Dathan was an Israelite man who rebelled against Moses and Aaron during the Exodus journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. He first appears by name in Exodus 6:21, where he is listed as a son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi. This makes Dathan a Levite, from the priestly tribe of Levi. However, Dathan joined forces with some Reubenites led by Korah in rebelling against Moses’ leadership.
The story of Dathan’s rebellion is told in Numbers 16. Korah gathered 250 leaders from the Israelite community and confronted Moses and Aaron. Korah argued that the entire congregation of Israel was holy, not just Moses and Aaron. So why did Moses and Aaron exalt themselves above the assembly? (Numbers 16:3). Dathan and Abiram (another Reubenite) joined forces with Korah in accusing Moses of failing to bring the people into the Promised Land (Numbers 16:12-14).
Moses proposed a test to determine if the Lord had truly sent him to lead Israel. Korah and the 250 leaders were to present incense offerings at the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron was to do the same. Moses warned that if the Lord had not appointed these men, they would be consumed (Numbers 16:16-17). The next day, Korah and his cohort presented themselves and were consumed by fire from the Lord. The 250 leaders were burned up, but nothing happened to Aaron (Numbers 16:35).
Next, Moses went to confront Dathan and Abiram near their tents. He warned the people to move away from Dathan and Abiram’s tents so they would not be destroyed with them. Dathan and Abiram refused to go meet with Moses, accusing him of failing to lead them to the Promised Land. At Moses’ direction, the people moved away from the tents. As soon as they did, the ground opened up and swallowed Dathan, Abiram, their households and possessions into the earth. The men descended alive into Sheol and perished (Numbers 16:31-33).
So in summary, Dathan was a Levite man who joined with the Reubenites in rebelling against Moses’ leadership. He argued that Moses had exalted himself and failed to bring Israel into the Promised Land. As judgment for his rebellion, Dathan was swallowed up by the earth along with the other leaders of the insurrection. Their rebellion was brought to a swift and severe end by God to establish His chosen leadership through Moses and Aaron.
Key Points on Dathan in the Bible
- Dathan was a Levite, from the priestly tribe of Levi
- He joined with Reubenites Korah and Abiram in rebelling against Moses
- They accused Moses of exalting himself and failing to lead them into the Promised Land
- Moses proposed a test to establish God’s choice of leadership
- Korah and 250 leaders were consumed by fire when they presented incense
- The ground opened up and swallowed Dathan, Abiram and their households
- God severely judged the rebels to establish His leadership through Moses
Dathan’s Lineage and Tribe
The Bible first mentions Dathan in the genealogy of Levi’s descendants in Exodus 6:21, where he is called “the son of Eliab son of Pallu son of Reuben.” But in the rebellion story, Numbers 16:1 calls him “the son of Eliab.” The Eliab of Exodus 6:21 was a Reubenite, while the Eliab of Numbers 16 was apparently a Levite. Scholars are divided about how to reconcile this.
One explanation posits that the original Eliab was a Reubenite, but his son Dathan was adopted by or married into the Levite family of Izharites (Numbers 16:1). Another view holds that the mention of Reuben in Exodus 6:21 could be a scribal error. Overall, Numbers 16 clearly presents Dathan as a Levite rebelling against Moses along with Reubenites like Korah and Abiram.
Dathan’s Accusations Against Moses
Dathan and Abiram sent a message to Moses, accusing him of exalting himself as ruler and failing to fulfill God’s promise:
Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you must also make yourself a prince over us? Moreover, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up! (Numbers 16:13-14)
They charged Moses with appointing himself as prince over the people without God’s authorization. They also blamed him for not leading them into the lush and fertile Promised Land as the Lord had pledged.
Moses’ Response to Dathan and Abiram
Moses was angry about the rebellion and accusations from Dathan, Abiram and Korah (Numbers 16:15). He first proposed to Korah that he and his men present incense before God at the Tent of Meeting, and they would see whom God accepted. But then he dealt specifically with Dathan and Abiram:
Moses said to Korah, “You and all your company be present before the Lord, you and they, and Aaron, tomorrow. And let every one of you take his censer and put incense in it, and every one of you bring before the Lord his censer, 250 censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.” So every man took his censer and put fire in them and laid incense on them and stood at the entrance of the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. Then Korah assembled all the congregation against them at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation.
And the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” And they fell on their faces and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the congregation, saying, Get away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.”
Then Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, “Depart, please, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be swept away with all their sins.” So they got away from the dwelling of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents, together with their wives, their sons, and their little ones. And Moses said, “Hereby you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these works, and that it has not been of my own accord. If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.”
And as soon as he had finished speaking all these words, the ground under them split apart. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and all their goods. So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into Sheol, and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly. (Numbers 16:16-33, ESV)
Moses differentiated between how he would deal with Korah versus Dathan and Abiram. While Korah and his men were consumed by fire, Dathan and Abiram were judged by being swallowed up by the earth along with their families and possessions. Moses offered this as proof that they had rebelled against God’s chosen leader.
Why Dathan Was Judged So Harshly
Dathan and the other leaders experienced severe judgment for their rebellion. But why was their punishment so drastic? A few key reasons help explain this:
- They rebelled directly against God’s chosen leader, Moses
- Questioning Moses’ authority undermined all of Israel’s leadership and order
- As Levites, Dathan and company should have submitted to priestly authority
- Their accusations against Moses dishonored God’s promise and provision
- The rebels rejected multiple warnings from Moses to repent
This swift judgment put an decisive end to the unrest so Israel’s journey could continue. It showed that defiance of those God appoints will be met with certain consequences.
Lessons We Learn from Dathan
Though a sobering account, the story of Dathan’s rebellion provides some valuable lessons for us today:
- God appoints leaders and they should be respected
- Questioning authority easily descends into rebellion
- Hardship and delayed hope do not nullify God’s promises
- Complaining often stems from unbelief and ingratitude
- Stay far from those who spread rebellion and discontentment
- All who persist in proud defiance of God’s leaders will face judgment
The story reminds us that God is serious about establishing His good authority. Therefore we must guard our hearts against rebellion and submit to God’s leading in our lives.
Interesting Facts About Dathan
- His name means “fountain” in Hebrew
- Dathan was likely the older brother of Abiram
- God’s judgment spared Dathan’s young children
- Korah may have influenced Dathan since Korah was a cousin
- Dathan and Abiram were brave enough to stand up to Moses
- Their rebellion took place after the Exodus but before entering Canaan
- The earth swallowing people reoccurred later with enemies of God’s people
- Dathan’s pride kept him from repenting when confronted
- His defiance contrasts with Moses’ humility as a leader
Dathan and Other Bible Characters
Dathan joins other infamous rebels and adversaries of God’s people in the biblical narrative. His rebellion has connections and contrasts with the following biblical figures:
- Korah – Led rebellion with Dathan as an ally
- Aaron – Target of criticism from Dathan against priesthood
- Abiram – Swallowed in ground with Dathan
- Absalom – Led rebellion against his father King David
- Jeroboam – Rebelled against Solomon’s son Rehoboam
- Ahab & Jezebel – Evil, rebellious king and queen of Israel
- Judas – Betrayed Jesus in ultimate rebellion against God’s Messiah
Dathan rejected God’s delegated authority, deceived by pride like Satan and share in his eventual judgment. But Moses prefigures Christ, the divinely appointed Prophet and Leader who humbly obeyed God and offered Himself to save sinners.
Conclusion
In summary, Dathan was an Israelite Levite who rebelled against Moses alongside the Reubenites Korah and Abiram. They accused Moses of exalting himself over the people and failing to lead them into the Promised Land. As judgment for his defiance of God’s appointed leader, Dathan was swallowed up into the earth along with his household. This dramatic event quashed the developing insurrection and protected Moses’ authority during a crucial time for Israel. Dathan’s story provides a sober warning about resisting those God places in leadership over us. It reminds us to examine our hearts, lest the poison of pride and entitlement lead us into defiant rebellion against the Lord’s anointed authorities.