Dathan was a Reubenite who, together with his brother Abiram and the Levite Korah, led a rebellion against the leadership of Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. He and the other rebels were swallowed by the earth as God's judgment on their disobedience and revolt.
1Now Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, took action, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben.
2They rose up against Moses, together with two hundred and fifty men of Israel, leaders of the community, appointed members of the assembly, men of reputation.
3They gathered against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD's assembly?"
14Besides, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not come!"
14Besides, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us an inheritance of fields and vineyards. Will you gouge out the eyes of these men? We will not come!"
27So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram had come out and were standing at the entrances of their tents with their wives, their sons, and their little ones.
6and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab son of Reuben, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them, in the midst of all Israel.