Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 49:16
Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
16. Dan ] In this and the following verse we have two independent oracles concerning the tribe of Dan. (1) Gen 49:16 deals with its position in Israel; (2) Gen 49:17, with its attitude towards its foes.
judge ] For the play on the name Dan, see Gen 30:6. The word “judge” carries with it the sense of “pleading the cause of” and “helping.” Cf. Jer 22:16, “he judged the cause of the poor and needy.” Targum of Onkelos understood a reference to Samson to be contained in the word “judge” (Judges 13-16.).
his people ] The people of his tribe; not the people of Israel generally. The tribe possessed independence, not supremacy.
As one of the tribes ] Dan, though smaller than other tribes (cf. Jos 19:47-48; Jdg 1:34-35; Jdg 18:11), will not be inferior in position and power, within its own domains, to the other tribes. It seems probable that Dan, standing here after Zebulun and Issachar, represents only the small northern portion of the tribe. Cf. Jdg 18:1; Jdg 18:29.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
16. Dan shall judge his people,
As one of the tribes of Israel.
17. Dan shall be a serpent on the way,
A cerastes upon the track,
Biting the heels of the horse,
And his rider shall fall backwards.
Verse 16. Dan shall judge] Dan, whose name signifies judgment, was the eldest of Jacob’s sons by Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, and he is here promised an equal rule with those tribes that sprang from either Leah or Rachel, the legal wives of Jacob.
Some Jewish and some Christian writers understand this prophecy of Samson, who sprang from this tribe, and judged, or as the word might be translated avenged, the people of Israel twenty years. See Jdg 13:2; Jdg 15:20.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
i.e. Rule and govern them. Though he be the son of my concubine, yet he shall not be subject to any other tribe, but shall have an absolute power within himself. What is said of him is to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines, and hereby all difference between the sons of the wives and concubines is taken away. It is said of
Dan, because he is the first mentioned of that sort. As the rest of the tribes do, having distinct governments and governors amongst them. See Num 1:4,16.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. There is an elegant paronomasia, or an allusion to the name of Dan in those words, which signifies to judge, and the sense of them is, there should be heads, rulers, and judges of it, as the other tribes had; and this is the rather mentioned of him, because he is the first of the children of concubine wives as yet taken notice of; and what is here said of him is also to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines; for the meaning is not, that a judge should arise out of him as out of the other tribes, that should judge all Israel, restraining it to Samson, who was of this tribe, as the Targums and Jarchi; for no such judge did arise out of all the tribes of Israel; nor was Samson such a judge of Israel as David, who, according to Jarchi, is one of the tribes of Israel, namely, of Judah; for David did not judge as Samson, nor Samson as David, their form of government being different.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“ Dan will procure his people justice as one of the tribes of Israel. Let Dan become a serpent by the way, a horned adder in the path, that biteth the horse’s heels, so that its rider falls back.” Although only the son of a maid-servant, Dan would not be behind the other tribes of Israel, but act according to his name ( ), and as much as any other of the tribes procure justice to his people (i.e., to the people of Israel; not to his own tribe, as Diestel supposes). There is no allusion in these words to the office of judge which was held by Samson; they merely describe the character of the tribe, although this character came out in the expedition of a portion of the Danites to Laish in the north of Canaan, a description of which is given in Judg 18, as well as in the “romantic chivalry of the brave, gigantic Samson, when the cunning of the serpent he overthrew the mightiest foes” ( Del.). : , the very poisonous horned serpent, which is of the colour of the sand, and as it lies upon the ground, merely stretching out its feelers, inflicts a fatal wound upon any who may tread upon it unawares ( Diod. Sic. 3, 49; Pliny. 8, 23).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Verses 16-18:
Dan was the firstborn son of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. He was to occupy an important role in the commonwealth of Israel. The prediction that he should judge his people may allude to the prominence of judges from this tribe. One of the most notable was Samson.
The “serpent” is the cerastes, “horned serpent,” the color of sand and marked with spots of black and white. It was a dangerous reptile, very poisonous; its bite was usually fatal. It appears this is an allusion to the treachery which marked this tribe. It was Dan which led the first tribal movement into idolatry after possessing the Land (Judges chapter 18). The list of Israel’s tribes in Re 7 omits the name of Da Some of the ancient “Church Fathers” (among them Irenaeus, Ambrose, Augustine, Theodoret) believe the Antichrist is to spring from this tribe, due to this omission of his and to the allusion to the “serpent.”
After the prophecy regarding Dan, Jacob lifts us a prayer expressing his own faith, as well as his confidence on behalf of his offspring. “Salvation” here refers to national deliverance, from the hand of Jehovah, and not to the personal salvation of the soul.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
16. Dan shall judge his people. In the word judge there is an allusion to his name: for since, among the Hebrews, דון ( din) signifies to judge, Rachel, when she returned thanks to God, gave this name to the son born to her by her handmaid, as if God had been the vindicator of her cause and right. Jacob now gives a new turn to the meaning of the name; namely, that the sons of Dan shall have no mean part in the government of the people. For the Jews foolishly restrict it to Samson, because he alone presided over the whole people, whereas the language rather applies to the perpetual condition of the tribe. Jacob therefore means, that though Dan was born from a concubine, he shall still be one of the judges of Israel: because not only shall his offspring possess a share of the government and command, in the common polity, so that this tribe may constitute one head; but it shall be appointed the bearer of a standard to lead the fourth division of the camp of Israel. (210) In the second place, his subtle disposition is described. For Jacob compares this people to serpents, who rise out of their lurking-places, by stealth, against the unwary whom they wish to injure. The sense then is, that he shall not be so courageous as earnestly and boldly to engage in open conflict; but that he will fight with cunning, and will make use of snares. Yet, in the meantime, he shows that he will be superior to his enemies, whom he does not dare to approach with collected forces, just as serpents who, by their secret bite, cast down the horse and his rider. In this place also no judgment is expressly passed, whether this subtlety of Dan is to be deemed worthy of praise or of censure: but conjecture rather inclines us to place it among his faults, or at least his disadvantages, that instead of opposing himself in open conflict with his enemies, he will fight them only with secret frauds. (211)
(210) See Num 2:0, where the order of the tribes in their encampment is given. Judah had the standard for the three tribes on the east, Reuben for the three tribes on the south, Ephriam for the three tribes on the west, and Dan for the remaining three tribes on the north of the tabernacle. — Ed.
(211) The word שפיפון, ( sheppiphon,) translated “adder,” occurs only in this place. It is supposed by Bochart to be the cerastes, “a serpent so called,” says Calmet, “because it has horns on its forehead.” Dr. A. Clarke gives this translation:
“
Dan shall be a serpent on the way, A cerastes upon the track, Biting the heels of the horse, And his rider shall fall backwards.”
—
Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(16, 17) Dan.In passing on to the sons of the handmaids it was necessary to assure them of an independent rank among their brethren. The four tribes descended from them did always hold an inferior position, but Jacob by his words to Dan prevented their ever becoming subject states. Playing, then, upon the name Dan (a judge), he says that he shall judge his people as a distinct and separate tribe, possessed of all those rights of self-government and tribal independence which this rank implied. It seems also that Dans symbol was a serpent, and from this Jacob prophesies that though too weak a tribe to take the foremost place in war, yet that Dan should not be without military importance; and this was especially the case in the days of Samson. The word rendered adder is more exactly the arrow-snake, which lies in wait in the path, a narrow track, and springs upon its prey as it passes. A horse bitten in this way would rear and throw its rider, who would then be in the power of his assailant.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Dan shall judge A play upon the name of Dan, which means a judge, or judging . Comp . Gen 30:6. Being the first named of the sons of the handmaids, it is fitting to emphasize the thought that he shall, nevertheless, even as the sons of Leah, or any of the tribes, exercise due authority as one of the tribes of Israel. Some suppose there is here a special allusion to Samson, the distinguished judge, who sprang from this tribe; but this is unnecessary as an exposition of the sense of the verse .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“Dan will judge his people, as one of the offshoots (or rods or tribes) of Israel,
Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path,
Who bites the horses’ heels, so that his rider falls backwards.
I have waited for your deliverance, Oh Yahweh.”
“Dan will judge his people.” The family tribe was split up into sub-tribes. This is evidenced by the fact that Exodus 1 speaks of ‘every man and his household’ coming down to Egypt. This is what we would in fact expect as the sons married and built up their own groupings, as Jacob had himself done with Laban. Thus ‘Dan will judge his people’ simply refers to the common fact that he is to be master over his own ‘household’, successfully making independent major decisions and acting as arbiter when necessary (in part contrast to Issachar).
“As one of the offshoots (shivte) of Israel.” This is the first use of a phrase that would much later signify ‘the tribes of Israel’. But the latter is probably a developed meaning of shevet (used in verse 10 for ‘sceptre’) with a specialised meaning and not strictly applicable at this stage. ‘Shevet’ as translated ‘tribe’ is in fact used exclusively of Israel in the Old Testament representing those who have ‘descended’ from Israel. The one possible exception to this is Isa 19:13, but there it may mean ‘sceptres’, or alternately simply arise from its later established use. It is thus, at least at this early stage, not a general word for a tribe. Its meaning is ‘rod’, either as a symbol of rulership or as a means of punishment, or ‘offshoot’.
So in this early use it probably signifies ‘offshoot’ referring to Dan himself as an offshoot of Jacob. Compare for this verse 28, where the sons are described as ‘shivte of Israel’. Jacob had all the pride of a patriarch who had produced a large family tribe.
An alternative possibility is that Dan is here being seen as one of Jacob’s ‘rods’ as the one who acts as leader and judge. Compare ‘the rod of men’ in 2Sa 7:14 and ‘Oh Assyrian, the rod of my anger (Isa 10:5).’
If we do accept the translation ‘tribes’ it may serve to demonstrate that the groupings in Egypt are enlarging and expanding to such an extent that they can now be called ‘tribes’, although the word is never used of groupings other than Israel in the Pentateuch and thus has a specialist meaning. Their influence and wealth in Egypt, bolstered by having their brother as Vizier, might ensure such rapid expansion. They may well now be too large to be called ‘households’.
“Dan will be a serpent in the way —”. Jacob’s complaint is that in his leadership and as a dispenser of justice he is devious and untrustworthy. He is like a snake waiting to strike unexpectedly, thus bringing down a horse’s rider. He will not deal fairly with his people. Alternately it may mean that although his sub-tribe is small and insignificant he will be able by subtlety to beat greater peoples than his own who are threatening him.
“I have waited for your deliverance, Oh Yahweh.” Jacob has waited for Yahweh to act to deal with the problem, and in his dying breath again calls on Him to do so. Is it not time now for Yahweh to act? This suggests that Dan’s behaviour is actually contrary to the covenant and covenant ordinances to such an extent that Yahweh’s intervention could be expected.
Alternately the prayer may reflect the large task facing Dan which he need Yahweh’s help to cope with.
The mention of, and prayer to, Yahweh demonstrates that in Egypt the covenant is still holding and Jacob expects God to act in accordance with it.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Gen 49:16. Dan shall judge his people From the six sons of Leah, Jacob passes to those of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. He begins with intimating, that the sons of the handmaids shall have the same privilege with those of the mistresses, and be heads and judges of their own tribes. Accordingly, alluding to the name of Dan, a judge, he declares, “That he should judge his people, that is, his own tribe, like the rest of the twelve.” Onkelos expounds it thus, a man shall arise out of the tribe of Dan, in whose days his people shall be delivered; referring to Samson, who was a Danite, Jdg 13:2 and judged Israel twenty years, Jdg 15:20. Durell translates this, Dan shall avenge his people; and observes, that the verb don, besides its signification of judging and contending, certainly signifies to avenge or assist the injured. This might be inferred from the reason assigned by Rachel for giving the child this name; viz. because she said, God hath avenged me, and hath also heard my voice, for thus the words should be rendered; therefore she called his name Dan, i.e.. avenger, Gen 30:6. If this verse has reference, according to the general opinion, to Samson, a native of this tribe, the title of avenger will, at least, be as suitable to him as that of judge, and will be also better connected with what is said in the next verse. But I should think it preferable to understand the whole of what is here said with greater latitude, viz. as a description of the genius and manners of all the Danites.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 49:16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
Ver. 16. Dan shall judge. ] Here is an allusion to his name in the original; q.d., the Judger shall judge. This is a high honour, to sit in the seat of judicature, and no less a burden: Fructus honos oneris, fructus honoris onus. They that are called to this office must neither spare the great for might, nor the mean for misery; as they must have nothing to lose, so nothing to get neither; they must be above all price or sale; and straining out all self-affections, see to it that “justice, justice” – as Moses speaks, Deu 16:20 , marg.; that is, pure justice, without mud – run down as a mighty torrent.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 49:16-18
16″Dan shall judge his people,
As one of the tribes of Israel.
17Dan shall be a serpent in the way,
A horned snake in the path,
That bites the horse’s heels,
So that his rider falls backward.
18For Your salvation I wait, O Lord. “
Gen 49:16 “Dan” This is a play on the name Dan (BDB 192), which means “judge” (BDB 192), as Dinah (BDB 192) is the feminine form and means “judgess.” If this is true the phrase refers to Dan as small, but deadly.
Gen 49:17 “Dan shall be a serpent in the way” One of my favorite OT commentators, Leupold, takes Gen 49:17; Gen 49:27 in a positive sense (note Gen 49:18). However, from the context it may be negative. We have some biblical examples of those who were from the tribe of Dan (cf. Judges 18). Because Judges 18 is the first occurrence of idolatry among the tribes in the Bible and because Dan left their land allocation given by Joshua, many have assumed that Dan is stigmatized by these acts. Dan is not included in the list of tribes in Rev 7:5-8. Many of the early church fathers, Irenaeus, Ambrose, Augustine, and Theodore, assume that the antiChrist would come from the tribe of Dan.
Gen 49:18 “For Your salvation I wait, O LORD” The exact purpose of this outburst of prayer into this context has been disputed. Is it from Jacob or Dan? Is it a thanksgiving for God’s (only use of YHWH in Genesis 49) care which was brought to mind by the mention of the “serpent,” Genesis 49 :l7, referring to Genesis 3? Possibly it is a prayer that the tribe of Dan would recognize their waywardness and return to trust in YHWH’s protection and deliverance (i.e., original tribal allocations in Philistine controlled area).
SPECIAL TOPIC: SALVATION (OLD TESTAMENT TERM)
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Dan shall judge. Figure of speech Paronomasia. App-6. Dan Jadin, Compare Gen 30:6. Fulfilled in Jdg 15:20.
tribes. Hebrew sceptres (Gen 49:10). Figure of speech Metonymy (of Adjunct). Put for ruler.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Gen 30:6, Num 10:25, Deu 33:22, Jdg 13:2, Jdg 13:24, Jdg 13:25, Jdg 15:20, Jdg 18:1, Jdg 18:2
Reciprocal: Gen 46:23 – Dan Num 1:38 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 49:16. Dan shall judge his people Jacob alludes to the name Dan, which signifies to judge, or judging. Onkelos, a famous Jewish rabbi of the first century, and the author of a Targum or paraphrase in the Chaldee language on the books of Moses, the most simple and the most esteemed of all the Targums of the Jews, expounds the passage thus: A man shall arise out of the tribe of Dan, in whose days his people shall be delivered; referring to Samson, who was of that tribe, Jdg 13:2, and who judged Israel twenty years, Jdg 15:20. But the latter part of the verse seems not perfectly to agree with this, as all the tribes did not produce judges. The meaning, therefore seems rather to be, Though he be the son of one of my concubines, yet he shall not be subject to any other, but shall be a tribe governed by judges of his own, as well as any of the other tribes. And what is said of him is to be understood of the rest of the sons of the concubines, and hereby all difference between them and the sons of the wives is taken away. It is spoken of Dan, because he is first mentioned of that sort.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
49:16 Dan {m} shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
(m) Shall have the honour of a tribe.