במדבר, פרק י״ז, פסוק י״ד

The aftermath of the rebellion brings devastating consequences, with a severe plague sweeping through the camp and claiming fourteen thousand seven hundred lives. This staggering loss comes on top of the casualties from the earlier stages of the uprising [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Because of their deep wickedness, the victims of this outbreak are viewed conceptually as having been dead even while they were still alive.

As the devastation unfolds, Moses harbors a deep fear. He worries that once the destroying angel is unleashed, it will no longer distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, threatening to wipe out the entire nation [שפתי כהן]. When Aaron stands between the living and the dead, the destruction is paused, but many people remain sick and dying. Aaron's merit with the incense is enough to halt the immediate attack, but it is not sufficient to heal the afflicted. It is only when Moses joins Aaron in prayer that the plague completely ends, bringing healing even to those who have already been stricken [מלבי״ם].

When recounting the death toll, a clear distinction is made between the victims of this immediate plague and those who died earlier as a result of the division and dispute led by Korah [נתינה לגר]. Commentators explore why it is necessary to connect, yet separate, these two groups. One approach suggests that both groups share the exact same sin: denying the holiness of Aaron and the priests. They also share the same method of punishment, as the divine fire that consumed Korah's two hundred and fifty men is also classified as a plague. Because their sins and punishments are identical, it is crucial to clarify that they are distinct groups and not combined in a single death toll [ביאור יש״ר, העמק דבר].

Conversely, another perspective argues that the two groups actually die for entirely different reasons. While Korah's followers perish for the rebellion itself, the victims of the plague meet their end because they severely slander Moses and Aaron. By accusing the leaders of killing God's people, they commit a grave offense. It is this specific disgrace and attack on their leadership that makes them liable to die by the plague at the hands of Heaven [ברכת אשר על התורה].