Dan Attractions
The kibbutz of Dan, 8km/5mi east of Qiryat Shemona near Israel's northern frontier, was founded in 1939 and named after Tel Dan, site of the ancient town of Dan, 1km/0.75 mi north. At its foot rises the river Dan, one of the three source streams of the Jordan.
History
The tell was the site of the Canaanite city of Leshem (Joshua 19,47), also called Laish, which is referred to in Egyptian texts of the 18th and 15th centuries B.C. It was conquered by the Jewish tribe of Dan, who set up a graven image which they had stolen on Mount Ephraim and built a shrine to house it (Judges 18,27-31). Another pagan shrine was established by Jeroboam I, first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Since the Temple in Jerusalem was held by the kingdom of Judah he caused two shrines to be built, one in Bethel and the other in Dan, in which a golden calf was worshipped (1 Kings 12,28-30). He also built a palace in Dan. Two hundred years later the city was destroyed by Tiglath-pileser III.
History
The tell was the site of the Canaanite city of Leshem (Joshua 19,47), also called Laish, which is referred to in Egyptian texts of the 18th and 15th centuries B.C. It was conquered by the Jewish tribe of Dan, who set up a graven image which they had stolen on Mount Ephraim and built a shrine to house it (Judges 18,27-31). Another pagan shrine was established by Jeroboam I, first king of the northern kingdom of Israel. Since the Temple in Jerusalem was held by the kingdom of Judah he caused two shrines to be built, one in Bethel and the other in Dan, in which a golden calf was worshipped (1 Kings 12,28-30). He also built a palace in Dan. Two hundred years later the city was destroyed by Tiglath-pileser III.
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Dan Nature Reserve
The Dan Nature Reserve maintains trails leading through the lush growth to caves. Excavations here have revealed a 10th C B.C. gate and the remains of an ancient shrine.
