The sh'lah HaKadosh explains that the drive of korach, dassan & aviram, & the 250 men was kinah ta'avah & kavod respectively.
These forces are so powerful when unchecked, that chazal tell us they are motzi'in es ha'adam min ha'olam.
We know the role that women played in this machlokes, with korach's wife prodding him into the abyss & Mrs On ben Peles heroically saving her husband.
I had an interesting thought regarding the difference between them.
On got a mussar shmooze from his wife. She knocked him down saying - "What's this to do with you? You're loser & will remain that way, so why get involved?"
Korach's wife put him on a pedestal. "You were disgraced by Moshe! You deserve greatness & leadership! How do you let Moshe put you down?"
What led these women to take such different approaches?
Perhaps the cause of these totally opposing 'ezer k'negdos' were the husbands themselves. How could On take such a bashing from his wife & be ok with it? How did SHE dare to speak that way, & even hope to be listened to?
The answer is that On probably honored his wife as chazal say "m'chabdah yoser migufo". She knew her honest opinion matters. She received enough respect & recognition from him, for her to be confident & able to open her mouth & put On in his place when that was needed. She did so, & On respected her words which saved him from the ill fated r'difas kavod of the others.
Korach's wife on the other hand, knew her place in HIS home. It's hard to believe that Korach, the quintessential "Taker", gave more honor to his wife than he took for himself. She knew what her husband likes hear & her opinion otherwise would not be regarded respectfully at all. She did not have confidence & ability to 'talk down' to the master of house, & so she fed him the sweet words he liked to hear.
When one does not honor his wife MORE than himself, he has another helper to fan the fires of his own gehinom.
When one respects his wife properly he has a wonderful 'mashgiach t'midi' to keep his yetzer in check, granting him a life of blessing & growth.
