Dan

Fifth son of Jacob, first son through Bilhah, Rachel’s servant. Ancestor of the tribe of Dan.

Name

Rachel, who was childless at the time, named him Dan, meaning “he judged,” saying “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son” (Genesis 30:6).

Jacob’s Blessing

In Genesis 49:16-17, Jacob blessed Dan: “Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a viper by the path.”

Tribe

The tribe of Dan initially settled near the coast but later migrated north due to pressure from the Philistines. The judge Samson came from the tribe of Dan.