Tel Dan, The Holy Land

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Tel Dan Nature Reserve: The Dan Spring in the Dan Nature Reserve is the largest and most important source of the Jordan River. The city of Dan, identified today as Tel Dan, is mentioned in the Bible, used to be the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel where the tribe of Dan decided to settle almost 3,250 years ago.

There are three tributaries that feed the mighty Jordan River: Snir (Hasbani), Dan and Hermon (Banias) streams. We shall visit only some of them for our time is limited.

On our way to Tel Dan, our first attraction, we will pass by the Snir stream (Hasbani River) which is one of the major tributaries of the Jordan River. The Hasbani River gets most of its water from two springs in Lebanon, the Wazzani, and the Haqzbieh.

Tel Dan Nature Reserve: The Dan Spring in the Dan Nature Reserve is the largest and most important source of the Jordan River. The city of Dan, identified today as Tel Dan, is mentioned in the Bible, used to be the northernmost city of the Kingdom of Israel where the tribe of Dan decided to settle almost 3,250 years ago.

According to the Book of Judges: prior to the Tribe of Dan occupying the land, the town was known as Laysha (Judges 18:7 and Isaiah 10:30) or Laish which means in Hebrew the lion (Job 4:11, Proverbs 30:30 and Isaiah 30:5)

Laish was cursed in the Egyptian Execration Tablets it is called Leshem, which means “jewel”.

The city of Laish was allied with the Sidonians. (Sidonians were Phoenicians from the city of Sidon)

Tel Dan is one of the greatest ancient tels in the Holy Land, with archaeological remains of a 5000-year-old city developed mainly during the Canaanite and Israelite periods.

Ritual site is an ancient ritual compound with an altar built in competition to Temple Mt. in Jerusalem.

The Israelite Gate is another huge impressive gate from the Israelite period with a paved podium as described in the Bible.

The Canaanite Gate, dating back to the Canaanite period, was made of mud bricks and preserved to its full height of seven meters. A similar gate from the same period exists in Ashkelon Nature Reserve.

There are many hiking trails in the nature reserve for people with walking difficulties and families with baby cribs.  At the entrance, there are toilets and picnic tables. The handicap accessible trail begins at the entrance to the site, from the first part of the hiking trail and reaches the wading pool including the Israelite Gate and the Canaanite Gate. Another short trail leads to an observation point, looking out over a wooden terrace towards the source of the Dan Stream.