Topical Bible: the Tribe of Dan: Predictions Respecting

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The Tribe of Dan, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, holds a unique place in biblical prophecy and narrative. The predictions concerning Dan are found primarily in the blessings and prophecies given by Jacob and Moses, which provide insight into the future and character of this tribe.

Jacob's Prophecy:

In Genesis 49, Jacob, on his deathbed, gathers his sons to bless them and foretell their futures. Regarding Dan, he declares:

"Dan shall provide justice for his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent by the road, a viper by the path, that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward." (Genesis 49:16-17)

Jacob's prophecy suggests that Dan will play a role in delivering justice, yet it also hints at a more cunning and potentially treacherous nature. The imagery of a serpent and viper implies subtlety and the ability to strike unexpectedly, which may indicate both a protective and a potentially harmful influence within Israel.

Moses' Blessing:

In Deuteronomy 33, Moses blesses the tribes of Israel before his death. His words concerning Dan are brief but evocative:

"Dan is a lion’s cub, leaping out of Bashan." (Deuteronomy 33:22)

Moses' blessing portrays Dan as a young lion, suggesting strength, vigor, and a capacity for bold action. The reference to Bashan, a region known for its fertile land and strong animals, may imply that Dan will possess both physical and territorial strength.

Historical and Eschatological Implications:

The tribe's history reflects some of these prophetic elements. Dan was allocated a portion of land in the northern part of Israel, but due to pressure from neighboring peoples, they migrated and conquered the city of Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18). This relocation and conquest demonstrate both the tribe's resourcefulness and its fulfillment of the prophecy as a "serpent by the road."

In the eschatological context, the tribe of Dan is notably absent from the list of tribes in Revelation 7, where 144,000 are sealed from the tribes of Israel. This omission has led to various interpretations, including the possibility of Dan's association with idolatry, as seen in Judges 18, where the tribe established a center of idol worship.

The predictions concerning Dan highlight a complex legacy, marked by both strength and moral challenges. The tribe's role in Israel's history and its absence in certain prophetic lists continue to be subjects of theological reflection and debate.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Genesis 49:16,17
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Deuteronomy 33:22
And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... a Tyrian artificer, the son of a Jewish mother, of the tribe of Dan, [2072] as ... one
a Boeotian, the other an Arcadian, who uttered many predictions to many. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

The Title of the Book.
... the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." Dan.12:4 ... unveiling of
what was left obscure in the predictions of the ... The Lion of the tribe of Judah ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the title of the book.htm

The Sibylline Oracles.
... and a false prophetess; but when my predictions shall be ... utterly destroyed, so that
not a tribe shall be ... This concludes the oracular utterances respecting Rome ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the sibylline oracles.htm

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... we have not here before us any special predictions, such as ... the three other sons
of the maids, viz., Dan, Asher, and ... Judah is the chief tribe on the chief side ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

Mr. Bunyan's Last Sermon:
... themselves under the mountains (1:Cor.15:52; 1:Thess.4:16; Jude 14; John 5:28, 29;
2:Thess.1:7, 8; Rev.20:11-14; Isa.26:21; Micah 7:16, 17; Psa.95:1-3; Dan.7:10 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/mr bunyans last sermon .htm

The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... and include letters exchanged with provincial governors, augural predictions,
consultation of ... For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth evil from the ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm