As Good as the Company

מִשְׁפְּחֹת בְּנֵי קְהָת יַחֲנוּ עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן תֵּימָנָה (במדבר ג, כט)

The families of the sons of Kehos shall camp to the south side of the Mishkan. (Bamidbar 3:29)

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Near them was the camp of Reuven, who also camped to the south. Woe to the wicked, woe to his neighbor! Thus, Dasan, Aviram, and two hundred and fifty others (of the tribe of Reuven) were smitten with Korach and his band, for they were drawn into the dispute along with them. –Rashi

The effects of Korach’s company on the tribe of Reuven were, according to Rashi, that “they were drawn into the dispute along with them.” The Midrash Tanchuma, however, describes this slightly differently.

“Moshe, along with Aharon and his sons, encamped in the east, and next to them were Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevulun. On this basis it was said: ‘How fortunate is the righteous, and how fortunate are his neighbors!’ This refers to these three tribes, who were adjacent to Moshe and Aharon, and became great in Torah.”

“…On the south side, the sons of Korach were encamped, and adjacent to them were Reuven, Shimon and Gad. On this basis they said: ‘Woe to the wicked, and woe to his neighbors!’ This refers to these three tribes, who were neighbors of Korach and his band in the south, and were lost along with him in his rebellion.”

Whereas Rashi emphasizes that many from the tribe of Reuven were actually drawn into Korach’s dispute with Moshe, the emphasis in the Midrash is that the negative company caused them to be punished along with Korach. According to the Midrash, bad company may lead to being likewise held responsible for bad conduct, due even to aiding or participating in it, but does not necessarily influence one’s views and character.

In this Midrash, however, we see the fulfillment of the teaching of Chazal, “any attribute used for good is more powerful than when used for evil (Sotah 11a)." For when describing the positive effects of Moshe’s company, even the Midrash agrees that this not only brought incidental benefit to the neighbors, but actually influenced them in a real and life- altering way; the tribes of Yehudah, Yissachar and Zevulun “became great in Torah."

Likutei Sichos vol. 33, pp. 10-15