Chiastic Structure of Datan and Aviram's Argument

Numbers 16:12-6:14

Moses then sent word to summon Dathan and Aviram, the sons of Eliav. They said:

A. We won't go up!
      
        B. Isn't it enough that you brought us out [of Egypt], a land flowing with milk and honey - just to kill us in the desert! 
                
                  C. But you have made yourself an authority over us - yes, made yourself an authority.
     
         B. You didn't bring us to a land flowing with milk and honey, or give us inheritance of fields and vineyards. Do you think that you can pull something over our eyes? 

A. We won't go up!


How do we explain this structure? It seems to me there is an obvious element of chiasm here, from the very fact that it begins and ends with "we won't go up", and has a parallel "land of milk and honey" as well. But usually the middle C is to emphasize or inform in a way that we would not have known before. Isn't their claim of authority obvious? Didn't we know that before?

Maybe we have to dig deeper to find the true chiastic structure. Maybe there is a hidden, subconscious message that Datan and Aviram may not have even known about their complaint, but is deeply embedded in it.

On the outside, externally, it looks like Datan and Aviram are upset because Moshe has the gal to lead them, and yet has led them badly. Is this the same claim as Korach? Korach had said, "כִּי כָל הָעֵדָה כֻּלָּם קְדשִׁים וּבְתוֹכָם יְהֹוָה וּמַדּוּעַ תִּתְנַשְּׂאוּ עַל קְהַל ה," that everyone is holy, and therefore there should be no authority structure (alternatively: anyone should have the chance to lead the people). And Datan and Aviram seem very similar to that - why do you lift yourself up? Let's look closer, though.

A. We won't go up!
      
        B. You took us from Egypt with milk and honey to die in desert
                
                  C. But you have made yourself an authority 
                                 
                                      D. On us 
                
                  C. Yes, made yourself an authority.
     
         B. You didn't bring us to a land flowing with milk and honey, or give us nice land

A. We won't go up!

The main difference between Korach's claim and Datan and Aviram's claim is, "עָלֵינוּ." Korach had said that there is no reason Moshe should lord himself "עַל קְהַל ה." But that is not what Datan  and Aviram say. They say, "כִּי-תִשְׂתָּרֵר עָלֵינוּ, גַּם-הִשְׂתָּרֵר". The Torah wants to show that, deep down, their problem of Moshe's authority was not like Korach's. Not the noble intentions of Korach that you have too much power over the people, Datan and Aviram were upset that you have too much power over us, Datan and Aviram. We couldn't care less about the rest of Israel - but us, we don't want you to be able to command us in any way. We want to be able to do what we want without your authority.

In doing this exercise, I thought of an "out-there" interpretation that might work.

Perhaps the claim was that, by what right can you lead us - if your leading has gotten us into such trouble that we are cursed to die here? This is obviously your fault! We would never be in this mess if it weren't for you.

Blaming Moshe for their sins! But the Torah hides in their speech what they really knew - a Freudian slip in their mouths. They knew they were themselves at fault, and are lashing out at Moshe because it's easier than blaming themselves. So even though it sounds like, how could you cause us to die here in the desert and continue to be our leader, they were really, deep down, acknowledging that it was not on Moshe, but, "on us." It's our fault. It was a subconscious confession, realization, which the Torah hides in a chiastic structure.