What is so important about Tel Dan?
The land God promised to Abraham and his descendants is a beautiful mosaic of rocky deserts, green valleys, rolling hills, and snow-capped mountains. These locations are home to familiar and beloved biblical sites frequented by pilgrims touring Israel, like Capernaum , Mount Tabor, and Jerusalem. However, east of the Galilee and nestled at the base of Mount Hermon in northern Israel is a piece of often overlooked real estate. But it’s one of the most significant places in all of Israel. A dark history Israel’s Golan Heights (biblical Bashan) is a hilly area overlooking the upper Jordan River valley on the west and rising above the Sea of Galilee . The plateau formed from disintegrated lava that left the soil rich and fertile (Deut 32:13–14; Ezek 27:6), resulting in well-nourished herds. Tucked away in those hills is the ancient city of Tel Dan, which marked the northern border of the biblical kingdom of Israel. It was here that: Abram chased Lot’s captors (Gen