Why did Moshe call Dasan and Aviram?
Rashi: He called them to him in order to appease them. 1
Ramban: He called them to warn them and their cohorts and to appease them. 2
Targum Yonasan and Rashbam: He sent messengers to invite them to a Din Torah.
Why did Moshe make a point of sending a Shali'ach?
Why did Moshe call Dasan and Aviram, but not On ben Peles?
Ramban: He called Dasan and Aviram because, together with Korach, they were the main instigators of the rebellion - princes of the congregation and highly influential - whereas On simply followed them, and Moshe figured that if they would relent, so would he. 1
What are the connotations of "Lo Na'aleh"?
Rashi and R. Bachye (on Pasuk 14): It implies that they will not go up, but that they will go down. Dasan and Aviram predicted (twice [at the beginning of their words and at the end, in Pasuk 14] - R. Bachye) that they would go down to below the ground. 1
Rashbam: They meant that they would not appear 2 before Moshe's Beis-Din - which is the regular term used in connection with going to Beis-Din for a Din-Torah. 3
Oznayim la'Torah: It seems from here that even in the desert it was customary for a leader and a Dayan to sit on a raised locaton. 4
In keeping with the saying 'Al Yiftach Adam Piv le'Satan' (B'rachos, 15a).
Rashbam: As we find in Ki Seitzei Devarim, 25:7 and in Shoftim, 4:5.
See Oznayim la'Torah, who explains the Pasuk in Ki Seitzei (See previous note) in the same way, and who interprets the Pasuk in Bo Sh'mos, 11:8 - in connection with Par'oh - "ve'Yardu Chol Avadecha Eileh Eilai" in similar fashion.
