Intertextuality Pair

Psalm 106:17 → Deuteronomy 11:6

Allusion

Later text

Psalm 106:17BSB

The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it covered the assembly of Abiram.

Earlier text

Deuteronomy 11:6BSB

and what He did in the midst of all the Israelites to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab the Reubenite, when the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their households, their tents, and every living thing that belonged to them.

Significance

Moses recalls the dramatic judgment when "the earth opened its mouth and swallowed" (פָּצְתָה הָאָרֶץ אֶת פִּיהָ וַתִּבְלָעֵם, patzeta ha'aretz et piha vativla'em) Dathan and Abiram, and Psalm 106:17 echoes this vivid language: "the earth opened up and swallowed (תִּפְתַּח אֶרֶץ וַתִּבְלַע, tiftach 'eretz vativla') Dathan." Both texts use the same verbs פתח ("open") and בלע ("swallow") to recall this unique act of divine judgment. Notably, Moses mentions only Dathan and Abiram (omitting Korah), while the psalm names Dathan and covers Abiram's company, suggesting both draw on the same tradition that distinguished the earth-swallowing from the fire-consuming aspects of the rebellion narrative in Numbers 16.

Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Allusion
Connection Method(s)
Redemptive-Historical Progression — the judgment Moses invokes as motivation for obedience (Deut 11:6, "the earth opened its mouth and swallowed") is carried forward into Israel's penitential liturgy (Ps 106:17), where the recited history of rebellion and judgment presses each later generation toward the Mediator who alone can stand in the breach for a rebellious people (cf. Ps 106:23).

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