Dan was the older of two sons born to Jacob by Rachel’s servant Bilhah (Genesis 30:5–6). His name means “he judged.”
The tribe of Dan first received land between Judah and the Mediterranean Sea (Joshua 19:40–48). However, the people who already lived there strongly opposed them. Because of this, the tribe of Dan could not settle in that area.
Later, the tribe moved far to the north. They attacked the people living in Laish, destroyed the city, and settled there. This new land was near Mount Hermon, north of the Sea of Galilee, and next to Bashan (Judges 18:27–28).
The Bible does not clearly say where Dan gathered its army before attacking Laish. However, the phrase leaping out of Bashan may suggest that the attack began from Bashan (see Genesis 49:16–17).