Topical Encyclopedia The Tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, is frequently noted in biblical accounts for its association with idolatry. This tribe, descended from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and Bilhah, played a significant role in the history of Israel, particularly in the context of religious apostasy.Settlement and Early Idolatry The initial allotment of land for the Tribe of Dan was in the southwestern part of Canaan, near the Philistine territory. However, due to pressure from the Philistines, the Danites found it difficult to settle in their designated inheritance. This led to a migration northward, where they captured the city of Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18:1-29). During this migration, the Danites engaged in idolatry, which is vividly described in the Book of Judges. They stole household idols, a carved image, and a priest from the house of Micah, a man from the hill country of Ephraim. Judges 18:30-31 states, "The Danites set up the carved image for themselves, 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 carved image, and it was there the whole time the house of God was in Shiloh." Idolatry in the Northern Kingdom The idolatrous practices of the Tribe of Dan continued into the period of the divided kingdom. When Jeroboam I established the Northern Kingdom of Israel, he set up golden calves in Bethel and Dan to prevent the Israelites from going to Jerusalem to worship (1 Kings 12:28-30). This act was a direct violation of the first and second commandments and led the people into sin. The text in 1 Kings 12:30 notes, "And this thing became a sin; the people walked as far as Dan to worship before one of the calves." Prophetic Denunciations The prophets of Israel frequently denounced the idolatry of the Northern Kingdom, including the practices in Dan. The prophet Amos, for instance, condemned the idolatrous worship at Dan, highlighting the spiritual infidelity of the people (Amos 8:14). The idolatry of Dan was emblematic of the broader apostasy that plagued the Northern Kingdom, ultimately leading to its downfall and exile. Omission in Revelation Interestingly, the Tribe of Dan is omitted from the list of the twelve tribes in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:4-8). While the text does not explicitly state the reason for this omission, some scholars and theologians suggest that it may be due to the tribe's association with idolatry and apostasy. The history of the Tribe of Dan serves as a cautionary tale within the biblical narrative, illustrating the dangers of idolatry and the consequences of turning away from the worship of the one true God. Nave's Topical Index Judges 18:1In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for to that day all their inheritance had not fallen to them among the tribes of Israel. Nave's Topical Index Library The First vision "On Earth" section iii. The Sibylline Oracles. Sardis On the Clause, and Shall Come in Glory to Judge the Quick and the ... Jeroboam The Divided Kingdom. The History of Saul The Assyrian Captivity Book 8 Footnotes 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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