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12 [1] AND MOSES SENT TO CALL DATHAN AND ABIRAM. Now Dathan and Abiram were the instigators of this controversy as much as Korach was, as Scripture states, *Now Korach took … and Dathan and Abiram … and they rose up in the face of Moses with certain of the children of Israel* etc., meaning that they were the ones who roused them together against Moses and Aaron. Then Moses spoke [once] *to Korach and to all his company*, and furthermore said to him: *thou and all thy company*, for it was to him [Korach] that he spoke first, since he was the leader amongst them. Now amongst those *that* were *gathered together* were also the followers of Dathan and Abiram; therefore Moses wanted to speak to them also now, and to warn them about themselves and all those *who* were *gathered together* [with them], who were their company, and to appease them *with good words, even comforting words* to Israel, since his [earlier] words to Korach were a conciliation only to the Levites.
The meaning of the expression *and Moses sent* is that Dathan and Abiram had gone away from his presence whilst he was speaking to Korach [as stated in Verses 5-7], and afterwards it again says, *And Moses said unto Korach* [Verse 8], who was still standing before him there, or maybe since Korach was a Levite he stayed in the camp of the Levites near the tent of Moses. All this happened on the first day [of the rebellion], just as Moses said, *thou and they, and Aaron tomorrow*, — this being the “morning” he mentioned to them: *In the ‘morning’ the Eternal will make it known who are His*.
It is possible that Dathan and Abiram, as *princes of the congregation*, were more distinguished than *On the son of Peleth*, and if they would have been won over to Moses, On would have followed their counsel; therefore Moses did not send for him. Thus On did not come, and was not present together with them [Dathan and Abiram], nor was he with Korach’s company; since he left him when Dathan and Abiram went away, while Moses was debating with Korach, and he never returned [to Korach’s company], because he changed his mind [after his original participation] on the advice of his wife who saved him, according to the words of our Rabbis. For Scripture does not mention him [On] as one who was swallowed up [in the earth] together with Dathan and Abiram, nor was he *among the company of those that gathered together against the Eternal* who offered the incense, since there were *two hundred and fifty men* besides the four mentioned at first.
Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI
License: CC-BY