Reubenite who rebelled against Moses and Aaron
Dathan
Named in 8 verses across 3 books, first in Numbers 16:1.
דָּתָןDathan
The name means “laws or rites.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869
- Father
- Eliab
- People
- Tribe of Reuben
About Dathan Written by AI
Dathan, along with his brother Abiram, was a descendant of Reuben who joined Korah, a Levite, in rebelling against the authority of Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16:1). When Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, they refused to come, accusing Moses of failing to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey (Numbers 16:12 to 14). As the rebellion escalated, Moses warned the congregation to move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Numbers 16:24 to 27). God then caused the earth to open up and swallow Dathan, Abiram, and their households, along with Korah and his followers (Numbers 16:31 to 35; Psalm Numbers 106:17). The sons of Dathan and Abiram, however, did not die in this judgment (Numbers 26:9 to 11). The rebellion of Dathan and Abiram is remembered as a warning against defying God's appointed leaders (Deuteronomy 11:6).
Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.
Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897
Welled; belonging to a fountain, a son of Eliab, a Reubenite, who joined Korah (q.v.) in his conspiracy, and with his accomplices was swallowed up by an earthquake (Num. 16:1; 26:9; Deut. 11:6; Ps. 106:17).
M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.
Where the Bible names him
- Numbers 16:1
Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted
- Numbers 16:12
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!
- Numbers 16:24
“Tell the congregation to move away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
- Numbers 16:25
So Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him.
- Numbers 16:27
So they moved away from the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Meanwhile, Dathan and Abiram had come out and stood at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children and infants.
- Numbers 26:9
and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
- Deuteronomy 11:6
and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.
- Psalm 106:17
The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.
From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.