Jos 19:40-46 | KingComments | STEP | The tribe of Dan has the most unclear borders. As a large tribe they are only assigned a small territory. Would God be wrong to give Judah too much and Dan too little? God is never mistaken. He is looking ahead. He gives the people the opportunity to exercise, whereby the exercise is different for each tribe. Later Dan went looking for more territory ( ), after they first lost some of their territory ( ) to brothers and enemies. The territory has become too small by their own fault. Instead of humbling themselves about this, they set off self-willed to seek more territory. That they do not involve God in their plans is evident from the history in Judges 18. When they have met an idolater, they take him for themselves. Thus Dan becomes the first tribe to introduce idolatry ( ). If God exercises us and we lose land, what is our reaction? Do we bow down before God or do we act arbitrarily like Dan? The first two places mentioned, Zorah and Eshtaol, are known from the history of Samson. There he begins, through the Spirit, to perform his first deeds ( ).

‏ Joshua 19:40-46

The Inheritance of Dan

The tribe of Dan has the most unclear borders. As a large tribe they are only assigned a small territory. Would God be wrong to give Judah too much and Dan too little? God is never mistaken. He is looking ahead. He gives the people the opportunity to exercise, whereby the exercise is different for each tribe.

Later Dan went looking for more territory (Jdg 18:1), after they first lost some of their territory (Jdg 1:34) to brothers and enemies. The territory has become too small by their own fault. Instead of humbling themselves about this, they set off self-willed to seek more territory.

That they do not involve God in their plans is evident from the history in Judges 18. When they have met an idolater, they take him for themselves. Thus Dan becomes the first tribe to introduce idolatry (Jdg 18:30). If God exercises us and we lose land, what is our reaction? Do we bow down before God or do we act arbitrarily like Dan?

The first two places mentioned, Zorah and Eshtaol, are known from the history of Samson. There he begins, through the Spirit, to perform his first deeds (Jdg 13:25).