Genesis 46:23

46:23 The son of Dan: Hushim. ¹ 

Genesis 35:25

35:25 The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant, were Dan and Naphtali.

Genesis 49:16

49:16 Dan ²  will judge ³  his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

Genesis 14:14

14:14 When Abram heard that his nephew ⁴  had been taken captive, he mobilized ⁵  his 318 trained men who had been born in his household, and he pursued the invaders ⁶  as far as Dan. ⁷ 

Genesis 30:6

30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has vindicated me. He has responded to my prayer ⁸  and given me a son.” That is why ⁹  she named him Dan. ¹⁰ 

Genesis 49:17

49:17 May Dan be a snake beside the road,

a viper by the path,

that bites the heels of the horse

so that its rider falls backward. ¹¹ 

[46:23]  ¹ tn This name appears as “Shuham” in Num 26:42. The LXX reads “Hashum” here.

[49:16]  ² sn The name Dan (דָּן, dan) means “judge” and forms a wordplay with the following verb.

[49:16]  ³ tn Or “govern.”

[14:14]  ³ tn Heb “his brother,” by extension, “relative.” Here and in v. 16 the more specific term “nephew” has been used in the translation for clarity. Lot was the son of Haran, Abram’s brother (Gen 11:27).

[14:14]  ⁴ tn The verb וַיָּרֶק (vayyareq) is a rare form, probably related to the word רֵיק (req, “to be empty”). If so, it would be a very figurative use: “he emptied out” (or perhaps “unsheathed”) his men. The LXX has “mustered” (cf. NEB). E. A. Speiser (Genesis [AB], 103-4) suggests reading with the Samaritan Pentateuch a verb diq, cognate with Akkadian deku, “to mobilize” troops. If this view is accepted, one must assume that a confusion of the Hebrew letters ד (dalet) and ר (resh) led to the error in the traditional Hebrew text. These two letters are easily confused in all phases of ancient Hebrew script development. The present translation is based on this view.

[14:14]  ⁵ tn The words “the invaders” have been supplied in the translation for clarification.

[14:14]  ⁶ sn The use of the name Dan reflects a later perspective. The Danites did not migrate to this northern territory until centuries later (see Judg 18:29). Furthermore Dan was not even born until much later. By inserting this name a scribe has clarified the location of the region.

[30:6]  ⁴ tn Heb “and also he has heard my voice.” The expression means that God responded positively to Rachel’s cry and granted her request.

[30:6]  ⁵ tn Or “therefore.”

[30:6]  ⁶ sn The name Dan means “he vindicated” or “he judged.” The name plays on the verb used in the statement which appears earlier in the verse. The verb translated “vindicated” is from דִּין (din, “to judge, to vindicate”), the same verbal root from which the name is derived. Rachel sensed that God was righting the wrong.

[49:17]  ⁵ sn The comparison of the tribe of Dan to a venomous serpent is meant to say that Dan, though small, would be potent, gaining victory through its skill and shrewdness. Jewish commentators have linked the image in part with Samson. That link at least illustrates the point: Though a minority tribe, Dan would gain the upper hand over others.