רב לכם בני לוי…(קרח טז:ז)

It is too much for you, offspring of Levi.

Rashi comments “וקרח שפקח היה מה ראה לשטות זה”- Korach was a wise man; how could he have acted so foolishly?

Why doesn’t Rashi talk about the 250 people from Korach’s group who were comprised of head Senhadrim and notary people; for sure, they were also in the category of wise people – how did they also act so foolish? Chazal says that Korach bribed them all, as it says, “כי השוחד יעוור פקחים ויסלף דברי צדיקים” (שמות כג:ח) bribery blinds and distorts the words of the righteous.” Therefore, though Korach’s people were Dayanim and Chachamim – smart and righteous people, since they accepted שוחד – bribery, it blinded their eyes, and they lost their wisdom.

Go back to Parshas Korach