Sermons upon Deuteronomy

Now it followeth afterward, that Dan is as a Lion's whelp, & that he shall go out of Bashan. No doubt §20but that here Moses intended to strengthen the tribe of Dan, & to give them courage because they were few in number. They were a tribe of no great reputation, & they seemed not worthy to be made account of. Now, they which are so despised of the world, & are of no force, credit, or countenance, are always in doubt, & think that one time or other they shall be put to the spoil, or rather that men shall set their feet upon their throats. Forsomuch therefore as men §30beholding their own weakness, do distrust after that fashion: Moses meant to exhort the tribe of Dan to put their trust in God, & not to doubt but that he would maintain them, notwithstanding that they were few, & had not whereof to get any great authority to the worldward. And that is the cause also why Jacob in blessing him saith,¹ Dan shall judge his people as the other tribes of Israel. The word Dan signifieth to judge: & that name was given to the Patriarch Dan. For §40it seemed unto Rachel, that God had condemned her; or rather that men had condemned her unjustly. Oh (said she) God hath taken my case in hand,² he hath judged me; & thereby it appeareth that my quarrel hath been maintained of God; for he hath showed in the end, that he condemned me not. Jacob then taketh hold of that speech & saith, Dan, thou shalt judge. And in the Hebrew, this word Judge signifieth, not only to give sentence in matter of controversy §50as it doeth in our language,³ but also to rule or govern, & to have preeminence. And that is the cause why it is said, Such a one judged, that is to say, governed or ruled. And thereupon also doth the book of Judges take that name; because the Judges, that is to say the governors had all the preeminence over the people. Thus then we see what Moses meant in saying that Dan should be as a Lyons whelp: that is to say, that although he seemed never so weak, & wanted §60