The portion of land that fell to Dan being found too small, a party of them went far north unto Leshem or Laish, which they took, and destroyed; they built a city there and called it after their father Dan. Jos 19:47. This is often named as the north border of Palestine; 'from Dan to Beersheba' implying the whole land. It was here that open idolatry was early set up. The city is identified with a few ruins at Tell el Kady, 33 15' N, 35 39' E. The place is visited because one of the sources of the Jordan issues from a spring near by.

In Eze 27:19 occurs in the A.V. 'Dan also and Javan.' This is now judged to be better translated 'Vedan and Javan,' though it is not known what place is alluded to by the name 'Vedan.'