The Danites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Dan, the fifth son of Jacob and the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant (Genesis 30:5-6). The tribe of Dan is mentioned throughout the Old Testament, playing a significant role in the history and narrative of the Israelites.

Territory and Settlement

Initially, the Danites were allotted a portion of land in the southwestern part of Canaan, near the Philistine territory (Joshua 19:40-48). This area included cities such as Zorah, Eshtaol, and Ekron. However, the Danites struggled to fully possess their inheritance due to the strength of the Philistines and other Canaanite inhabitants. Judges 1:34 notes, "The Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country and did not allow them to come down to the plain."

Due to these challenges, a portion of the tribe sought a new territory. This led to the migration of some Danites to the north, where they captured the city of Laish, renaming it Dan (Judges 18:1-29). This relocation is significant as it marked a shift from their original allotment and established a northern boundary for Israel.

Religious Practices and Idolatry

The Danites are notably associated with early instances of idolatry in Israel. Judges 18 recounts how the migrating Danites took with them a Levite priest and household idols from a man named Micah. Upon capturing Laish, they set up these idols, establishing a center of idolatrous worship that persisted for many years. Judges 18:30-31 states, "The Danites set up for themselves the carved image, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land."

This idolatry was a direct violation of the covenantal laws given to Israel, which prohibited the worship of graven images (Exodus 20:4-5). The actions of the Danites in this regard are often cited as an example of the spiritual decline and syncretism that plagued Israel during the period of the Judges.

Military Involvement

The Danites were known for their military prowess. In the Song of Deborah, they are mentioned in the context of the battle against Sisera, although their participation is questioned (Judges 5:17). The tribe's warrior reputation is further highlighted in the blessing of Jacob, where Dan is likened to a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path (Genesis 49:16-17).

Notable Figures

One of the most famous Danites is Samson, a judge of Israel renowned for his supernatural strength and exploits against the Philistines (Judges 13-16). Samson's life and actions are emblematic of the complex relationship between the Israelites and their neighbors, as well as the personal struggles with faithfulness and obedience to God.

Prophetic and Eschatological References

In the prophetic and eschatological literature, the tribe of Dan is notably absent from the list of tribes in Revelation 7:4-8, which describes the sealing of the 144,000 servants of God. This omission has led to various interpretations and speculations regarding the tribe's fate and role in the end times.

Legacy

The legacy of the Danites is a mixture of military strength, territorial ambition, and religious infidelity. Their account serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by the tribes of Israel in maintaining faithfulness to God's covenant amidst external pressures and internal temptations. The narrative of the Danites is woven into the broader tapestry of Israel's history, reflecting both the triumphs and failures of God's chosen people.DANITES

dan'-its (ha-dani): Occurs as describing those belonging to Dan in Judges 13:2; Judges 18:1, 11 1 Chronicles 12:35.

4265. Machaneh-dan -- "camp of Dan," a place where the Danites ...
... "camp of Dan," a place where the Danites stayed. Transliteration: Machaneh-dan Phonetic
Spelling: (makh-an-ay'-dawn) Short Definition: Mahaneh-dan. ...
/hebrew/4265.htm - 6k

1839. Dani -- descendant of Dan
... 1838, 1839. Dani. 1840 . descendant of Dan. Transliteration: Dani Phonetic
Spelling: (daw-nee') Short Definition: Danites. ... of Dan NASB Word Usage Danites (5 ...
/hebrew/1839.htm - 6k

The Historical Books.
... Among these are the conquest of Hebron (chap.15:16-19, compared with Judges
1:12-15), and especially the excursion of the Danites (chap.19:47), which must be ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xx the historical books.htm

Pamias. Paneas, the Spring of Jordan.
... "R. Isaac saith, Leshem is Pamias." The Gloss is, "Leshem is a city which the Danites
subdued (Judges 18:29): Pamias is a place whence Jordan ariseth.". ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 67 pamias paneas the.htm

How the Israelites after this Misfortune Grew Wicked and Served ...
... They also forced the Danites to fly into the mountainous country, and left them
not the least portion of the plain country to set their foot on. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 3 how the israelites.htm

The Disposition of the Tribes in Galilee.
... only two tribes, and those of the brethren, Ephraim and Manasses: Galilee four,
Issachar, Zebulun, Nephthalim, and Asher, and a part also of the Danites. ...
/.../lightfoot/from the talmud and hebraica/chapter 62 the disposition of.htm

Samson who did to Others as they did to Him
... TO HIM. There was a certain man of Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, named
Manoah; and he and his wife had no children. But the ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/samson who did to others.htm

Index of Subjects.
... Daniel, apocryphal additions to, 359. Danites, their conquest of Laish, 243,
245. Darius Hystaspes, 261, 345. Darius the Median, 328. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/barrows/companion to the bible/index of subjects.htm

CHAPTER III.
... "Then they (the Danites) said unto him (the Levite), Ask God, we pray thee, in order
that we may know whether our way in which we go shall be prosperous. ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chapter iii.htm

Although Certain as to the Number of the Name of Antichrist, yet ...
... Eccl., v. 8). [4702] Revelation 22:19. [4703] 1 Thess. v. 3. [4704] Jeremiah 8:16.
[4705] Revelation 7:5-7. [The Danites (though not all) corrupted the Hebrew ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter xxx although certain as to.htm

A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
... The little tribe of the Danites, finding the pressure of their kinsmen on the north
and east and that of the Philistines on the west too strong, captured the ...
/.../kent/the making of a nation/study xii a nations struggle.htm

How Joshua, the Commander of the Hebrews, Made War with The
... The Danites' lot included all that part of the valley which respects the sun-setting,
and were bounded by Azotus and Dora; as also they had all Jamnia and Gath ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 1 how joshua the.htm

Danites (15 Occurrences)
...DANITES. dan'-its (ha-dani): Occurs as describing those belonging to Dan in Judges
13:2; Judges 18:1, 11 1 Chronicles 12:35. ...Danites (15 Occurrences). ...
/d/danites.htm - 11k

De'danites (1 Occurrence)
De'danites. Dedanites, De'danites. Dedicate . Multi-Version Concordance
De'danites (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 21:13 The word about Arabia. ...
/d/de'danites.htm - 6k

Danite (7 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Judges 13:2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites,
whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and didn't bear. ...
/d/danite.htm - 9k

Zorah (10 Occurrences)
... Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh (Joshua 19:41); the birthplace of Samson (Judges 13:2, 25);
near here too he was buried (Judges 16:31); from here some Danites went to ...
/z/zorah.htm - 11k

Tribe (250 Occurrences)
... were performed (Judges 14). The expedition of the Danites recorded in Judges
18 is referred to in Joshua 19:47. 4. The Danite Raid ...
/t/tribe.htm - 45k

Dan (71 Occurrences)
... On receiving this report, 600 Danites girded on their weapons of war, and taking
with them their wives and their children, marched to the foot of Hermon, and ...
/d/dan.htm - 41k

28600 (2 Occurrences)
... 28600 (2 Occurrences). 1 Chronicles 12:35 Of the Danites who could set the battle
in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred. (See NAS NIV). ...
/num/28600.htm - 6k

Rehob (12 Occurrences)
... spies. This agrees with the position assigned to Beth-rehob in the narrative
of the settlement of the Danites (Judges 18:28). It ...
/r/rehob.htm - 13k

Eshtaol (7 Occurrences)
... buried (Judges 16:31). A contingent from Eshtaol formed part of the 600 Danites
who captured Laish (Judges 18:2, 11). It is probably ...
/e/eshtaol.htm - 10k

Manoah (14 Occurrences)
... 4). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. MANOAH. ma-no'-a (manoach, "rest"):
A man of Zorah and of the family of the Danites. Manoah ...
/m/manoah.htm - 13k

What can we learn from the account of Micah and the idol in Judges? | GotQuestions.org

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