Lexical Summary Machaneh-dan: Camp of Dan Original Word: מַחֲנֵה־דָן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Mahaneh-dan From machaneh and Dan; camp of Dan; Machaneh-Dan, a place in Palestine -- Mahaneh-dan. see HEBREW machaneh see HEBREW Dan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom machaneh and Dan Definition "camp of Dan," a place where the Danites stayed NASB Translation Mahaneh-dan (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs מַחֲנֵהדָֿ֑ן proper name, of a location = camp of Dan, name given, Judges 13:25; Judges 18:12, to place where Danites encamped (see Bla). Topical Lexicon Meaning and Form of the Name Derived from the Hebrew machaneh, “camp,” joined to the tribal name Dan, Mahaneh-Dan means “Camp of Dan.” It designates the temporary base established by the Danites as they prepared to move northward in search of new territory. Geographical Setting Mahaneh-Dan lay “west of Kiriath-jearim” (Judges 18:12), on the borderlands between Judah and the original Danite inheritance in the Shephelah. The site is generally placed in the vicinity of modern-day Khirbet-al-Qila or one of the nearby ridges overlooking the Sorek Valley, between Zorah and Eshtaol. The location provided a defensible encampment, access to water, and proximity to the main north–south ridge route. Biblical Occurrence Judges 18:12 records a single mention: “They went up and camped at Kiriath-jearim in Judah. That is why the place is called Mahaneh-Dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath-jearim.” The narrator notes that the name was still in use at the time of writing, suggesting the camp’s enduring reputation among Israel’s tribes. Historical Background of the Tribe of Dan Although Joshua assigned Dan a coastal-lowland inheritance (Joshua 19:40-48), persistent Philistine pressure and the tribe’s incomplete conquest left many Danites land-hungry and restless. By the time of the Judges, a contingent resolved to seek territory elsewhere. Their movement northward culminated in the conquest of Laish (renamed Dan) and the establishment of a rival cultic center (Judges 18:27-31). Mahaneh-Dan served as the staging ground for this migration. Role in the Judges 18 Narrative 1. Rally Point: Six hundred armed Danites gathered at Mahaneh-Dan, bringing families, livestock, and household goods. Theological and Ministry Significance • Partial Obedience and Its Consequences: Dan’s failure to secure its God-given inheritance led to unauthorized expansion, illustrating the cost of incomplete obedience. Archaeological and Historical Notes Proposed sites for Mahaneh-Dan share several features: proximity to Kiriath-jearim, vantage over approaches from the coastal plain, and evidence of Iron Age occupation. Surveys near Emmaus-Nicopolis and Tel Qeila have revealed occupation layers compatible with late Bronze and early Iron Age encampments, though definitive identification remains tentative. The persistence of the name in the biblical text suggests that the location maintained a reputation into the united-monarchy era, functioning as a mnemonic of Dan’s migratory episode. Lessons for Today Mahaneh-Dan invites reflection on the importance of trusting God’s original assignments, avoiding the allure of easier options, and guarding against the subtle beginnings of idolatry. It also reminds believers that collective decisions made in seasons of transition can chart spiritual trajectories for generations to come. Forms and Transliterations דָ֗ן דן Dan ḏānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Judges 18:12 HEB: הַה֜וּא מַחֲנֵה־ דָ֗ן עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם NAS: that place Mahaneh-dan to this KJV: that place Mahanehdan unto this day: INT: place he Mahaneh-dan against day |