Genesis 46:23

And the sonnes of Dan: Hushim. Genesis 46:23 (KJV)

Context: Genesis 46 describes Jacob’s journey to Egypt along with his entire family. Jacob, also known as Israel, had received a revelation from God to go down to Egypt where his son Joseph was residing, as there was a severe famine in the land of Canaan.

Dan was the fifth son of Jacob and the first son born to him through his concubine, Bilhah.

The sons of Dan mentioned in this verse are Hushim.

The descendants of Dan would later form one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe represented a division of the Israelite people. The tribe of Dan settled in the coastal region of Canaan, particularly in the area near the city of Joppa (modern‑day Tel Aviv). The tribe of Dan later migrated from their initial coastal allotment because of Philistine resistance, eventually establishing themselves in the northern region of Canaan.

The name Dan means “judge” or “he who judges”. Throughout the Bible, the tribe of Dan is not prominently mentioned. However, one significant event involving the tribe of Dan is their participation in idolatry and the establishment of a false worship center in the city of Dan, which led to widespread idol worship among the Israelites (Judges 18:30‑31). This act was a direct violation of God’s commandments and had lasting consequences for the tribe.

Overall, Genesis 46:23 briefly mentions the descendants of Dan, highlighting their presence among the Israelites during their journey to Egypt. While the tribe of Dan faced difficulties and eventually fell into idolatry, their story serves as a reminder of the importance of remaining faithful to God and learning from the mistakes of the past.