Before Israelite occupation Dan was known as Laish
and was an important city mentioned in the Execration Texts, at Mari
and in Thutmose III’s list of Canaanite cities (31: ANET,
242).Known as Tell el Qadi, Dan sits on a major crossroads of the ancient world - routes lead to the Mediterranean, Damascus and to the East. It is a large mound (50 acres some 20m above its surroundings) with its own perennial springs.
Photo of restored walls of Dan (below, dan04) from McMath
Before Israelite occupation Dan was known as Laish
and was an important city mentioned in the Execration Texts, at Mari
and in Thutmose III’s list of Canaanite cities (31: ANET,
242).
Massive walls (4m thick) and gateway protecting Dan indicate its strategic and religious importance.
Below, from McMath dan08
This large stone platform was probably
the "high place"
set up by Jeroboam I. Dan
and Bethel were at either end of Jeroboam's
kingdom. Another reason
for the choice of Dan would have been its proximity to the source
of the Jordan.
Below, from McMath dan15
Here at the foothills of Hermon springs abound, in
a dry and thirsty land such plenitude
of supply makes Dan a special place. Goulder
argues compellingly for the use of certain Psalms at the autumn
festival there.
For example Ps 42, is evidently a pilgrimage psalm, but it does not seem to work really well on a trip up to dry Jerusalem. "From the land of the Jordan to Hermon" however might well describe Dan as the pilgrim's goal. There, the "waterfalls" make sense, and all the talk of "thirst" for water with the implied fulfillment at the end of the journey seems a real hope for the pilgrim.
This page is part of the Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos , if you have reached it as a standalone
page, to view it in context, go to www.bible.gen.nz
© Tim Bulkeley, 1996-2005, Tim
Bulkeley. All rights reserved.