The mitzvot of Korach

The commandment to guard the Temple

Positive · Numbers 18:4

The splendour of the Temple stirs awe in the hearts of those who come to it, and one who comes there to ask forgiveness with a heart full of the greatness of the place returns in repentance more easily. So setting guards over the House is also part of its honour, just as great kings keep a watch over their palaces.

That the priests not be involved in the service of the Levites and the Levites in the service of the priests

Negative · Numbers 18:3

The service of the kohanim and the Levites is precious and holy, so it must be carefully guarded from laziness and forgetfulness. A task laid on two people is more easily neglected, for each relies on the other, as the sages said that the partners' pot is neither hot nor cold. Therefore each group received its own service, and neither touches the service of the other.

That a foreigner not serve in the Temple

Negative · Numbers 18:4

It is the honour of the King and of His place that He be served by known men of a known tribe, appointed permanently to His service. Even earthly kings do not change their servants every day, nor let just anyone make use of the crown of the king's service. Therefore no outsider may enter into the service of the Temple.

To not nullify the guarding of the Temple

Negative · Numbers 18:5

The splendour of the Temple stirs awe in the hearts of those who come to it, and one who comes there to seek atonement, his heart full of the greatness of the place, finds it easier to repent. Therefore the guard over the House is also part of its honour, as great kings post guards around their palace, and it must not be neglected.

The commandment of redeeming the firstborn of a man

Positive · Numbers 18:15

God wanted to grant us a mitzvah with the first fruit, so that we know that everything is His and a person has nothing in the world except what God apportions to him in His kindness. After all his toil, when a man's firstborn son is born, dear to him as the apple of his eye, he redeems him and acknowledges that he belongs to his Creator. Moreover, the mitzvah recalls the great miracle of the firstborn of Egypt, whom God struck while saving the firstborn of Israel.

To not redeem the firstborn of a pure animal

Negative · Numbers 18:17

The firstborn is given to the kohen so that we know that everything belongs to God - the first fruit, dearest of all to a person, he removes from his own possession and places in the possession of his Creator. It is also a remembrance of the miracle of the firstborn of Egypt. Therefore the firstborn of a pure animal is not redeemed, for it is wholly holy to God and remains His.

The commandment of the service of the Levites in the Temple

Positive · Numbers 18:23

God chose the tribe of Levi to serve in the Temple, for it is the honour of the King and of His place to have permanent servants from a known tribe, with no outsider mixing among them. So too do the kings of the earth appoint honoured and known men by whom all the work of the palace is done, and it is not fitting for a king's honour to change his servants every day.

The commandment of the first tithe

Positive · Numbers 18:24

God chose the tribe of Levi for His constant service in the Temple, so in His kindness He saw to it that their livelihood would come to them with honour, like the king's servants whose meals are prepared for them by others while they are free for his service. They received a tenth - more than one part in twelve - free of all the costs of the land, for it is fitting that the portion of the servants of the king's house be large. And whoever supports God's servants from his wealth, God's blessing rests on all he has, and with this mitzvah alone one is even permitted to test God and see whether he will be blessed.

The commandment of the Levites to give a tithe from the tithe

Positive · Numbers 18:26

The whole tribe of Levi was set apart for the service of God, and from within it the kohanim were chosen to be the head and essence of the service, while the rest of the tribe was given to assist them. So that the Levites understand that all their good comes to them by virtue of the service, they were commanded to give a tenth of what they receive to the kohanim, and thus they take to heart that there are those above them, and above all God, who guards everything. There is also honour in this for the Levites, for they too take part in the mitzvah of tithing and do not only receive it.