תהלים, פרק ק״ו, פסוק י״ח

The rebellion of Korah and his faction met a devastating end, with their harshest punishment taking the form of a consuming fire [אבן עזרא]. Commentators agree that this blazing judgment specifically targeted the two hundred and fifty Israelite men who illicitly offered the incense.

The biblical account describes both a fire and a flame, leading to different interpretations of how the event unfolded. The primary approach among commentators is that this dual description is simply a repetition of the same idea, a common stylistic choice used to emphasize the destruction [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מאירי]. However, an alternative perspective views the flame as a distinct, subsequent stage of punishment. In this view, while the initial fire consumed the two hundred and fifty men, the resulting flame represents the deadly plague that broke out immediately afterward. It was as if a spark detached from the original fire to strike the distant sinners, serving as a third wave of judgment [מלבי״ם].

Even within this severe display of justice, a profound element of God's kindness is evident. The destruction was not a chaotic event; rather, it was a highly precise strike that consumed only the wicked. The fire targeted the guilty individuals who actively participated in the rebellion, leaving the rest of the gathered Israelites completely unharmed [אלשיך, שטיינזלץ].