Places of the Bible

Dan

Far northern Israel · Old Testament · 70 verses

Dan was a city in the far north of Israel, earlier called Laish. It marked the northern edge of the land in the phrase from Dan to Beersheba. The name appears in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and 14 more in the King James text.

About Dan

Dan was a city in the far north of Israel, earlier called Laish. It marked the northern edge of the land in the phrase from Dan to Beersheba.

Its place in the story

The tribe of Dan captured Laish and renamed it Dan, setting up an idol there in the days of the judges. Jeroboam later placed one of his golden calves at Dan, making it a center of false worship.

Dan in Scripture (KJV)

“And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued them unto Dan.”
Genesis 14:14 (KJV)
“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.”
Genesis 30:6 (KJV)
“And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:”
Genesis 35:25 (KJV)
“And the sons of Dan; Hushim.”
Genesis 46:23 (KJV)
“Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.”
Genesis 49:16 (KJV)
“Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.”
Genesis 49:17 (KJV)
“Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.”
Exodus 1:4 (KJV)
“And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;”
Exodus 31:6 (KJV)

Dan is named 70 times in Scripture; 8 shown above.

Where it leads

The false worship set up at Dan shows Israel's turning from God, deepening the need for the true worship restored in Christ.

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People also ask

Where is Dan in the Bible?

Dan was a city in the far north of Israel, earlier called Laish. It marked the northern edge of the land in the phrase from Dan to Beersheba. The name appears in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus and 14 more in the King James text.

What happened at Dan?

The tribe of Dan captured Laish and renamed it Dan, setting up an idol there in the days of the judges. Jeroboam later placed one of his golden calves at Dan, making it a center of false worship.

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Scripture verbatim KJV. Place facts curated; any coordinates via Wikidata (CC0).

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