Deuteronomy 11:6

6 and what he did to Dathan and to Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth wide and swallowed them, their households and their tents, and all [of] the living creatures that [were] in their possession [and that were] {following along with them} in the midst of all [of] Israel.

Deuteronomy 11:6 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 11:6

And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the
son of Reuben
When they with Korah and his company quarrelled with Moses and Aaron about the priesthood, ( Numbers 16:1 ) , how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up; the history of which see in ( Numbers 16:30-33 )

and their households and their tents;
not their houses and their tents, as the Septuagint and some other versions; for though the word signifies houses, and is often used for them, yet here it must signify families, their wives, and children; since they had no houses, but dwelt in tents, all which were swallowed up with them:

and all the substance that was in their possession;
gold, silver, cattle, household goods, and whatever they were possessed of:

or was at their feet
F3; or which followed them, their living creatures; or was for them, as Aben Ezra interprets it; for, their use, service, and necessity: and this was done

in the midst of all Israel;
openly and publicly, they beholding it, as follows; and therefore should be rendered, "before all Israel" F4; and, besides, the tents of Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites, were not in the midst of Israel.


FOOTNOTES:

F3 (Mhylgrb rva) "quae erat in pedibus eorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus.
F4 (brqb) "coram omni Israele", Noldius, p. 212. No. 975.

Deuteronomy 11:6 In-Context

4 and what he did to the army of Egypt and to their horses and to their chariots, [and] how he made the water of the {Red Sea} flow over them, {when they pursued after them}, and so Yahweh has destroyed them, {as is the case today},
5 and what he did to you in the desert until you came up to this place,
6 and what he did to Dathan and to Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth wide and swallowed them, their households and their tents, and all [of] the living creatures that [were] in their possession [and that were] {following along with them} in the midst of all [of] Israel.
7 The fact of the matter is, {your own eyes have seen} all [of] the great deeds of Yahweh that he did.
8 "And you must keep all [of] the commandments that I [am] commanding you {today}, so that you may have strength and [you may] go and [you may] take possession of that land {to which you are crossing} to take possession of it,

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Hebrew "creature"
  • [b]. Literally "in their feet" = "living things traveling along with them"
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