DATHAN. – An Israelite of the tribe of Reuben who, in the desert, rebelled against Moses together with his brother Abiron, accusing him of deceiving the people with illusory promises and leading them to ruin. He joined the rather limited, COREA (v.) against the privileges of the family of Aaron. The divine punishment was terrible: D. and Abiron were swallowed up by the earth with their families: Num. 16, 1.12.24-27; cf. 26, 9; Deut. 11, 6; Ps. 105 (cbr. 106), 17; Eccli. 45, 18 sg.
BIBL.: A. Clamer, Les Nombres, in La S. Bible, ed. L. Pirot, II, Paris 1940, pp. 339–45, 412. Francesco Spadafora