9 Elul – Yahrzeit of Dan, son of Jacob our Father

9 Elul – Yahrzeit of Dan, son of Jacob our Father

Dan was the son of the patriarch Jacob and Rachel's maidservant, Bilhah. He was one of the Twelve Tribes. He married Aflalat, a Moabite woman and the daughter of Hamudan (Sefer HaYashar, Vayeshev; Seder HaDorot). Dan died in Egypt in the year 2320 / 1440 BCE / at the age of 125 (Yalkut Shimoni, Exodus 162; Seder HaDorot HaKatzar) Dan's son: Hushim (Genesis 46:23)—[his sons were] energetic, perceptive [men], and innumerable. (Targum Jonathan, Genesis 46:23) Dan's son: Hushim (Genesis 46:23)—numerous as a forest of reeds. (Bava Batra 143b) Hushim, the son of Dan, was one of those who struck Esau when he tried to prevent Jacob's sons from burying him in Me'arat HaMachpelah, the Cave of the Patriarchs, in Hebron. (Sotah 13b) For the kindness shown by Dan [her maidservant's son], she [Rachel] merited conceiving. (Bereshit Rabbah 73:4) Dan died in Egypt in the year 2320 / 1440 BCE / at the age of 125. (Yalkut Shimoni, Exodus 162; Seder HaDorot HaKatzar) The tribe of Dan included the skilled artisan Oholiab, son of Ahisamach, who was Bezalel's closest assistant in constructing the Tabernacle and all its furnishings (Exodus 31:6). The camp of Dan was situated north of the Tabernacle and was the last to set out, helping those who had become weak and those who lagged behind along the way (ibid. 2:25–31, 10:25, Da'at Zekenim). The banner of the tribe of Dan was sapphire-colored and bore an image of a serpent (Bemidbar Rabbah 2:7). For our forefather Jacob, when blessing his sons before his death, said: “Dan will be a serpent on the road.” (Genesis 49:17) These words hinted at Dan's descendant, the judge Shimshon, who led the Jewish people's struggle against the Philistines (see Judges 13:1–16:31)—he would strike the enemies like a mighty serpent (Onkelos, Genesis 49:17). Moshe Rabbeinu blessed Dan: “Dan is a lion's cub, leaping forth from Bashan.” Jacob our Father blessed Dan with the words: “Dan will judge his people; as one of the tribes of Israel.” Dan was buried in the city of his children, Eshtaol. (Sefer HaYashar, end of Joshua) May the merit of the righteous Dan, son of Jacob our Father, protect us all. Amen. (Tzadikim.com, Toldot ru)