The Tribal Portions

48 These are the names of the tribes: Beginning at the northern border, on the Hethlon road,^[a] to Lebo-hamath, as far as Hazar-enon (which is on the border of Damascus, with Hamath to the north), and^[b] extending from the east side to the west,^[c] Dan, one portion.^(A)

¹⁵ This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and on to Zedad,^{[a](A) 16} Berothah, Sibraim (which lies between the border of Damascus and the border of Hamath), as far as Hazer-hatticon, which is on the border of Hauran.^{(B) 17} So the boundary shall run from the sea to Hazar-enon, which is north of the border of Damascus, with the border of Hamath to the north.^[b] This shall be the north side.^(C)

The Territory of Dan

⁴⁰ The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan according to its families. ⁴¹ The territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh, ⁴² Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,^{(A) 43} Elon, Timnah, Ekron, ⁴⁴ Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, ⁴⁵ Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon, ⁴⁶ Me-jarkon, and Rakkon at the border opposite Joppa. ⁴⁷ When the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the sword, they took possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem Dan, after their ancestor Dan.^(B)

⁴ And I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the people of Israel:^(A)

¹⁵ Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’^{[a](A) 16} So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”^[b](B)

²⁰ On the west side, the Great Sea shall be the boundary to a point opposite Lebo-hamath. This shall be the west side.^(A)

²⁸ So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold. He said to the people,^[a] “You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.”^{(A) 29} He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan.^(B)

² So the king said to Joab and the commanders of the army^[a] who were with him, “Go through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beer-sheba, and take a census of the people, so that I may know how many there are.”^(A)

²⁶ Then the Danites went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home.

The Danites Settle in Laish

²⁷ The Danites, having taken what Micah had made and the priest who belonged to him, came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, put them to the sword, and burned down the city.^{(A) 28} There was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with Aram.^[a] It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. They rebuilt the city and lived in it.^{(B) 29} They named the city Dan after their ancestor Dan, who was born to Israel, but the name of the city was formerly Laish.^(C)