Numbers 7:66
On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
Original Language Analysis
בַּיּוֹם֙
day
H3117
בַּיּוֹם֙
day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
1 of 8
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֔י
On the tenth
H6224
הָֽעֲשִׂירִ֔י
On the tenth
Strong's:
H6224
Word #:
2 of 8
tenth; by abbreviation, tenth month or (feminine) part
נָשִׂ֖יא
prince
H5387
נָשִׂ֖יא
prince
Strong's:
H5387
Word #:
3 of 8
properly, an exalted one, i.e., a king or sheik; also a rising mist
בֶּן
of the children
H1121
בֶּן
of the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 8
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
דָ֑ן
of Dan
H1835
דָ֑ן
of Dan
Strong's:
H1835
Word #:
5 of 8
dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them
Historical Context
Dan's territory was the smallest tribal allotment (Joshua 19:40-48), and the tribe faced Amorite pressure that forced migration northward. They conquered Laish, renamed it Dan, and established the northernmost boundary of Israel ('from Dan to Beersheba'). Tragically, Dan became a center of calf worship under Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:28-30), and is notably absent from Revelation 7's sealed tribes—a sobering warning about apostasy's consequences.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Dan's full participation in tabernacle worship (despite later apostasy) teach about the tragedy of starting well but finishing poorly (1 Corinthians 10:12)?
- How do Ahiezer's and Ammishaddai's names ('brother is help,' 'kinsman is Shaddai') point to Christ as both our brother (Hebrews 2:11) and all-sufficient God?
- What does Dan's omission from Revelation 7's sealed tribes suggest about the possibility of corporate apostasy and covenant judgment?
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Analysis & Commentary
On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered—Dan (דָּן, 'judge') was Rachel's son through her maidservant Bilhah (Genesis 30:6). Despite his irregular birth, Dan received full tribal status and inheritance. Ahiezer ('my brother is help,' אֲחִיעֶזֶר, Achi'ezer) and Ammishaddai ('my kinsman is Shaddai,' עַמִּישַׁדַּי, Ammishaddai) both emphasize covenantal relationships and divine sufficiency—the El Shaddai title (God Almighty) first appeared to Abraham (Genesis 17:1).
Dan's position here (tenth day) contrasts with his final-place position in travel order (Numbers 10:25, serving as rear guard). Yet in Ezekiel's temple vision (Ezekiel 48:1), Dan receives the northernmost gate—first position. God's economy reverses human hierarchies. Though Jacob's blessing pronounced Dan would 'judge his people' (Genesis 49:16), the tribe fell into deep idolatry (Judges 18:30-31), revealing that positional blessing requires faithful obedience.