City of Dan

The portion of land that fell to Dan being found too small, a party of them went far north unto Leshem or Laish, which they took, and destroyed; they built a city there and called it after their father Dan (Josh. 19:47⁴⁷And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father. (Joshua 19:47)). This is often named as the north border of Palestine; “from Dan to Beersheba” implying the whole land. It was here that open idolatry was early set up. The city is identified with a few ruins at Tell el Kady, 33° 15' N, 35° 39' E. The place is visited because one of the sources of the Jordan issues from a spring nearby.

In Ezekiel 27:19¹⁹Dan also and Javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs: bright iron, cassia, and calamus, were in thy market. (Ezekiel 27:19) occurs in the AV. “Dan also and Javan.” This is now judged to be better translated “Vedan and Javan,” though it is not known what place is alluded to by the name “Vedan.”