12 sons…Dan…Naphtali….
Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob's firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. The sons of Bilhah, Rachel's servant: Dan and Naphtali. The sons of Zilpah, Leah's servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
Genesis 35:22b-26
Dan and Naphtali’ s birth…
Then she (Rachel) said, “Here is my servant Bilhah; go in to her, so that she may give birth on my behalf, that even I may have children through her.” So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went in to her. And Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. Then Rachel said, “God has judged me, and has also heard my voice and given me a son.” Therefore she called his name Dan. Rachel's servant Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. Then Rachel said, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and have prevailed.” So she called his name Naphtali.
Genesis 30:3-8
Jacob’s blessings…
“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, that bites the horse's heels so that his rider falls backward. I wait for your salvation, O Lord.
Naphtali is a doe let loose that bears beautiful fawns.
Genesis 49:16-18,21
When I went to Israel three years ago, one of the first places we visited was the northern area that the tribe of Dan claimed…while there we walked up a small knoll and there was the Northern border next to Lebanon, a United Nations camp, soldiers…”not much shelling today” was the comment..the diggings had unearthed a village with walls and a city gate seat, a worship center and an alter…
Dan’s name and history…= judge
Artisans who worked on the tabernacle…
and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.
Exodus 38:23
Samson was from the tribe of Dan…
Judges 18 tells of their taking of an area…
“A new home
The tribe, who received land populated by the powerful Amorites (Judges 1:33) and close to the war-like Philistines, were unable to fully secure their inheritance.
In desperate need for more territory, the tribe decided to attack the northern city of Leshem (Joshua 19:47), which was also called Laish (Judges 18:7). The name Leshem means "precious stone" (Strong's #H3959) while Laish means "lion" (Strong's #H3919).

The city the Danites want, however, is in the territory given to the tribe of Naphtali. As Dan was the older brother of Naphtali, the tribe likely felt their incursion would be tolerated and free from any reprisals by their younger brother's descendants. After slaughtering the city's inhabitants, they rename the town in honor of the tribe's founder. The city is soon used as an Old Testament reference to designate the northern-most point of Israel.
Later history
In 930 B.C., Israel splits into two separate nations. The new Kingdom of Israel (the northern ten tribes), and its new King Jeroboam, considers the city of Dan to be an important spiritual and strategic location. The city is fortified as a border fortress and has idols representing Yahweh placed within in to discourage visits to Jerusalem.
The city's isolated location makes it vulnerable to attacks (see 1Kings 15:20). The city is one of the first areas conquered by the Assyrian Empire when the people in the land are taken into captivity (2Kings 15:29).
Dan is also the only Israelite tribe not listed in Revelation 7.”
From Bible study organization…
“One quite common speculation as to why the tribe of Dan is not listed in Revelation comes from the fact that they had an enormous difficulty with idolatry. Their worship of idols began right after they fought for and secured their inheritance in the Promised Land (Judges 18:1 - 2, 29 - 31).” From Bible Study Questions
“• Dan’s historical embrace of idolatry and immorality leads to a disqualification for service during the end times.
• The Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan (based on certain readings of Genesis 49:17; Deuteronomy 33:22; and Jeremiah 8:16).
• By the time of Solomon, the tribe of Dan had assimilated with the neighboring Phoenicians (as 2 Chronicles 2:14 may hint at) and so lost their national identity.
• The tribe of Dan, once the second-most populous tribe, declined in numbers and influence until, by Ezra’s time, it had been totally wiped out. This would explain why Dan is not listed among the tribes in 1 Chronicles 4—7 or in Revelation 7.” From Got Questions
Naphtali =wrestling
“In the land of Naphtali Jesus spent a great part of his public life, the land of Gennesaret, Bethsaida, Capernaum and Chorazin all lying within its boundaries (compare Matthew 4:15).” From Bible Study tools…there is a long explanation of Naphtali at this site…
Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali, too, on the heights of the field.
Judges 5:18
He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze. And he was full of wisdom, understanding, and skill for making any work in bronze. He came to King Solomon and did all his work.
1 Kings 7:14+ tells of the work he did for the temple…
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
Matthew 4:12-16
Takeaway….it is so interesting to follow through these tribes…and this is by no means a thorough study, I will be the first to admit…so much information …but, for the time of their birth, each son was on a path…their father blessed each…
The Tribe of Dan disappeared after having great times/men and then fell …not to be even named at the end…how sad…their independence and idol worship were their undoing…
Naphtali settled in beautiful country and they later housed Peter and his family, Jesus…
What contrasts between brothers…
We have those same decisions…thank YOU….
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