Topical Encyclopedia The Tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, is notable for its unique journey and conquests in the biblical narrative. Originating from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, the tribe's history is marked by both struggle and achievement.Initial Allotment and Challenges The initial allotment of land for the Tribe of Dan is described in the Book of Joshua. The territory assigned to Dan was located in the central coastal region of Canaan, bordered by the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Benjamin. However, the Danites faced significant challenges in securing their inheritance. The Amorites, a formidable Canaanite people, resisted their settlement efforts, as noted in Joshua 19:47: "But the territory of the Danites was too small for them, so they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and struck it with the sword. They took possession of it, settled there, and renamed it Dan after their forefather." Migration and Conquest of Laish Due to the pressure from the Amorites and the limited space in their allotted territory, the Danites sought a new homeland. This quest is detailed in the Book of Judges, where the tribe's migration and conquest of Laish (later renamed Dan) are recounted. Judges 18:27-29 describes this pivotal event: "After they had taken what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, they went to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the sword and burned the city with fire. There was no deliverer, because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. They named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; however, the name of the city was formerly Laish." This conquest marked a significant expansion for the tribe, as they established themselves in the northernmost part of Israel, far from their original allotment. The city of Dan became a prominent location, often mentioned in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba," which denoted the entire span of the Israelite territory. Religious and Cultural Impact The relocation and conquest of Laish had lasting religious and cultural implications. The tribe of Dan is associated with the establishment of a center of idolatry, as they set up a graven image in the city, as recorded in Judges 18:30-31: "The Danites set up for themselves the graven image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image that he had made, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh." This act of idolatry was a significant departure from the worship of Yahweh and had repercussions for the spiritual state of the tribe and the nation of Israel as a whole. Legacy and Prophetic References The legacy of the Tribe of Dan is complex, marked by both their military conquests and their spiritual failings. In the prophetic literature, Dan is sometimes omitted from lists of the tribes, such as in Revelation 7, where the tribe is not mentioned among the sealed tribes of Israel. This omission has been the subject of much theological speculation, often linked to their early adoption of idolatry. Despite these challenges, the Tribe of Dan played a crucial role in the history of Israel, contributing to the nation's territorial expansion and cultural development. Their account is a testament to the dynamic and often tumultuous journey of the Israelite tribes as they sought to establish themselves in the Promised Land. Nave's Topical Index Joshua 19:47And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelled therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father. Nave's Topical Index Judges 18:27-29 Library Chapter xlix Questions. A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom. Chapter xiv The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. ) The Prophecies The Twelve Minor Prophets. Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... The Prophet Amos. Resources Is the original Bible still in existence? | GotQuestions.orgWhat was the sin of Jeroboam? | GotQuestions.org Who was Bilhah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Dan: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Also Called Laish, and Leshem Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Capture by Ben-Hadad Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Captured by the People of Dan Dan: A City of the Tribe of Dan: Idolatry Established At Dan: Fifth Son of Jacob and Bilhah Dan: Fifth Son of Jacob and Bilhah: Blessed of Jacob Dan: Fifth Son of Jacob and Bilhah: Descendants of the Tribe of Dan: A Commercial People the Tribe of Dan: A Part of Plundered Michah of his Idols and his Ephod the Tribe of Dan: A Part of Sent to Seek New Settlements the Tribe of Dan: A Part of Set up Micah's Idols in Dan the Tribe of Dan: A Part of Tool Laish and Called It Dan the Tribe of Dan: Bounds of Its Inheritance the Tribe of Dan: Descended from Jacob's Fifth Son the Tribe of Dan: Encamped North of the Tabernacle the Tribe of Dan: Led the Fourth and Last Division of Israel the Tribe of Dan: Offering of, at Dedication the Tribe of Dan: On Ebal, Said Amen to the Curses the Tribe of Dan: Persons Selected From: To Divide the Land the Tribe of Dan: Persons Selected From: To Number the People the Tribe of Dan: Persons Selected From: To Spy out the Land the Tribe of Dan: Predictions Respecting the Tribe of Dan: Reproved for not Aiding Against Sisera the Tribe of Dan: Restricted to the Hills by Amorites the Tribe of Dan: Ruler Appointed Over, by David the Tribe of Dan: Samson Was of the Tribe of Dan: some of, at Coronation of David the Tribe of Dan: Strength of, Entering Canaan the Tribe of Dan: Strength of, on Leaving Egypt Tribe of Dan: Blessed by Moses Tribe of Dan: Deborah Rebukes, for Their Cowardice Tribe of Dan: Fail to Conquer the Amorites Tribe of Dan: Inheritance of, According to the Allotment of Joshua Tribe of Dan: Position of, in Journey and Camp, During the Exodus Related Terms |
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