Dathan

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Dathan is a character in the Old Testament of the Bible. He was a Reubenite and was killed along with his brother Abiram and with Korah. The Bible states in the book of Numbers that "the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses..." This refers to Dathan and his conspirators Korah and Abiram. There is also an account that they were killed by heavenly fire. This is probably a reference to Korah's group (but not Korah).

[edit] Movie depiction

Dathan's most notable appearance in modern popular culture is through his appearance in Cecil B. DeMille's epic movie The Ten Commandments (1956 movie) where he is played by Edward G. Robinson. In the film, he is an Israelite who works as an informant for the Egyptians. After the Exodus, he leads the Israelites in their worship of the Golden Calf, and is one of those swallowed up in the crevasse that opens up when Moses (Charlton Heston) smashes the tablets of the Ten Commandments in a rage, after discovering the Israelites' idolatry.