Numbers 16:12
New International Version
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab. But they said, “We will not come!

New Living Translation
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they replied, “We refuse to come before you!

English Standard Version
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, and they said, “We will not come up.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!

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

New King James Version
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up!

New American Standard Bible
Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.

NASB 1995
Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.

NASB 1977
Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Moses sent a summons to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come up.

Amplified Bible
Then Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said [defiantly], “We will not come up.

Christian Standard Bible
Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come!

American Standard Version
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, We will not come up:

Contemporary English Version
Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they sent back this message: "We won't come!

English Revised Version
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: and they said, We will not come up:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab. But they said, "We won't come!

Good News Translation
Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, but they said, "We will not come!

International Standard Version
So Moses sent for Eliab's sons Dathan and Abiram, but they responded, "We're not coming.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, ?We will not come!

NET Bible
Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up.

New Heart English Bible
Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, "We won't come up:

Webster's Bible Translation
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: who said, We will not come up:

World English Bible
Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, “We won’t come up!
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Moses sends to call for Dathan and for Abiram, sons of Eliab, and they say, “We do not come up!

Young's Literal Translation
And Moses sendeth to call for Dathan and for Abiram sons of Eliab, and they say, 'We do not come up;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Moses will send to call for Dathan and for Abiram, sons of Eliab and they will say, We will not come up.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiron the sons of Eliab. But they answered: We will not come.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Moses sent to call for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, who responded: “We will not come.

New American Bible
Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, but they answered, “We will not go.

New Revised Standard Version
Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab; but they said, “We will not come!
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; but they said, We will not come up;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Moshe sent to call Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and they said: “We are not going up.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said: 'We will not come up;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiron sons of Eliab; and they said, We will not go up.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Korah's Rebellion
11Therefore, it is you and all your followers who have conspired against the LORD! As for Aaron, who is he that you should grumble against him?” 12Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come! 13Is it not enough that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey to kill us in the wilderness? Must you also appoint yourself as ruler over us?…

Cross References
Exodus 2:14
But the man replied, “Who made you ruler and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid and thought, “This thing I have done has surely become known.”

Exodus 5:21
“May the LORD look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!”

Exodus 16:2-3
And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. / “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

Exodus 17:2-3
So the people contended with Moses, “Give us water to drink.” “Why do you contend with me?” Moses replied. “Why do you test the LORD?” / But the people thirsted for water there, and they grumbled against Moses: “Why have you brought us out of Egypt—to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?”

Numbers 12:2
“Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this.

Numbers 14:2-4
All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt, or if only we had died in this wilderness! / Why is the LORD bringing us into this land to fall by the sword? Our wives and children will become plunder. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?” / So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

Numbers 20:3-5
The people quarreled with Moses and said, “If only we had perished with our brothers before the LORD! / Why have you brought the LORD’s assembly into this wilderness for us and our livestock to die here? / Why have you led us up out of Egypt to bring us to this wretched place? It is not a place of grain, figs, vines, or pomegranates—and there is no water to drink!”

Deuteronomy 1:26-27
But you were unwilling to go up; you rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. / You grumbled in your tents and said, “Because the LORD hates us, He has brought us out of the land of Egypt to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites to be annihilated.

Deuteronomy 9:24
You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.

1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

1 Samuel 10:27
But some worthless men said, “How can this man save us?” So they despised him and brought him no gifts; but Saul remained silent about it.

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

1 Kings 12:16
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home,

Psalm 106:16-18
In the camp they envied Moses, as well as Aaron, the holy one of the LORD. / The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram. / Then fire blazed through their company; flames consumed the wicked.

Isaiah 30:9
These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to obey the LORD’s instruction.


Treasury of Scripture

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

Proverbs 29:9
If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

Isaiah 3:5
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.

1 Peter 2:13,14
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; …

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Abiram Abi'ram Dathan Eliab Eli'ab Summoned Summons Won't
Numbers 16
1. The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram
23. Moses separates the people from the rebels' tents
31. The earth swallows up Korah, and a fire consumes others
36. The censers are reserved to holy use
41. 14,700 are slain by a plague, for murmuring against Moses and Aaron
46. Aaron by incense stays the plague














Then Moses summoned Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab
Moses, as the leader appointed by God, exercises his authority by summoning Dathan and Abiram. These men are identified as the sons of Eliab, who belonged to the tribe of Reuben. The tribe of Reuben, being the firstborn of Jacob, might have felt entitled to leadership, which could contribute to their rebellious attitude. This context is crucial as it highlights the ongoing tension and challenges to Moses' leadership. The summoning indicates a formal call to address grievances, reflecting the judicial and leadership practices of ancient Israel.

but they said, “We will not come!”
Dathan and Abiram's refusal to come is a direct act of rebellion against Moses' authority. This defiance is significant as it not only challenges Moses but also the divine order established by God. Their response reflects a deeper issue of discontent and rebellion among the Israelites during their wilderness journey. This act of insubordination is reminiscent of other biblical instances where God's chosen leaders faced opposition, such as the rebellion against King David by Absalom. The refusal to heed Moses' summons can be seen as a type of rejection of Christ, who is the ultimate leader and mediator between God and humanity. This phrase underscores the theme of rebellion and the consequences of rejecting divinely appointed authority.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Moses
The leader of the Israelites, chosen by God to lead His people out of Egypt and through the wilderness. Moses is a central figure in this account, representing God's authority.

2. Dathan and Abiram
Sons of Eliab, members of the tribe of Reuben. They are part of the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, challenging their leadership and authority.

3. The Rebellion
This event is part of a larger rebellion led by Korah, Dathan, and Abiram against Moses and Aaron, questioning their God-given leadership roles.

4. The Wilderness
The setting of this event, where the Israelites are journeying after their exodus from Egypt, often a place of testing and rebellion.

5. Eliab
The father of Dathan and Abiram, from the tribe of Reuben, which was one of the tribes of Israel.
Teaching Points
Respect for God-Ordained Authority
God establishes leaders for His purposes. Disrespecting or rebelling against them is akin to rebelling against God Himself.

The Consequences of Rebellion
Rebellion against God's appointed leaders leads to dire consequences, as seen in the fate of Dathan and Abiram.

The Importance of Humility
Humility is essential in accepting God's plans and the leaders He appoints, even when we do not fully understand His ways.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Trusting in God's sovereignty means accepting His choices for leadership and guidance, knowing He works all things for good.

Community and Accountability
The rebellion highlights the need for community accountability and the dangers of allowing dissent to fester unchecked.(12) And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram . . . --If, as seems probable from Numbers 16:3, Dathan and Abiram had joined Korah and his company in the address to Moses which is contained in Numbers 16:3, they must have subsequently withdrawn themselves and retired to their own tents, from which they refused to go up at the bidding of Moses.

Verse 12. - And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram. The part really taken by these men in the agitation is very obscure. They were not of the two hundred and fifty, nor were they with them when they gathered together against Moses and Aaron - perhaps because they took no interest in ecclesiastical matters, and only resented the secular domination of Moses. Neither can we tell why Moses sent for them at this juncture, unless he suspected them of being in league with Korah (see below on verse 24). We will not come up, i.e., to the tabernacle, as being spiritually the culminating point of the camp.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Moses
מֹשֶׁ֔ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

summoned
וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

Dathan
לְדָתָ֥ן (lə·ḏā·ṯān)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1885: Dathan -- a Reubenite

and Abiram,
וְלַאֲבִירָ֖ם (wə·la·’ă·ḇî·rām)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 48: Abiram -- 'exalted father', an Israelite name

the sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Eliab,
אֱלִיאָ֑ב (’ĕ·lî·’āḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 446: Eliab -- 'God is father', the name of several Israelites

but they said,
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“We will not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

come!
נַעֲלֶֽה׃ (na·‘ă·leh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively


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OT Law: Numbers 16:12 Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram (Nu Num.)
Numbers 16:11
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