Deuteronomy 33:22

22 Moses said this about the people of Dan: "Dan is like a lion's cub, who jumps out of Bashan."

Deuteronomy 33:22 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 33:22

And of Dan he said
Of the tribe of Dan, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem:

Dan [is] a lion's whelp;
or like one for boldness, strength, and courage; and was verified in Samson, who was of this tribe; who, when a young lion roared against him, the Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he tore it to pieces, ( Judges 14:5 Judges 14:6 ) ;

he shall leap from Bashan;
not Dan, for he was seated far from that country; but the sense is, he was like to a young lion for its strength, when it leaps from Bashan, as Aben Ezra rightly explains it. Bashan was a mountain in which lions haunted, and from whence they might be said to leap, as they do when they seize on their prey: it may have some respect to the leap of the Danites from the northwest part of the land of Israel, where they were settled, but was not sufficient for them, to the northeast of it, when they went against Leshem, and took it, and called it Dan; see ( Joshua 19:47 ) .

Deuteronomy 33:22 In-Context

20 Moses said this about the people of Gad: "Praise God who gives Gad more land! Gad lives there like a lion, who tears off arms and heads.

21 They chose the best land for themselves. They received a large share, like that given to an officer. When the leaders of the people gathered, the people of Gad did what the Lord said was right, and they judged Israel fairly."

22 Moses said this about the people of Dan: "Dan is like a lion's cub, who jumps out of Bashan."

23 Moses said this about the people of Naphtali: "Naphtali enjoys special kindnesses, and they are full of the Lord's blessings. Take as your own the west and south."

24 Moses said this about the people of Asher: "Asher is the most blessed of the sons; let him be his brothers' favorite. Let him bathe his feet in olive oil.