Numbers 16:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thyself altogether a prince over us?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Dathan and Abiram accuse Moses of bringing them from Egypt only to die in the wilderness.
The Context of Numbers 16:13
Dathan and Abiram offer their own justification for the rebellion, grounded in resentment of the wilderness experience.
What Does Numbers 16:13 Mean?
This retort inverts history. Egypt was not described as 'a land that floweth with milk and honey'—that phrase belongs to Canaan. By reframing Egypt this way, the rebels distort the past to justify their present discontent.
Their accusation that Moses leads them to death rather than life, and the condition that they will follow only if he makes himself a prince, reveals the deeper grievance: they reject the wilderness journey itself and Moses' role in it.
Numbers 16:13 in the Original Language
נָשִׂיא (nasi, 'prince') — a ruler; their demand that Moses become an absolute prince suggests they equate his current authority with insufficient power or legitimacy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Numbers 16:13
What does Numbers 16:13 mean?
Dathan and Abiram accuse Moses of bringing them from Egypt only to die in the wilderness.
What is the context of Numbers 16:13?
Dathan and Abiram offer their own justification for the rebellion, grounded in resentment of the wilderness experience.