Rebellion

Why is the Korach episode considered the Great Rebellion by Biblical "scholars"?The answer lies in the nature of the conflict. Even though at other times the people tried to set up another leader to take them back to Egypt, it was a form of escape from Moshe's leadership. They were too frightened by the task at hand and opted to leave. Here , the rebels strove to remove Moshe from his office as G-D's representative. Initially , they made it seem as if their entire focus was on the seemingly unfair designation of the priestly clan. No one would again serve in the Temple except for the family of Aharon, Moshe's brother.
Not only did this seem unfair, it smacked of nepotism. After all, the reason why they lost the
privileges to engage in the Divine service was due to the sin of the Golden Calf. Who constructed the calf?Aharon that's who!
To the casual observer, even if Aharon had good intention, his action was appalling. By giving in to the sinners he might have encouraged their behavior. Why is he rewarded with the priesthood forever? There is only one conceivable answer-nepotism! This means that Moshe
has made much of his teachings up.This means that Moshe is really violating G-D's order to
lead the people fairly. The only conclusion the people wish to make is that Moshe must be deposed!
This is a full blown rebellion against Moshe himself. The results are dramatic. The
250 men seeking to minister as Kohanim are burned by a G-Dly fire. The leaders of the revolt against Moshe are swallowed up together with all of their possessions and family into the earth.
The earth seemed to open up where they stood and sucked them down . Then the earth closed as if nothing had disturbed the area where they had camped!
So what is reaction of the people who had observed all of the Divine wrath? They seemed ready to continue the rebellion of the day before!??
This i find astounding. After accusing Moshe of doing things on his own without G-D's agreement, they see G-D's punishment in an awesome display of power,yet they continue Korach's revolt! How is it possible? What possible rationale is there for this?
One is forced to conclude that the people who supported Korach did so out of ideology . They were convinced of the correctness of Korach's position regardless of the consequence.
It is almost analagous to Rabbi Yehoshua standing up to the voice from Heaven! They were convinced that logic dictated the reasoning of the Commandments by G-D.
Since the position of the Kohain was extra or super-rational, they decided that the rules could have only been made up by Moshe. No rational Creator would ever make such an unfair system!
What Moshe had tried to communicate but these people wouldn't listen, was that he had no input at all. The Commandments came directly from G-D. Just as G-D is beyond our imagination,so too, are G-D's Commandments.
The priesthood is not a feel good job there for the most sociable and articulate candidate.
Rather, it is a Divine Command which can only be appreciated by simple Faith .
This is also why the laws concerning sacrifices are amongst the most difficult to understand. Even the great Maimonedes in his wondrous Guide to the Perplexed struggled to rationalize the Temple Service . In the end only the demonstrated effect of the Kohain's holiness was able to quell the rebellion.