Reference: Dan (1)
Fausets
("judge".) Jacob's fourth son, Bilhah's (maid of Rachel) first (Ge 30:6), own brother to Naphtali. The female corresponding name is Dinah ("judgment".) Rachel's exclamation originated the name, "God hath judged me," i.e. vindicated my cause by giving me a son. Jacob on his deathbed said, "Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel" (Ge 49:16), i.e., having the full tribal standing as much as Leah's descendants. (See CONCUBINE .) The judgeship of Samson may also be a fulfillment of Jacob's words (Jg 15:20). Hushim (the plural implying a family) or Shuham alone is mentioned as Dan's son (Ge 46:23); but at the Exodus the tribe stood second of Israel in numbers (Nu 1:39), Nu 1:54,700; 64,400 at the close of the wilderness sojourn (Nu 26:43).
It occupied the N. side of the tabernacle, the hindmost in the march (Nu 2:25,31; 10:25), with Asher and Naphtali. Of Dan was Aholiab, associated with Bezaleel, in the construction of the tabernacle (Ex 31:6, etc.). Its allotment was on the coast W. of Judah and Benjamin, S. of Ephraim, N. of Simeon; small, but most choice, extending from Joppa on the N. to Ekron on the S., 14 miles long, part of the shephelah (or vale sweeping along the whole coast, the N. part of which is Sharon). The powerful Philistines near them drove them partly toward the mountainous region bordering on Judah, so as to encroach on Judah's towns, Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh or Beth-shemesh; compare Jos 15:33 with Jos 19:41. The Amorites previously "would not suffer them to come down into the valley" (Jg 1:34).
Hence, Samson resides at Mahaneh-Dan (the camp of Dan) in the hills, between Zorah and Eshtaol, behind Kirjath Jearim, and thence "comes down" to the vineyards of Timnath and the valley of Sorek. There too was his final resting place (5/type/emb'>Jg 13:25; 14:1,5,19; 16:4,31; 18:12). The Phoenician king Esmunazar made this rich plain his prize long after, as an inscription records if rightly deciphered. In Jos 19:47," the coast of Dan went out (too little)' for them," rather "went out from them" (Hebrew meehem), i.e. to a distance from their original allotment, namely, to Leshem or Laish, (which 600 of their warriors armed went forth from Zorah and Eshtaol to seize on, in the far N.) and named Dan after their father, at the W. source of the Jordan River, four miles W. of Paneas.
Thrice stress is laid on the 600 being "appointed with weapons of war" (Jg 18:11,16-17), for the Philistines deprived all Israelites they could of arms, so that we find Samson using a donkey's jawbone as his only weapon (1Sa 13:19-21). Hence, as being so occupied with the Philistine warfare, Danites were not among Barak's and Deborah's helpers against Sisera (Judges 4; Jg 5:17, where allusion occurs to Dan's possession of the only Israelite port, "Why did Dan remain in ships?".) The N. Danites of Laish (named by them Dan) carried with them Micah the Ephraimite's Levitical family priest (Judges 17; 18) and graven image, which they worshipped" until the day of the captivity of the land" (Jg 18:30-31), i.e. until the Israelite reverse whereby the Philistines carried away the ark; what aggravated their idolatry was it was at the very time "that the house of God was in Shiloh," within their reach.
This probably suggested the city Dan to Jeroboam as one of the two seats of the golden calf worship (1Ki 12:29). Dan's genealogy is not given in 1 Chronicles 2-12. Its unsettled state audits connection with the far N. Dan, the headquarters of idolatry, may have caused the loss of the genealogy. Dan is omitted among the sealed in Revelation 7 as having been the first to lapse into idolatry, for which cause Ephraim also is omitted (Judges 17; Ho 4:17) and Joseph substituted. Arethas of the 10th century suggests that Dan's omission is because Antichrist is to be from him, or else to be his tool (compare Ge 49:17; Jer 8:16; Am 8:14), as there was a Judas among the twelve.
Jacob's prophecy, "Dan shall be a serpent in the way, ... that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward," alludes primarily to Dan's local position in front of the royal Judah; so ready to meet the horse, forbidden in Israelite warfare, with the watchword "I have waited for Thy salvation," and to fall unawares on the advancing enemy by the way Dan's mode of warfare is illustrated in its attack on the men of Laish," careless, quiet, and secure," as also in their great judge Samson's mode of attack, watching for an opportunity and striking an unlooked for, stealthy, sudden blow. Mainly perhaps, by the Spirit, he has in view the old serpent which was to "bruise the heel" of the promised Savior (Ge 3:15), but ultimately to have its head bruised by Him; therefore he adds the desire of all believers, "I have waited for Thy salvation," which abrupt exclamation is thus clearly accounted for.
See Verses Found in Dictionary
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
And enmity, will I put between thee, and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed, - He shall crush thy head, but, thou, shalt crush his heel.
and Rachel said God hath vindicated me. Moreover also he hath hearkened unto my voice, and hath given me a son. For this cause, called she his name Dan.
and Rachel said God hath vindicated me. Moreover also he hath hearkened unto my voice, and hath given me a son. For this cause, called she his name Dan.
Dan, shall vindicate his people, - as one of the tribes of Israel; It cometh to pass that, Dan, is a serpent upon the way, A horned viper, upon the path, - That biteth the heels of the horse, And his rider falleth backwards: -
It cometh to pass that, Dan, is a serpent upon the way, A horned viper, upon the path, - That biteth the heels of the horse, And his rider falleth backwards: -
I myself, therefore, lo! I have given with him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, and in the heart of every one that is wise-hearted, have I put wisdom, - so shall they make all that I have commanded thee -
I myself, therefore, lo! I have given with him Oholiab, son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, and in the heart of every one that is wise-hearted, have I put wisdom, - so shall they make all that I have commanded thee -
such as were numbered of them as belonging to the tribe of Dan, sixty-two thousand, and seven hundred.
such as were numbered of them as belonging to the tribe of Dan, sixty-two thousand, and seven hundred.
Thus did the sons of Israel, - according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so, did they.
Thus did the sons of Israel, - according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so, did they.
the standard of the camp of Dan, north-wards by their hosts, even the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai:
the standard of the camp of Dan, north-wards by their hosts, even the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai:
All they who are numbered to the camp of Dan, a hundred and fifty-seven thousand and six hundred, in the hindmost rank, shall they set forward, by their standards.
All they who are numbered to the camp of Dan, a hundred and fifty-seven thousand and six hundred, in the hindmost rank, shall they set forward, by their standards.
Then set forward the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, bringing up the rear of all the camps, by their hosts, - and over his own host, Ahiezur, son of Ammishaddai;
Then set forward the standard of the camp of the sons of Dan, bringing up the rear of all the camps, by their hosts, - and over his own host, Ahiezur, son of Ammishaddai;
All the families of the Shuhamites, as to them who were numbered of them, were, sixty-four thousand, and four hundred.
All the families of the Shuhamites, as to them who were numbered of them, were, sixty-four thousand, and four hundred.
And, when the boundary of the sons of Dan went out beyond these, then went up the sons of Dan and fought against Leshem, and captured it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and took possession thereof, and dwelt therein, and they called Leshem - Dan, after the name of Dan their father,
And, when the boundary of the sons of Dan went out beyond these, then went up the sons of Dan and fought against Leshem, and captured it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and took possession thereof, and dwelt therein, and they called Leshem - Dan, after the name of Dan their father,
And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, - for they suffered them not to come down into the vale;
And the Amorites forced the sons of Dan into the hill country, - for they suffered them not to come down into the vale;
Gilead, beyond the Jordan, took his rest, but, Dan, wherefore remained he with the ships? Asher, abode by the shore of the seas, and, by his creeks, must needs rest.
Gilead, beyond the Jordan, took his rest, but, Dan, wherefore remained he with the ships? Asher, abode by the shore of the seas, and, by his creeks, must needs rest.
And the spirit of Yahweh began to urge him to and fro, in the camp of Dan, - between Zorah and Eshtaol.
And the spirit of Yahweh began to urge him to and fro, in the camp of Dan, - between Zorah and Eshtaol.
And Samson went down to Timnath, - and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.
And Samson went down to Timnath, - and saw a woman in Timnath, of the daughters of the Philistines.
So Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, - and they came as far as the vineyards of Timnath, when lo! a young lion, roaring to meet him.
So Samson went down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, - and they came as far as the vineyards of Timnath, when lo! a young lion, roaring to meet him.
And the Spirit of Yahweh, came suddenly over him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote of them thirty men, and took their garments, and gave the changes of raiment to them who had told the riddle, - and his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
And the Spirit of Yahweh, came suddenly over him, and he went down to Ashkelon, and smote of them thirty men, and took their garments, and gave the changes of raiment to them who had told the riddle, - and his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house.
And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.
And he judged Israel, in the days of the Philistines, twenty years.
And it came to pass, after this, that he loved a woman in the ravine of Shorek, whose, name, was Delilah.
And it came to pass, after this, that he loved a woman in the ravine of Shorek, whose, name, was Delilah.
Then came down his brethren, and all the house of his father, and lifted him, and carried him up, and buried him, between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the buryingplace of Manoah his father, - he, having judged Israel twenty years.
Then came down his brethren, and all the house of his father, and lifted him, and carried him up, and buried him, between Zorah and Eshtaol, in the buryingplace of Manoah his father, - he, having judged Israel twenty years.
So there brake up from thence, out of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men, begirt with weapons of war.
So there brake up from thence, out of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men, begirt with weapons of war. And they went up and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah, - wherefore they have called that place, Mahaneh-dan - unto this day, lo! it is behind Kiriath-jearim.
And they went up and encamped in Kiriath-jearim, in Judah, - wherefore they have called that place, Mahaneh-dan - unto this day, lo! it is behind Kiriath-jearim.
Now, the six hundred men, begirt with weapons of war, were standing at the entrance of the gate, - they being of the sons of Dan.
Now, the six hundred men, begirt with weapons of war, were standing at the entrance of the gate, - they being of the sons of Dan. Then went up the five men who had been to spy out the land, they came in thither, they took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, - now, the priest, was standing at the entrance of the gate, with the six hundred men who were begirt with weapons of war.
Then went up the five men who had been to spy out the land, they came in thither, they took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image, - now, the priest, was standing at the entrance of the gate, with the six hundred men who were begirt with weapons of war.
And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image, - and, Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons, became priests to the tribe of the Danites, until the day of the captivity of the land.
And the sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image, - and, Jonathan, son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons, became priests to the tribe of the Danites, until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up for themselves the graven image of Micah, which he had made, - and let it remain all the days that the house of God was in Shiloh.
So they set up for themselves the graven image of Micah, which he had made, - and let it remain all the days that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Now, a smith, could not be found, throughout all the land of Israel - for the Philistines had said, Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear.
Now, a smith, could not be found, throughout all the land of Israel - for the Philistines had said, Lest the Hebrews make sword or spear. So all Israel went down to the Philistines, - to sharpen every man his share, and his mattock, and his axe, and his sickle.
So all Israel went down to the Philistines, - to sharpen every man his share, and his mattock, and his axe, and his sickle. Howbeit they had a file for the sickles, and the mattocks, and the three-pronged forks, and the axes, - and for setting the goads.
Howbeit they had a file for the sickles, and the mattocks, and the three-pronged forks, and the axes, - and for setting the goads.
From Dan, was heard the snorting of his horses At the sound of the neighing of his chargers, the whole land trembled, - Yea they came in and did sat up The land and the fulness thereof, The city, and them who were dwelling therein.
From Dan, was heard the snorting of his horses At the sound of the neighing of his chargers, the whole land trembled, - Yea they came in and did sat up The land and the fulness thereof, The city, and them who were dwelling therein.
Mated with idols, is Ephraim, let him alone.
Mated with idols, is Ephraim, let him alone.
They who swear by the Guilt of Samaria, and say, As thy God, liveth, O Dan! and, As the Way of Beer-sheba, liveth, shall fall, and shall not rise any more.
They who swear by the Guilt of Samaria, and say, As thy God, liveth, O Dan! and, As the Way of Beer-sheba, liveth, shall fall, and shall not rise any more.