In the Talmud Sotah 13b, Chazal say, “With rav,” (it is) “too much.” He/Moshe notified them (Korach and the Bnei Levi). With “rav,” Hashem notified him that he would not enter Eretz Yisrael. Rashi implies that Moshe was held accountable for the way he spoke to the Bnei Levi. In other words, Hashem ignored Moshe’s prayers, his hundreds of entreaties to be allowed entry to Eretz Yisrael, because of the way he spoke to Korach. We must endeavor to understand the depth of his sin. What did Moshe do that warranted such a response from Hashem? Moreover, where is the midah k’neged midah, measure for measure, in these two circumstances?
Horav Zaidel Epstein, Shlita, observes that Moshe’s desire to enter Eretz Yisrael was motivated by his unquenchable thirst for perfection. Moshe had no interest in eating the fruits of Eretz Yisrael or in benefiting from its unparalleled physical beauty. He desired to perform all of Hashem’s mitzvos, including those that were applicable only in Eretz Yisrael. He begged Hashem to grant him the opportunity to fulfill all of His mitzvos. Hashem told him that He would consider it as if Moshe had performed all of the mitzvos, even those that were relevant only in Eretz Yisrael.
Moshe sought perfection; Hashem told him, “It is enough.” He used the same vernacular that Moshe employed when Korach and Bnei Levi approached him to ascend to the Kehunah, priesthood. Moshe told them, “It is enough” — the spiritual level they had achieved was sufficient . In a slight way, Moshe was ignoring Bnei Levi’s appeal for perfection. Hashem held him accountable for this. Consequently, when Moshe’s appeal was denied, Hashem used the same terminology to Moshe that Moshe had used to Bnei Levi.
