Dan
- Dates
- 1704–1604 BC
Name means "judge" or "God has judged." He is the fifth son of Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel's maid. Jacob blesses him by saying, "Dan shall judge his people." His tribe is the last to receive their inheritance in the promised land.
In detail
The fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel's maid (Gen 30:6, "God hath judged me", Heb. dananni). The blessing pronounced on him by his father was, "Dan shall judge his people" (Gen 49:16), probably in allusion to the judgeship of Samson, who was of the tribe of Dan. The tribe of Dan had their place in the march through the wilderness on the north side of the tabernacle (Num 2:25, Num 2:31; Num 10:25). It was the last of the tribes to receive a portion in the Land of Promise. Its position and extent are described in Jos 19:40—48. The territory of Dan extended from the west of that of Ephraim and Benjamin to the sea.
Bible passages
- Genesis 30:4-6
4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son: therefore called she his name Dan.
Text of the King James Version.