In yesterday’s post, we discussed the history of Dan which is not, I’ll admit, one of the more noble stories in the Bible. However, today, I would like to just sit with the beauty of Dan. It is a place of lush plant life and rushing water. The area surrounding the city of Dan sits on several underground springs. In many places the water seems to just bubble out of the rocks. In Israel, this area is a designated national park and nature reserve. Israelis and tourists alike love to come to parks like this and hike, taking in the verdant beauty of the location.
Head waters of JordanWinter rain runoff from Mt HermonLush growth in Dan
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The name of Dan before the tribe of Dan took over the town was Laish (La’ish). The Bible describes the people of Dan brutally defeating the people of Laish and burning the town to the ground and then building their own town on the same spot. See Judges 18:7.
As it says in Joshua 19:40-48, the tribe of Dan was originally assigned lands adjacent to the Philistines, along the southern coast of Israel. The Philistines were a constant source of battles and oppression. In Judges chapter 18, we find the tribe of Dan searching for anew home. If you have studied through the book of Judges, you may remember the things that Samson did to his enemies the Philistines, namely burning their fields, killing them in battle, and destroying their temple with them in it. As one might expect, this did not make the Philistines big fans of the Israelites, leaving the tribe of Dan in a very precarious position. This likely influenced their decision to relocate to the north of Israel. The abundance of water and fertility of the area was probably not bad either.
Going Deeper: Tel Dan 1. Who was Dan? (Hint: Genesis 30:1-6)
2. What do you learn about the City called Dan from Genesis 14:14?
3. What land was originally given to Dan in the conquest according to Joshua 19:40-48?
Read Judges 18 relating to the relocation of the Tribe of Dan to the North
Head waters of the Jordan (from Mt Hermon and several springs in the area)Dan in the Spring.Judges and Elders of the City would often sit in the city gate and conduct business or city affairs.Gate preserved to the ancient town of La’ish. It is possible that through such a gate the patriarch Abraham may have passed as he searched for Lot.City gateCity Gate of La’ish (Tel Dan)
It is our desire to help you grow in your knowledge of Adonai and His Word. If you are looking for additional information and/or materials, please visit our website at RootedinHisWord.org and our Facebook page.
It may not be the most exciting region of Israel to the average Bible scholar, it is no Sea of Galilee or Capernaum or Jerusalem, but the North of Israel, the region of Dan, is a beautiful place to visit in the Spring when the foliage is lush and green and the mustard plant flowers are blooming, blanketing open meadows and hillsides with their bright yellow.
The area reminds the visitor that Israel is diverse in its landscapes and geography.
Head waters of the Jordan River, Israel
The head waters of the Jordan rush down into the land from the mountains above.
Rooted and Grounded 