Dan
Archimandrite Nikifor’s Biblical Encyclopedia
(judge). So named because Rachel, at his birth, said: “God hath judged me, and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son” (Gen. 30:6). Fifth son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, progenitor of the tribe of Dan. Jacob’s prophecy concerning Dan: “Dan shall judge his people… Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels” (49:16, 17), is interpreted variously, but most likely it points to the cunning of his descendants, just as does the other prediction concerning Dan: “Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan” (Deut. 33:22), from the slopes of Hermon, where he lies in wait for his prey, points to the strength and warlike nature of the descendants of Dan. Indeed, we know that Samson, who came from the city of Zorah, of the tribe of Dan — the most famous of the Danites for his strength — was also distinguished by his cunning and craftiness (Judg. 14, 15). Perhaps this same warlike spirit and cunning were the distinguishing traits of the whole tribe of Dan.