Topical Encyclopedia
Overview:Dedan is a name that appears in the Bible, referring to both a person and a region. The name is associated with trade and commerce, and it is mentioned in various contexts throughout the Old Testament. Dedan is often linked with other nations and tribes, particularly in the context of prophecy and judgment.
Genealogical Background:Dedan is first mentioned as a descendant of Noah through his son Ham. In
Genesis 10:7, Dedan is listed as a son of Raamah, who was a son of Cush: "The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan." This genealogical record places Dedan among the early post-flood nations.
Another Dedan is mentioned as a descendant of Abraham through his concubine Keturah. In
Genesis 25:1-3, it is recorded: "Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah, and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan." This Dedan is thus linked to the Abrahamic lineage, indicating a different branch of the family tree.
Geographical and Historical Context:The region associated with Dedan is believed to be located in the northwestern part of the Arabian Peninsula. It was a significant center for trade, known for its caravans and commerce. Dedan is frequently mentioned alongside Sheba and other trading nations, indicating its role in the ancient trade networks.
Biblical References and Significance:Dedan is mentioned in several prophetic books of the Bible, often in the context of judgment or as part of a list of nations. In
Isaiah 21:13, Dedan is referenced in a prophecy against Arabia: "This is the burden against Arabia: In the thickets of Arabia you must lodge, O caravans of Dedanites."
In
Ezekiel 25:13, Dedan is included in a prophecy against Edom: "therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: I will stretch out My hand against Edom, and I will cut off man and beast from it. I will lay it waste; from Teman to Dedan they will fall by the sword."
Ezekiel 27:15 also mentions Dedan in the context of Tyre's trading partners: "The men of Dedan were your clients; many coastlands were your market; they paid you with ivory tusks and ebony."
Cultural and Theological Insights:Dedan's role as a trading nation highlights the interconnectedness of ancient Near Eastern cultures and economies. The biblical references to Dedan often emphasize themes of judgment and the transient nature of wealth and power. The prophetic mentions serve as reminders of God's sovereignty over nations and His ability to bring about justice.
The dual genealogical references to Dedan, both as a descendant of Ham and of Abraham, illustrate the complex interrelations among the peoples of the ancient world. This complexity is reflected in the biblical narrative, which often intertwines the destinies of various nations with the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
Conclusion:While Dedan is not a central figure in the biblical narrative, its repeated mention in genealogies and prophecies underscores its significance in the ancient world. The references to Dedan serve as a backdrop for understanding the broader historical and theological themes present in the Scriptures.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Dedantheir breasts; friendship; a judge
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Dedan(low country).
- The name of a son of Raamah, son of Cush. (Genesis 10:7;1 Chronicles 1:9)
- A son of Jokshan, son of Keturah. (Genesis 25:3;1 Chronicles 1:32) (B.C. after 1988.)
ATS Bible Dictionary
Dedan1. The grandson of Cush,Genesis 10:7; and
2. The son of Jokshan, Abraham's son by Keturah,Genesis 25:3. Both were founders of tribes frequently named in Scripture. The descendants of the Cushite Dedan are supposed to have settled in southern Arabia, near the Persian gulf, in which there is an island called by the Arabs Dedan lived in the neighborhood of Idumaea,Jeremiah 49:8. It is not clear, in all cases where the name occurs, which of the tribes is intended. It was probably the Cushite tribe, which was employed in trade. The "travelling companies" of Dedan are mentioned byIsaiah 21:13. They are also named with the merchants of Tarshish byEzekiel 38:13, and were celebrated on account of their trade with the Phoenicians.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Low ground.
(1.) A son of Raamah (Genesis 10:7). His descendants are mentioned in Isaiah 21:13, andEzek. 27:15. They probably settled among the sons of Cush, on the north-west coast of the Persian Gulf.
(2.) A son of Jokshan, Abraham's son by Keturah (1 Chronicles 1:32). His descendants settled on the Syrian borders about the territory of Edom. They probably led a pastoral life.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
DEDAN; DEDANITESde'-dan, de'dan-its (the King James Version Dedanim, ded'-a-nim; dedhan, "low," dedhanim): An Arabian people named inGenesis 10:7 as descended from Cush; inGenesis 25:3 as descended from Keturah. Evidently, they were, like the related Sheba (Sabaeans), of mixed race (compareGenesis 10:7, 28). InIsaiah 21:13 allusion is made to the "caravans of Dedanites" in the wilds of Arabia, and Ezekiel mentions them as supplying Tyre with precious things (Ezekiel 27:20; in verse 15, "Dedan" should probably be read as in Septuagint, "Rodan," i.e. Rhodians). The name seems still to linger in the island of Dadan, on the border of the Persian Gulf. It is found also in Min. and Sab. inscriptions (Glazer, II, 392).
James Orr
Strong's Hebrew
1719.Dedan -- a descendant of Ham, also a descendant of Abraham...Dedan or Dedaneh. 1718, 1719.
Dedan or Dedaneh. 1720 . a descendant
of Ham, also a descendant of Abraham, also the tribes desc.
...1720. Dedani -- desc. or inhab. ofDedan
... desc. or inhab. ofDedan. Transliteration: Dedani Phonetic Spelling: (ded-aw-neem')
Short Definition: Dedanites. Word Origin pl. ofDedan Definition desc....
3817. Leummim -- descendant ofDedan
... Leummim. 3818 . descendant ofDedan. Transliteration: Leummim Phonetic Spelling:
(leh-oom-meem') Short Definition: Leummim.... ofDedan NASB Word Usage Leummim (1...
Library
Chapter xxv
... Ishbak and Shuah. And Jokshan begat Sheba andDedan. And the sons ofDedan
were Asshurim and Letushim and Leummim. And the sons...
Ezekiel's Discourse
... The men ofDedan were thy traffickers: many isles were the mart of thine hand:
they brought thee in exchange horns of ivory and ebony....
Chapter x
... And the sons of Raamah: Sheba andDedan. These must all be Ethiopian tribes.... "Dedan"
is sought in different parts of Arabia, northwest, southeast, southwest....
The Nations of the South-East
... But the same chapter also assigns to Sheba a different origin. It couples him with
Dedan, and sees in him a descendant of Ham, a kinsman of Egypt and Canaan....
[Endnotes]
... "Raamah, Naphtuhim, Amorite, Almodad, "Sabtechab,Pathrusim, Girgasite, Sheleph,
"Sheba, Caslubim, Hivite, Hazarmaveth, "Dedan, Caphtorim, Arkite, Jerah, "Nimrod...
From Megiddo to Carchemish, 608-605.
... of the Greek, the Hebrew list of nations who are to drink of the cup, we get Judah
and Egypt; Askalon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;Dedan, Tema, Buz...
The Perpetual virginity of Blessed Mary.
... If Darom be the right reading, it is, apparently, the same asDedan (Ezekiel
25:13, etc.). [4222] Deuteronomy 15:12. [4223] Deuteronomy 17:15....
An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of...
The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3. <....
Thesaurus
Dedan (10 Occurrences)... They probably led a pastoral life. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
DEDAN; DEDANITES.
... James Orr. Multi-Version Concordance
Dedan (10 Occurrences).
...Jokshan (3 Occurrences)
... Genesis 25:3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, andDedan. The sons ofDedan were
Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.... The sons of Jokshan: Sheba, andDedan....
Leummim (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Peoples; nations, the last mentioned of the three sons
ofDedan, and head of an Arabian tribe (Genesis 25:3). Int....
Teman (12 Occurrences)
... In Ezekiel 25:13 desolation is denounced upon Edom: "From Teman even untoDedan
shall they fall by the sword."Dedan being in the South, Teman must be sought...
Asshurim (1 Occurrence)
... ASSHURIM. a-shoo'-rim ('ashshurim): Mentioned among the sons ofDedan, son of Jokshah,
son of Abraham by Keturah (Genesis 25:3). Multi-Version Concordance...
Ivory (13 Occurrences)
... 18). It was brought by the caravans ofDedan (Isaiah 21:13), and from the
East Indies by the navy of Tarshish (1 Kings 10:22). Many...
Sheba (36 Occurrences)
... An oath, seven. (1.) Hebrews shebha, the son of Raamah (Genesis 10:7), whose
descendants settled with those ofDedan on the Persian Gulf. (2.) Hebrews id....
Vedan (1 Occurrence)
... text is in bad condition. Some read "Dedan," butDedan is spoken of separately
in the following verse. Assuming that Vedan is the...
Le-um'mim (1 Occurrence)
... Le-um'mim (1 Occurrence). Genesis 25:3 Jokshan became the father of Sheba, andDedan.
The sons ofDedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. (See RSV)....
Letushites (1 Occurrence)
... Letushites (1 Occurrence). Genesis 25:3 And Jokshan begot Sheba, andDedan. And
the sons ofDedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. (See NIV)....
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