Two Types of Enemies

Moses instructed Koraḥ’s 250 co-conspirators to prepare incense. [Numbers 16:16-17] After the conspirators were killed by fire [16:34], God instructed that the incense pans of “these sinners” (ḥata’im) be beaten into a cover for the altar. [17:3]

Ba’al haTurim notes that the word ḥata’im appears in connection with Amalek as well. [I Samuel 15:18]

My father explained that Amalek and Koraḥ represent two types of enemies of Israel. Amalek is an external enemy, who, driven by hatred of Israel’s spirituality, in tried to destroy that spirituality by destroying Israel physically. Koraḥ and his congregation symbolize the internal enemy, disunity of the Children of Israel. As Israel can fight against its external enemies through unity, Koraḥ and his congregation represent the greater threat to Israel.

The importance of Israel’s unity is seen as well in the aftermath of the punishment of Koraḥ’s co-conspirators. After the conspirators were killed, the people accuse Moses and Aaron of killing “the nation of God” [17:6], and God punished the people with a plague. Moses instructed Aaron to take incense in order to stop the plague. [v.11] Rashi, quoting Mechilta, comments that the people complained that the incense is connected to death, having brought about the deaths of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu as well as the 250 people of Koraḥ’s congregation. Therefore, the incense was used to stop the plague, in order to demonstrate that it was not associated with death.

My father noted that among the eleven ingredients of the incense was ḥelbana, which taken alone was foul smelling, yet when mixed with the other ingredients, helped create the beautiful fragrance of the incense. As our Sages teach us, the symbolism of ḥelbana is the unity of all Israel, even those who are not righteous. Therefore, the use of incense to stop the plague teaches that it is the unity of Israel which will protect God’s people from all plagues and troubles. When Israel is united, it need fear no plague.