Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
Dan will be like a snake beside the road, a poisonous snake in the path that bites the horse's heels, causing the rider to fall backward off the horse.
This verse is part of Jacob's prophecy about his son Dan, describing how Dan's descendants would be cunning warriors who would strike unexpectedly at their enemies.
📚 Historical Context
In Genesis 49, Jacob is on his deathbed blessing his twelve sons, offering prophecies about the future of their descendants and the tribes of Israel. For Dan, Jacob uses the metaphor of a serpent biting the horse's heel to symbolize cunning or unexpected challenges, drawing from ancient Near Eastern imagery where serpents represented danger and deception. This blessing reflects the patriarchal era's focus on family legacies and God's overarching plan for His people.
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