Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 18:29
And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city [was] Laish at the first.
29. howbeit at the first ] The same formula in Gen 28:19 E; here evidently an editorial, later addition, together with who was born unto Israel.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 29. Called the name of the city Dan] This city was afterwards very remarkable as one of the extremities of the promised land. The extent of the Jewish territories was generally expressed by the phrase, From DAN to BEER-SHEBA; that is, From the most northern to the southern extremity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
After the name of Dan their father; that it might be manifest that they belonged to the tribe of Dan, though they were seated at a great distance from them, even in the most northerly part of the land; whereas the lot of their tribe was in the southern part of Canaan.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And they called the name of the city Dan,…. The name of their tribe, and to show that though they were at the furthest part of the land northward, and at such a distance from their tribe, which lay to the southwest, yet they belonged to it:
after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel; one of the twelve sons of Jacob or Israel:
however, the name of the city was Laish at first; which signifies a “lion”, and might be so called from its being infested with lions, which might come from the mountain of Lebanon, near to which it was, and whither Dan, as a lion’s whelp, leaped, De 33:22 and now the prophecy had its accomplishment. This place was also called Leshem,
Jos 19:47 and it is remarkable that Leshem is the name of the precious stone in the high priest’s breastplate, on which the name of Dan was engraved, which was done many years before this city fell into the hands of the Danites, though that might portend it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(29) They called the name of the city Dan.Just as the Messenians changed the name Zankle into Messene.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
29. Called the name of the city Dan It henceforth became the northern limit of the land of Israel, and the formula “from Dan to Beer-sheba” is of frequent occurrence throughout the historical books. Compare Jdg 20:1. This city is mentioned as early as the time of Abram. Gen 14:14. It was situated about twelve miles north of the waters of Merom, on a circular hill, (the modern Tell el-Kady,) half a mile in circumference, and nearly eighty feet above the level of the surrounding plain. The chief ruins are on the southern declivity of the hill, but “not one solitary habitation is there. The fountain at the base of the hill pours forth its river of delicious water, but herds of black buffaloes wash and wallow in its crystal pools. You cannot even examine the site with satisfaction, so dense is the jungle of briers, thorns, and thistles which have over-spread it.” Thomson. The top of the hill commands a wide and beautiful prospect. “Often,” says the writer just quoted, “have I sat under its great oak and gazed in dreamy delight upon the luxuriant plain of the Huleh. No wonder the spies exclaimed, (Jdg 18:9-10,) ‘We have seen the land, and, behold, it is very good: a place where there is no want of any thing there is in the earth.’”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born in Israel. However, the name of the city was Laish at first.’
They renamed the city Dan after the name of Jacob’s son Dan, their ancestor, although previously it had always been called Laish. It is interesting that Laish means ‘a lion’ and that Dan was ‘a lion’s whelp’ (Deu 33:22) although the word for lion is different demonstrating that the two are not directly connected.
“Born in Israel.” There may be a hint here that they were seeking to opt out of Israel.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 18:29. They called the name of the city Dan It was situated at the extremity of the north of Judea, though the tribe of Dan had their lot in the south-west. Hence came the common saying afterwards, (when they would express the whole length of their country,) from Dan to Beersheba.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jdg 18:29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city [was] Laish at the first.
Ver. 29. The name of the city was Laish at the first. ] Laish, or Leshem. Jos 19:47 Afterwards it was called Cesarea Paneadis, and Cesarea Philippi, because rebuilt and beautified by Philip, brother to Herod the Tetrarch, in honour of Augustus Caesar.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
after the name. Compare Joshua 19.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Dan: Jdg 20:1, Gen 14:14, Jos 19:47, 2Sa 17:11, 1Ki 12:29, 1Ki 12:30, 1Ki 15:20
who was: Gen 30:6, Gen 32:28, Laish, or Dan, was situated at the northern extremity of the land of Canaan, in a beautiful and fertile plain, at the foot of mount Lebanon, on the springs of Jordan, and, according to Eusebius, four miles from Cesarea Philippi, or Paneas, now Banias – with which some have confounded it towards Tyre. Burckhardt says, that the source of the river El Dhan, or Jordan, is at an hour’s distance from Banias, which agrees with Eusebius.
Reciprocal: Deu 34:1 – Dan 2Sa 24:6 – land of Tahtimhodshi 2Ch 16:4 – Dan Isa 10:30 – Laish Jer 4:15 – a voice Jer 8:16 – was heard Eze 27:19 – Dan 1Ti 6:10 – the love