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Genesis 49:16,17
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel…

Joshua 19:47
And the coast of the children of Dan went outtoo little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.

Judges 13:2,24,25
And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose namewas Manoah; and his wifewas barren, and bare not…

“Dan is a lion’s cub,
The imagery of a lion's cub suggests strength, potential, and a fierce nature. In biblical symbolism, lions often represent power and royalty. This metaphor indicates that Dan, though perhaps small or young like a cub, possesses inherent strength and the potential for growth and dominance. This imagery is echoed in Jacob's blessing inGenesis 49:16-17, where Dan is described as a judge and a serpent, indicating a mix of strength and cunning.

leaping out of Bashan.”
Bashan was a fertile region known for its strong bulls and lush pastures, located east of the Jordan River. The reference to Bashan may imply that Dan's strength and vigor are drawn from a place of abundance and fertility. Historically, the tribe of Dan initially settled in a coastal area but later migrated northward, possibly alluding to their movement and expansion. The phrase "leaping out" suggests suddenness and agility, characteristics of a lion in pursuit, which may symbolize Dan's ability to strike or expand unexpectedly. This could also be seen as a type of Christ, who is often referred to as the Lion of Judah, symbolizing strength and kingship.

“Concerning Dan he said…” (Deuteronomy 33:22)

• Moses is in his final moments, blessing each tribe one by one (Deuteronomy 33:1).

• These words are not mere wishes; they are Spirit–given prophecy, certain to unfold (Numbers 24:2;2 Peter 1:21).

• Dan, sixth son of Jacob and firstborn to Rachel’s maid Bilhah (Genesis 30:6), has already been told he will “provide justice for his people” (Genesis 49:16).

• The blessing comes after Gad and before Naphtali, reflecting Dan’s historical place in Israel’s encampments (Numbers 2:25–31).

• God singles out each tribe, showing His intimate knowledge of their future.

“Dan is a lion’s cub…” (Deuteronomy 33:22)

• A lion’s cub suggests emerging power—young, energetic, but destined for full strength (compare Judah inGenesis 49:9).

• Dan’s military capacity surfaces early: Samson, one of Israel’s mightiest judges, is from Dan (Judges 13:2; 15:15).

• Samson’s own encounter with a lion (Judges 14:5–6) echoes the fierce courage attributed here.

• Dan’s allotment bordered Philistine territory (Joshua 19:40–46), a frontline that demanded bravery (Judges 18:1).

• Though small, Dan possessed boldness beyond its size—just as a cub hints at the roar to come (Psalm 34:10).

“…leaping out of Bashan.” (Deuteronomy 33:22)

• Bashan, east of the Jordan, was famed for its rugged terrain and fierce cattle (Deuteronomy 3:13;Psalm 22:12).

• The phrase pictures a sudden pounce—Dan springing forward to claim territory. That happened when Danites left their cramped coastal allotment, marched north, and captured Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18:27–29), a city just below the slopes long associated with Bashan (Joshua 13:11–12).

• God foreknew this relocation; the “leap” describes both distance and decisiveness.

• The imagery also reassures Israel that Dan’s courage will help guard the nation’s northern approach, balancing Judah’s lion–like strength in the south (2 Samuel 24:2;1 Kings 12:29).

• Ultimately, the tribe’s bold advance illustrates how the Lord empowers His people to possess every promise (Joshua 21:43–45).

Moses, guided by the Spirit, foretells Dan’s destiny: a small tribe with emerging lion-strength that will boldly spring from its confines to secure new ground. The history of Samson and the conquest of Laish confirmed the prophecy word-for-word. God’s accurate, literal Word shows that every blessing He speaks—whether to tribes then or to believers now—carries the power to make courageous “lions” out of unlikely people, positioning them exactly where He intends.

He shall leap from Bashan.--The taking of Laish is probably referred to. It was a sudden, treacherous surprise, like the spring of a lion on his prey (Judges 18:27-28). The "hill of Bashan" is opposed to God's hill inPsalm 68:15. The "king of Bashan" are reproved (Amos 4:1). The "bulls of Bashan" represent the enemies of Christ inPsalm 22:12.

O Naphtali . . . possess thou the west(literally,the sea)and the south.--This is not easy to interpret literally. The only sea in Naphtali's inheritance was the Sea of Galilee. If we look on to the days when that sea becomes famous in Holy Scripture, we find our Saviour dwelling in "the land of Zeoulun and the land of Naphtali," and through his Galilean followers possessing the west and the south, taking the "nations for his inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for His possession."