לפני משה. שלא קמו בסתר ויש הפרש בין לפני ובין מפני: IN THE FACE OF MOSES. They did not rise up in secret. There is a difference between li-fene (in the face of) and mi-pene (before the face of) (Gen. 3:8).18Mi-pene is the respectful form. Compare, mi-pene sevah takkum (thou that rise up before the hoary head) (Lev. 19:32).
קראי מועד. שהיו נקראים אל אהל מועד: THE ELECT MEN OF THE ASSEMBLY. They were called to the tent of meeting.
אנשי שם. קודם צאתם ממצרים ומדקדק אמר כי נשיאי עדה הם הנשיאים העומדים על הפקודים והם פעולים למלת לקח כאילו כתיב ויקח קרח ודתן ואבירם ואון נשיאי העדה לדבר אליהם וזה מעט רחוק: MEN OF RENOWN. Before they left Egypt.A grammarian says that the princes of the congregation are the leaders who stood over those that were numbered (Num 1:4).19This grammarian, unlike I.E., does not identify the princes of the congregation with the first-born. He says that they20The princes. are the object of took. Our text should be read as if written, And Korah and Dathan and Abiram and On took the princes of Israel to speak to them.21To convince them to join the revolt. This commentator reads our text as follows: Now Korah…and Dathan and Abiram…and On…and two hundred and fifty took the princes of the congregation, the elect men of the assembly, men of renown. This interpretation is a bit far-fetched.22The interpretation that the princes were the heads who stood over Israel when they were numbered.