The northernmost part of Israel (from Dan to Beersheba). Abraham rescued lot here. Dan sits at the base of Mount Hermon, which may have been the site of the transfiguration (if not Mount Tabor). Laish and Leshem are Canaanite names for this city in the Bible. Jeroboam set up a golden calf here (and at Bethel). (more photos: Wiki & Bible)
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Bible Photo & Explanation: The ancient city of Dan was called Leshem (Josh. 19:47) or Laish (Judg. 18:7, 14) before the Israelites conquered the land. The springs located at this site, together with the springs at Caesarea Philippi, are the main sources of the Jordan River. Jeroboam’s temple site is pictured here.
Significant Events: Abraham rescued Lot (Gen. 14:13–16). The tribe of Dan captured the area and named it Dan (Josh. 19:47–48). Jeroboam set up a false temple with a golden calf that contributed to the downfall of the northern ten tribes (1 Kgs. 12:26–33). Dan was Israel’s northernmost city—hence the scriptures refer to the land of Israel “from Beersheba even to Dan” (2 Chr. 30:5; Beersheba was the southernmost city). (See BD Dan.)
Dan BD: Judge. Son of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, and brother to Naphtali. After the settlement in Canaan, the district assigned to the tribe of Dan was small in area but had an admirable situation, adjoining Ephraim, Benjamin, and Judah, parts of it being extremely fertile (Josh. 19:40–48). There was a good deal of difficulty in holding it against the Amorites (Judg. 1:34) and against the Philistines (Judg. 13:2, 25; 18:1). Consequently the Danites made for themselves a settlement in the north of Palestine (Judg. 18), around Laish, to which city they gave the name of Dan. This town is well known as the northern limit of Palestine, which extended “from Dan even to Beer-sheba.” It was chosen by Jeroboam as one of the places in which to establish the calf worship for the northern tribes (1 Kgs. 12:29; 2 Kgs. 10:29). The city was laid waste by Benhadad (1 Kgs. 15:20; 2 Chr. 16:4); and Jewish tradition records that the calf was carried off to Assyria by Tiglath-pileser (2 Kgs. 15:29). The reason for the omission of the tribe of Dan in John’s list in Rev. 7:5–7 is not known. Its character is sketched in the blessings of Jacob and Moses (Gen. 49:16–18; Deut. 33:22).
Gen 14:14: 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.
Isa 10:30: Lift up thy voice, O daughter of Gallim: cause it to be heard unto Laish, O poor Anathoth.
1 In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.
7 ¶ Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians, quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no business with any man.
2 Chron 13:8: And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the Lord in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with you golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
2 Kings 10:29: Howbeit from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, to wit, the golden calves that were in Beth-el, and that were in Dan.
Deut 34:1: And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Beth-el, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
1 Sam 3:20: And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord.
Mount Hermon BD: A mountain, 9400 feet high, in the extreme northeast of the Holy Land, being the southern point of a range of hills called Anti-Libanus. It is visible not only from a great part of Galilee, but also from various places as far south as Jericho. The Hermonites (Ps. 42:6) are the three peaks of Mount Hermon. Jewish poetry contains several allusions to this mountain (Ps. 89:12; 133:3; Song 4:8). It is possible that our Lord’s Transfiguration took place either on Hermon or on Mount Tabor (see Matt. 16:13–17:2).