Dathan

Dathan was a son of Eliab who was a son of Pallu who was a son of Reuben. He left Egypt with the Israelites. He and Abiram supported Korah against Moses, so the Earth opened up beneath them and they sank and died.

 The Midrash 
According to the Midrash, Dathan and Abiram were always troublemakers. They told Pharaoh that Moses had killed the Egyptian and they tried to convince the Israelites to go back to Egypt before they ended up supporting Korah.

 The Ten Commandments 
Aside from Ramesses II, Dathan is the main villain of The Ten Commandments. In it, he spies for Ramesses, tells the Egyptians that Moses killed an Egyptian slave-master and helps the Egyptians against the Israelites. He also forces a woman named Lilliah to marry him. When Dathan refuses to sacrifice a Passover Lamb, Joshua paints Dathan’s doors with the blood of a lamb anyway so that his children can survive. After they leave Egypt, Dathan tries to get the Israelites to go back, he has Hur murdered and he threatens Aaron into making the Golden Calf. He is struck by lightning and sinks into the Earth. He is played by Edward G. Robinson.

Category:Old Testament people