and the moon stood still in their zebul, at the light of thine arrows they went?  — This teaches that the sun and the moon ascended from the rakia' to the zebul, and exclaimed before the Holy One, blessed be He, 'Sovereign of the Universe! If thou wilt execute justice for Amram's son [by punishing Korah and his assembly], we will go forth [to give light]; if not, we will not go forth.' Thereupon he shot arrows at them, saying, 'For My honour ye did not protest, yet ye protest for the honour of flesh and blood!'  So now they do not go forth until they are driven to it. Raba gave the following exposition: What is meant by the verse, But if the Lord make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth?  — Moses said to the Holy One, blessed be He, 'If the Gehenna has already been created, 'tis well; if not, let the Lord create it.' Now, in respect of what? If actually to create it, but there is no new thing under the sun!  But [he prayed] that its mouth might be brought up [to the spot where they were standing]. Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.  A Tanna taught: It has been said on the authority of Moses our Master: A place was set apart for them in the Gehenna, where they sat and sang praises [to God]. Rabbah b. Bar Hana said: I was proceeding on my travels, when an Arab said to me, 'Come, and I will shew thee where the men of Korah were swallowed up.' I went and saw two cracks whence issued smoke. Thereupon he took a piece of clipped wool, soaked it in water, attached it to the point of his spear, and passed it over there, and it was singed. Said I to him, 'Listen to what you are about to hear.' And I heard them saying thus: 'Moses and his Torah are true, but they [Korah's company] are liars.'