Dict: smith - DAN

smith:

DAN - D>@ - (a judge). The fifth son of Jacob, and the first of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid. kjv@Genesis:30:6) (B.C. after 1753.) The origin of the name is given in the exclamation of Rachel. The records of Dan are unusually meagre. Only one son is attributed to him, kjv@Genesis:46:23) but his tribe was, with the exception of Judah, the most numerous of all. In the division of the promised land Dan was the last of the tribes to receive his portion, which was the smallest of the twelve. kjv@Joshua:19:48) But notwithstanding its smallness it had eminent natural advantages. On the north and east it was completely embraced by its two brother tribes Ephraim and Benjamin, while on the southeast and south it joined Judah, and was thus surrounded by the three most powerful states of the whole confederacy. It was a rich and fertile district; but the Amorites soon "forced them into the mountain," kjv@Judges:1:34) and they had another portion granted them. kjv@Judges:18. In the "security" and "quiet," kjv@Judges:18:7 kjv@Judges:18:10) of their rich northern possession the Danites enjoyed the leisure and repose which had been denied them in their original seat. In the time of David Dan still kept its place among the tribes. ( kjv@1Chronicles:12:35) Asher is omitted, but the "prince of the tribe of Dan" is mentioned in the list of ( kjv@1Chronicles:27:22) But from this time forward the name as applied to the tribe vanishes; it is kept alive only by the northern city. In the genealogies of 1Chr 2-12, Dan is omitted entirely. Lastly, Dan is omitted from the list of those who were sealed by the angel in the vision of St. John. kjv@Revelation:7:5-7) The well-known city, so familiar as the most northern landmark of Palestine, in the common expression "from Dan even to beersheba." The name of the place was originally LAISH or LESHEM. kjv@Joshua:19:47) After the establishment of the Danites at Dan it became the acknowledged extremity of the country. It is now Tell el
- Kadi , a mound, three miles from Banias, from the foot of which gushes out one of the largest fountains in the world, the main source of the Jordan.

DANITES, THE - D>@ - The descendants of Dan and the members of his tribe. kjv@Judges:13:2 kjv@Judges:18:1 kjv@Judges:18:11; kjv@1Chronicles:12:35)

DANJAAN - D>@ - (Danian , i.e. belonging to Dan). (2 Samuel 24:6) Probably the same as DAN.

DANCE - D>@ - The dance is spoken of in Holy Scripture universally as symbolical of some rejoicing, and is often coupled for the sake of contrast with mourning, as in kjv@Ecclesiastes:3:4) comp. Psal 30:11; kjv@Matthew:11:17 In the earlier period it is found combined with some song or refrain, kjv@Exodus:15:20 kjv@Exodus:32:18-19; kjv@1Samuel:21:11) and with the tambourine (Authorized Version "timbrel"), more especially in those impulsive outbursts of popular feeling which cannot find sufficient vent in voice or in gesture singly. Dancing formed a part of the religious ceremonies of the Egyptians, and was also common in private entertainments. For the most part dancing was carried on by the women, the two sexes seldom and not customarily intermingling. The one who happened to be near of kin to the champion of the hour led the dance. In the earlier period of the Judges the dances of the virgins of Shiloh. kjv@Judges:21:19-23) were certainly part of a religious festivity. Dancing also had its place among merely festive amusements, apart from any religious character. kjv@Jeremiah:31:4 kjv@Jeremiah:31:13 kjv@Mark:6:22)

DANCE - D>@ - a musical instrument of percussion, supposed to have been used by the Hebrews at an early period of their history.

DANIEL - D>@ - (judgment of God). The second son of David, by Abigail the Carmelitess. ( kjv@1Chronicles:3:1) In (2 Samuel kjv@3:3) he is called Chileab. (B.C. about 1051.) The fourth of ’the greater prophets." Nothing is known of his parentage or family. He appears, however, to have been of royal or noble descent, kjv@Daniel:1:3) and to have possessed considerable personal endowments. kjv@Daniel:1:4) He was taken to Babylon in "the third year of Jehoiakim" (B.C. 604), and trained for the king’s service. He was divinely supported in his resolve to abstain from the "king’s meat" for fear of defilement. kjv@Daniel:1:8-16) At the close of his three years discipline, kjv@Daniel:1:5 kjv@Daniel:1:18) Daniel had an opportunity of exercising his peculiar gift, kjv@Daniel:1:17) of interpreting dreams, on the occasion of Nebuchadnezzar’s decree against the Magi. kjv@Daniel:2:14) ff. In consequence of his success he was made "ruler of the whole province of Babylon." kjv@Daniel:2:48) He afterwards interpreted the second dream of Nebuchadnezzar, kjv@Daniel:4:8-27) and the handwriting on the wall which disturbed the feast of Belshazzar. kjv@Daniel:5:10-28) At the accession of Darius he was made first of the "three presidents" of the empire, kjv@Daniel:6:2) and was delivered from the lion’s den, into which he had been cast for his faithfulness to the rites of his faith. kjv@Daniel:6:10-23) cf. Bel and Dr. 29-42. At the accession of Cyrus he still retained his prosperity, kjv@Daniel:6:28) cf. Dani 1:21 Though he does not appear to have remained at Babylon, cf. kjv@Daniel:1:21) and in "the third year of Cyrus" (B.C. 534) he saw his last recorded vision, on the banks of the Tigris. kjv@Daniel:10:1 kjv@Daniel:10:4) In the prophecies of Ezekiel mention is made of Daniel as a pattern of righteousness, kjv@Ezekiel:14:14 kjv@Ezekiel:14:20) and wisdom. kjv@Ezekiel:28:3) The narrative in kjv@Daniel:1:11) implies that Daniel was conspicuously distinguished for purity and knowledge at a very early age. A descendant of Ithamar, who returned with Ezra. kjv@Ezra:8:2) A priest who sealed the covenant drawn up by Nehemiah, B.C. 445. kjv@Nehemiah:10:6) He is perhaps the same as No. 3.

DANIEL, THE BOOK OF - D>@ - stands at the head of a series of writings in which the deepest thoughts of the Jewish people found expression after their close of the prophetic era. Daniel is composed partly in the vernacular Aramaic (Chaldee) and partly in the sacred Hebrew. The introduction, Daniel:1-2:4 a, is written in Hebrew. On the occasion of the "Syriac" (i.e. Aramaic) answer of the Chaldeans, the language changes to Aramaic, and this is retained till the close of the seventh chapter (2:4 b-7). The personal introduction of Daniel as the writer of the text, kjv@8:1, is marked by the resumption of the Hebrew, which continues to the close of the book. ch. 8-12. The book may be divided into three parts. The first chapter forms an introduction. The next six chapters, 2-7, give a general view of the progressive history of the powers of the world, and of the principles of the divine government as seen in the events of the life of Daniel. The remainder of the book, chs. 8-12, traces in minuter detail the fortunes of the people of God, as typical of the fortunes of the Church in all ages. In the first seven chapters Daniel is spoken of historically ; int he last five he appears personally as the writer. The cause of the difference of person is commonly supposed to lie int he nature of the case. It is, however, more probable that the peculiarity arose from the manner in which the book assumed its final shape. The book exercised a great influence upon the Christian Church. The New Testament incidentally acknowledges each of the characteristic elements of the book, its miracles, kjv@Hebrews:11:33-34) its predictions, kjv@Matthew:24:15) and its doctrine of angels. kjv@Luke:1:19 kjv@Luke:1:26) The authenticity of the book has been attacked in modern times. (But the evidence, both external and internal, is conclusive as to its genuineness. Rawlinson, in his "Historical Evidences," shows how some historical difficulties that had been brought against the book are solved by the inscription on a cylinder lately found among the ruins of Ur in Chaldea.
ED.)

DANIEL, APOCRYPHAL ADDITIONS TO - D>@ - The Greek translations of Daniel contain several pieces which are not found int he original text. The most important are contained in the Apocrypha of the English Bible under the titles of The Son of the Three Holy Children, The History of Susannah, and The History of...Bel and the Dragon. The first of these is supposed to be the triumphal song of the three confessors in the furnace, kjv@Daniel:3:23) praising God for their deliverance, of which a chief part (35-66) has been used as a hymn in the Christian Church since the fourth century. The second, called also The Judgment of Daniel , relates the story of the clearing of Susannah from a charge of adultery; and the third gives an exaggerated account of Daniel’s deliverance.

DANNAH - D>@ - a city in the mountains of Judah, kjv@Joshua:15:49) and probably south or southwest of Hebron. No trace of its name has been discovered.