Dathan is a biblical figure prominently featured in the Old Testament, specifically within the narrative of the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and their subsequent wanderings in the wilderness. He is primarily known for his role in the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, which is recounted in the Book of Numbers.

Genealogy and Background

Dathan was a member of the tribe of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob. He was the son of Eliab, as noted in Numbers 16:1: "Now Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, along with some Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—conducted a rebellion against Moses." This association with the tribe of Reuben is significant, as Reuben was traditionally seen as having a diminished status due to the transgressions of its progenitor, Reuben, against his father Jacob (Genesis 49:3-4).

The Rebellion Against Moses

Dathan is most infamously known for his participation in the Korahite rebellion, a significant event during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness. Alongside Korah, a Levite, and Abiram, his brother, Dathan challenged the leadership of Moses and Aaron. The rebels accused Moses and Aaron of exalting themselves above the assembly of the Lord, as recorded in Numbers 16:3: "They came together against Moses and Aaron and told them, 'You have taken too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?'"

Divine Judgment

The rebellion led by Dathan, Abiram, and Korah was met with severe divine judgment. Moses, under God's direction, proposed a test to demonstrate whom the Lord had chosen as holy. The earth miraculously opened up and swallowed Dathan, Abiram, their families, and all their possessions, as described in Numbers 16:31-33: "As soon as Moses had finished saying all this, the ground beneath them split open, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households—all Korah’s men and all their possessions. They went down alive into Sheol with all they owned. The earth closed over them, and they vanished from the assembly."

Legacy and Theological Significance

Dathan's rebellion is often cited as a cautionary tale about the dangers of pride, disobedience, and challenging divinely appointed leadership. His account serves as a reminder of the importance of humility and submission to God's will. The New Testament also references the rebellion as a warning against false teachers and divisive individuals within the church, as seen in Jude 1:11: "Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion."

Dathan's actions and their consequences underscore the seriousness with which God views rebellion and the importance of maintaining faithfulness and obedience to His commands. His account is a sobering reminder of the need for reverence and respect for God's chosen leaders and the divine order established by Him.Dathan

laws or rites

Dathan

(belonging to a fountain) a Reubenite chieftain, son of Eliab, who joined the conspiracy of Korah the Levite. (Numbers 16:1; 26:9; 11:6; Psalms 106:17) (B.C. 1490-1452).

Dathan

One of the rebels, in company with Korah, against the authority of Moses, and Aaron, Numbers 16:1-50.

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 (Numbers 16:1; 26:9; Deuteronomy 11:6; Psalm 106:17). DATHAN

da'-than (dathan, meaning and derivation unknown, though the name is found in Assyrian, in the records of Shalmaneser II): The son of Eliab the son of Pallu the son of Reuben (Numbers 26:5 Deuteronomy 11:6 Psalm 106:17). He and his brother Abiram, with others, followed Korah the Levite in disputing the authority of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness (Numbers 16-17; Numbers 26 Deuteronomy 11:6 Psalm 106:17). Other followers of Korah perished by fire before the tent of meeting, but Dathan and Abiram were swallowed up by the earth, with their families and their goods, at their tents. See KORAH.

Willis J. Beecher

1885. Dathan -- a Reubenite
... 1884, 1885. Dathan. 1886 . a Reubenite. Transliteration: Dathan Phonetic
Spelling: (daw-thawn') Short Definition: Dathan. Word Origin ...
/hebrew/1885.htm - 5k

Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
... SERMON XIII. KORAH, DATHAN, AND ABIRAM. ... Now this Korah, Dathan, and Abiram rebel.
They rebel against Moses about a question of the priesthood. ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon xiii korah dathan and.htm

There Followed the Revolt of Those, Who, with Dathan and Abiron as ...
... The Sacred History Of Sulpitius Severus. Book I. Chapter XXI. There followed
the revolt of those, who, with Dathan and Abiron as leaders? ...
/.../life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter xxi there followed the.htm

How those that Stirred up this Sedition were Destroyed, According ...
... And now Moses sent messengers for Abiram and Dathan, and ordered them to come to
the assembly, and wait there for the holy offices that were to be performed. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how those that.htm

On Heresies.
... not escape punishment. For Dathan and Abiram, [3157] who set up in opposition
to Moses, were swallowed up into the earth. But Corah ...
/.../various/constitutions of the holy apostles/sec i on heresies.htm

Jesus' Last Journey to Jerusalem.
... As he stood alone under the trees, perplexed and troubled, Dathan appeared in the
distance, and, spying Judas, said to himself, "The occasion is favorable. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter ii jesus last journey.htm

Numbers
... The story of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram is peculiarly
instructive (xvi.). It will be noticed that Dathan and Abiram ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/numbers.htm

The Last Supper.
... for deaf and blind with greed, To the council Judas hastes away, And there
repeats in evil trade, The bargain once with Dathan made. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter iii the last supper.htm

Jesus Drives Out the Money-Changers.
... How canst thou forbid that which the council has allowed?" And then the traders,
led by one Dathan, chimed in, in eager chorus: "Must there then be no more ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter i jesus drives out.htm

Betrayed by a Kiss.
... Judas was there with Dathan and the other traders, as well as the four
priests sent by Caiaphas to see that all things went well. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/stead/king of the jews/chapter iv betrayed by a.htm

Matt. xii. 9, 10
... arise; thus was nature forgotten; thus the earth defiled; thus afterwards did it
open its mouth, to receive yet living, and utterly destroy, Dathan, and Korah ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily xl matt xii 9.htm

Dathan (8 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. DATHAN. da'-than ... their tents. See KORAH. Willis
J. Beecher. Multi-Version Concordance Dathan (8 Occurrences). ...
/d/dathan.htm - 10k

Abiram (9 Occurrences)
... is an exalted one"): (1) The son of Eliab the son of Pallu the son of Reuben (Numbers
26:5 Deuteronomy 11:6). In company with his brother Dathan and Korah the ...
/a/abiram.htm - 12k

Abi'ram (8 Occurrences)
... Numbers 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of ...
/a/abi'ram.htm - 8k

Eliab (20 Occurrences)
... (2) A Reubenite, father of Dathan and Abiram (Numbers ... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS
YLT NAS NIV). Numbers 26:9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. ...
/e/eliab.htm - 15k

Nemuel (3 Occurrences)
... (2.) A Reubenite, a son of Eliab, and brother of Dathan and Abiram (Numbers 26:9).
Int. ... Numbers 26:9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. ...
/n/nemuel.htm - 8k

Eli'ab (19 Occurrences)
... Numbers 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with
Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of ...
/e/eli'ab.htm - 11k

Dwellings (54 Occurrences)
... Numbers 16:24 Speak unto the congregation, saying: Get you up from about the
dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.' (See NAS). Numbers ...
/d/dwellings.htm - 25k

Habitation (90 Occurrences)
... DBY). Numbers 16:24 Speak unto the assembly, saying, Get you up from about
the habitation of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. (DBY). Numbers ...
/h/habitation.htm - 36k

Korah (51 Occurrences)
... the Israelites were encamped at Kadesh for the first time, which came to a head
in a rebellion against Moses and Aaron, headed by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. ...
/k/korah.htm - 44k

Koran (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Koran (1 Occurrence). Numbers 16:27 And they got up
from the habitation of Koran, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side. ...
/k/koran.htm - 6k

Who was Dathan in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Korah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were the sons of Korah in the Old Testament? | GotQuestions.org

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