Lux Domini
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, We will not come up:

What does Numbers 16:12 mean?

Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram to bring their complaints; but they would not obey. They bring very false charges against Moses.

Key themes

Justice and mercyPilgrimageRebellionJudgment

Read with

Keep this verse inside Numbers 16:12-13 and alongside a few nearby related passages.

Glossary

Abiram Person

Father of height; i. e., “proud. ” (1. ) One of the sons of Eliab, who joined Korah in the conspiracy against Moses and Aaron.

Dathan Person

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 ( Num. 16:1 ; 26:9 ; Deut. 11:6 ; Ps. 106:17 ).

Eliab Tribe

To whom God is father. (1. ) A Reubenite, son of Pallu ( Num. 16:1 , 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6 ). (2. ) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness ( Num. 1:9 ; 2:7 ).