In his Targum, on the verse "And Korach gathered the entire congregation against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting" (Bamidbar 16:19), Yonatan Ben Uziel writes:

"And he gathered the entire congregation against them at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and he gloated over his wealth, since he found two of Yosef's treasures full of silver and gold. And he desired, by means of this wealth, to remove Moshe and Aharon from the world, lest HaShem's glory had appeared before the entire congregation."
 

First, let us explain the meaning of the words of Yonatan Ben Uziel. When Israel left Egypt, Moshe was occupied with locating the bones of Yosef and taking them out of Egypt. At the same time, Korach searched for the treasures which Yosef had buried in Egypt and found them, as the Gemara tells: "Yosef hid three treasures in Egypt and one was discovered by Korach. (Pesachim 119). Using Yosef's money, which Korach did not labor for and which belonged to all of Klal Israel, he attempts to take over the spiritual leadership of Am Israel. With this money, he gathers the entire congregation, and with the two treasures of Yosef which were full of silver and gold he attempts to remove Moshe and Aharon from the world, lest HaShem had appeared before the entire congregation. And this is amazing: what is the connection between Korach and Yosef which is revealed by Korach's specifically utilizing Yosef's treasures to instigate a controversy with Moshe?
 

In addition, at the end of parshat Korach appears the parsha of Pidyon haBen, the redemption of the first-born, wherein the Torah commands: "Every first to come out of the womb of all flesh (creatures) which are sacrificed to HaShem… however, redeem the first-born of man. And his redemption (will be) from the age of one month, in accordance to the evaluation, five silver Shekalim according to the holy Shekel, which is twenty Gerah. (Bamidbar 18:15-16)" In answer to the question of why the sum of the redemption is specifically five Shekalim, one explanation is that this is exactly the valuation of a boy one month in age. However, the Yerushalmi (Shekalim ch.2 Halacha 3) gives a different reason – that this was the sum paid for the sale of Yosef, as it says )Bereshis 37:28) "for twenty pieces of silver" and this is equal to five Sela'im. Thus, the redemption of the son for five Sela'im comes to atone for the sin of the selling of Yosef who was sold for five Sela'im.
 

And the question arises: It is known that the redemption of the first-born commemorates the Exodus from Egypt, in the course of which HaShem saved all the first-born of Israel who were in Egypt during makkat bechorot (the smiting of the first-born). So what does the sale of Yosef have to do with the redemption of the first-born? Additionally was can ask: the sellers of Yosef were Levi and Shimon, and the redemption money - the five Sela'im - is given to the Cohen, who is from the Tribe of Levi. So this is incredible: if the redemption is intended to atone for the selling of Yosef, how is it that the money is given to the one who sold him? And the Tribe of Levi, who himself participated in the sale, is exempt from the redemption? Unbelievable!

We can answer that the selling of Yosef and Pidyon Bechorot are related. The hatred and conflict which existed between the brothers is what brought about the selling of Yosef, and this was the terrible sin which led to the enslavement in Egypt.  However, after Yosef reveals himself, he says to his brothers "It was not you who sent me here, but the Lord. (Bereshis 45:8)" In retrospect, it is evident that this was all a Divine process, with the purpose of leading to the salvation of Yaakov Avinu and Yosef's brothers, and ultimately the Exodus from Egypt. So in fact, the source and beginning of Pidyon Bechorot, which originated with makkat bechorot, was the selling of Yosef. And therefore, the five Sela'im are on one hand atonement for the selling of Yosef, and on the other hand they are for the redemption of the first-born in the Exodus from Egypt, as the selling of Yosef brought about Pidyon Bechorot. So ultimately it was the Tribe of Levi which put into motion the events which brought about Israel's Exodus from Egypt, and therefore it is fitting that they are the ones who receive the five Sela'im.
 

Now we can understand why the parsha of Pidyon Bechorot appears at the end of parshat Korach, since the events which began with the bitter controversy between Yosef's brothers led to the exile and enslavement in Egypt, which at the end brought about the redemption of the first-born.
 

So now we see the connection between Yosef's treasures and Korach's desire to create a conflict with Moshe and Aharon. Yosef came to Egypt by way of events which began with a bitter dispute, and Korach attempts to capitalize upon that dispute and to acquire power and wealth from it in order to create a conflict with Moshe. The Mitzvah of pidyon haBen which we perform now has a special importance in atoning for the sin of instigating discord, and conversely, in engendering unity in Am Israel. For this reason Chazal highly valued the seudah of Pidyon haBen, and it is known that everyone who participates in a seudah of this kind, it is as if he fasted 84 days. This is in order to encourage people to participate in this Mitzvah, and in this way unity will greaten and increase in between all of us.

Do you have a comment or question on the shiur?
Comment below and we'll join the discussion