Topical Bible: the Tribe of Dan: Samson Was of

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Tribe of Dan is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant. The name "Dan" means "judge," reflecting the role of judgment and leadership that would later be associated with the tribe. The tribe's inheritance was initially located in the northern part of the land of Canaan, near the Philistine territory, which played a significant role in the tribe's history and challenges.

Territory and Settlement

The original allotment for the Tribe of Dan, as described in the Book of Joshua, was situated in the coastal region of Canaan, bordered by the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. However, due to pressure from the Philistines and other neighboring peoples, the Danites found it difficult to fully occupy and control their territory. This led to a portion of the tribe migrating northward to capture the city of Laish, which they renamed Dan (Judges 18:27-29). This relocation is significant as it established the northernmost boundary of Israel, often referred to in the phrase "from Dan to Beersheba" (Judges 20:1).

Samson: A Notable Danite

One of the most famous figures from the Tribe of Dan is Samson, a judge of Israel renowned for his extraordinary strength. His account is recounted in the Book of Judges, chapters 13 to 16. Samson's birth was announced by an angel to his parents, who were instructed that he was to be a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to God and set apart for a special purpose (Judges 13:3-5). Despite his personal failings and struggles with temptation, Samson was used by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Philistines.

Samson's exploits include his riddles, his encounters with Delilah, and his final act of strength in the temple of Dagon, where he brought down the pillars, killing many Philistines and himself in the process (Judges 16:30). His life serves as a complex narrative of divine empowerment, human weakness, and ultimate redemption.

Religious and Cultural Influence

The Tribe of Dan played a significant role in the religious and cultural life of Israel. However, the tribe is also noted for its involvement in idolatry. The account in Judges 18 describes how the Danites established a shrine in the city of Dan, complete with an idol and a priesthood, which became a center of idolatrous worship in Israel. This act of apostasy is a recurring theme in the history of the tribe and is often cited as a cautionary tale of the dangers of straying from the worship of Yahweh.

Prophetic References and Legacy

In the prophetic literature, the Tribe of Dan is sometimes mentioned in contexts that highlight both its strengths and its shortcomings. In Jacob's blessing of his sons, Dan is described as "a serpent by the road, a viper in the path" (Genesis 49:17), suggesting both cunning and potential danger. The tribe's absence from the list of the 144,000 sealed from the tribes of Israel in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 7:4-8) has been a subject of much speculation and interpretation among biblical scholars.

Despite these complexities, the Tribe of Dan remains an integral part of the history and narrative of the people of Israel, illustrating themes of divine calling, human frailty, and the enduring consequences of faithfulness and disobedience.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 13:2,24,25
And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bore not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

But Seeing Now that we must Make Proof of what is Alleged at ...
... as one tribe in Israel." [1938] But some one may say that this was meant of Samson,
who sprang from the tribe of Dan, and judged his people for twenty years. ...
/.../the extant works and fragments of hippolytus/piece xix but seeing now.htm

The Story of Samson, the Strong Man
... In the tribe-land of Dan, which was next to the country of the Philistines, there
was living a man named Manoah. ... The child was born and was named Samson. ...
/.../marshall/the wonder book of bible stories/the story of samson the.htm

Heracleon's view of the Voice, and of John the Baptist.
... predicted by Jacob, when he said, [4888] "Dan shall judge his own people, he is
as one tribe in Israel," for Samson who judged Israel was of the tribe of Dan. ...
/.../origen/origens commentary on the gospel of john/12 heracleons view of the.htm

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... But on their returning [to God], they were led by Samson, of the tribe of Dan,
who conquered the foreigners in battle. He ruled twenty years. ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

Chapter xlix
... not regard the word as a specific prophecy concerning Samson. ... comparison of the serpent,
implying that Dan had a ... when they claimed that from the tribe of Dan ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... he is) also one tribe in Israel." [1434] But some one may say that this refers to
Samson, who sprang from the tribe of Dan, and judged the people twenty years. ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... forty years: in Zorah dwelt a man, His name Manoah, of the tribe of Dan; His wife ...
pleas'd, his blessing graciously to give: She call'd him Samson, and the ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... Some learned critics considered Samson to have been a sort of solar deity. The tribe
of Dan at length became weary of these unprofitable struggles, and ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

Against Jovinianus.
... avenging hand of God. He praises Samson, I may even say extravagantly
panegyrizes the uxorious Nazarite. Deborah also and Barak ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/against jovinianus.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... staff, that is, the stay of my tribe; and my ... tabernacle, Benjamin; the lights of
heaven, Dan; the fatness ... 43), and with the Timnathah where Samson's wife dwelt ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm