Dathan
maleExodusMeaning: “Fountain; law”
A Reubenite who joined Korah’s rebellion against Moses and was swallowed alive by the earth.
Biography
Dathan, a son of Eliab of the tribe of Reuben, joined with his brother Abiram and the Levite Korah in rebelling against Moses' authority (Numbers 16:1). When Moses summoned them, they defiantly refused to come up, accusing Moses of failing to bring them into a land flowing with milk and honey and of seeking to "make thyself altogether a prince over us" (Numbers 16:12–14). For their rebellion, the earth opened and swallowed Dathan and Abiram, their households, and all that belonged to them (Numbers 16:31–33). Their judgment is recalled as a sober warning in Deuteronomy 11:6 and Psalm 106:17.
Life Timeline
Swallowed by the earth for rebelling with Korah
On the Bible timeline
Dathan belongs to the The Exodus & Wilderness era (c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)).
- c. 1446 BC (early) / 1260 BC (late)The Exodus from Egypt
- c. 1446 BCThe Law Given at Sinai
- c. 1406 BCThe Conquest of Canaan
Family Tree
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Themes & lessons from Dathan
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Dathan appears.
People they appear with
Things in their story
Scripture Appearances
8 verses in 3 booksNumbers6 verses
Numbers 16:1
Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:
Numbers 16:12
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:
Numbers 16:24
Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
Numbers 16:25
And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.
Numbers 16:27
So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.
Numbers 26:9
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
Deuteronomy1 verse
Deuteronomy 11:6
And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession, in the midst of all Israel: substance: or, living substance which followed them was: Heb. was at their feet
Psalms1 verse
Psalms 106:17
The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, and covered the company of Abiram.
Frequently asked about Dathan
Who was Dathan in the Bible?
A Reubenite who joined Korah’s rebellion against Moses and was swallowed alive by the earth.
What does the name Dathan mean?
The name Dathan means “Fountain; law”.
Where does Dathan appear in the Bible?
Dathan is mentioned 8 times across 3 books: Numbers, Deuteronomy, Psalms.
What can we learn from Dathan?
The story of Dathan touches on themes of dathan, levites, the, priests, abiram — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Dathan's life.
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