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Josephus says the rebellious Korah was very wealthy, a detail not in the Hebrew text. This negative view of wealth fits themes in classical biographies like Plutarch. Rabbinic tradition later expanded this idea and made Korah’s wealth part of his fall.
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Josephus Antiquities of the Jews 4.25
Classical
4 Although Moses had foreseen Korah’s slander for some time and was aware that the people had grown agitated, he was not afraid. He was emboldened by the righteousness of his guidance, knowing that Aaron’s priesthood came at God’s command rather than his own indulgence. So he approached the crowd but addressed Korah alone (without speaking to the rest), shouting to him and pointing to the two hundred fifty men: “O Korah, you and these here appear fully qualified for this honor, nor do I deny that the entire group could be equally worthy, whether or not they are as wealthy or notable as you. But I did not grant this position to my brother because of wealth, for you exceed both of us in riches, nor was it due to noble ancestry, for we share the same lineage. And it was certainly not brotherly affection, though that too might be a justifiable reason.
Date: 93-94 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Plutarch Life of Lycurgus
Classical
It was due, therefore, to this last political device above all, that the wealthy citizens were incensed against Lycurgus, and banding together against him, denounced him publicly with angry shouts and cries; finally many pelted him with stones, so that he ran from the market-place. He succeeded in reaching sanctuary before the rest laid hands on him; but one young man, Alcander, otherwise no mean nature, but hasty and passionate, pressed hard upon him, and put out one of his eyes. Lycurgus, however, was far from yielding in consequence of this calamity, but confronted his countrymen, and showed them his face besmeared with blood and his eye destroyed. Whereupon they were so filled with shame and sorrow at the sight, that they placed Alcander in his hands, and conducted him to his house with sympathetic indignation. Lycurgus commended them for their conduct, and dismissed them, but took Alcander into the house with him, where he did the youth no harm by word or deed, but after sending away his customary servants and attendants, ordered him to minister to his wants.
Date: 95 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Both Moses and Lycurgus survived rebellions. In the case of Moses, the chief rebellion was led by his cousin Korah (Antiquities of the Jews 4.12—58; compare Numbers 16:1—17); this was reportedly a sedition unparalleled among Greeks or barbarians (Antiquities of the Jews 4.12). Korah accuses Moses of being anti-democratic in raising himself above the multitude, with seeking to obtain glory for himself while pretending to act in the name of God (Antiquities of the Jews 4.15). Josephus asserts, however (Antiquities of the Jews 4.14), further embellishing the Bible, that the cause of Korah's hostility was envy. Josephus calls attention to Korah's wealth (Antiquities of the Jews 4.14); and, according to Plutarch (Life of Lycurgus 11.1), it is the wealthy citizens who were particularly incensed against Lycurgus because of his removal of the concentration of wealth that had been in the hands of the few ..."
Feldman, Louis H.
"Flavius Josephus and Flavian Rome" in Edmondson, Jonathan (ed.) Parallel Lives of Two Lawgivers: Josephus' Moses and Plutarch's Lycurgus
(pp. 209-242) Oxford University Press, 2005
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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