Lesemdan

Lesemdan (Leshem Dan, Laish, Tel Dan)

City in northern Galilee where the shepherd Anna (Hanne)'s flock grazes. The sick flock is healed at a distance.

Inhabitants or natives

Anna (Hanne) the believing shepherd.

Description

Jesus evangelizes along the Syro-Phœnician border, between Achzib and Caesarea Philippi. “Jesus travels through a very mountainous region. These are not high mountains but a succession of rises and falls of hills and many torrents”. Later, when he resumes the journey back towards Ptolemais, the shepherd Anna (Hanne), who has been walking with him for a few days, worries about his sick sheep left at home. “This is where I should leave you... So you’re not coming to heal my sheep? I too have faith, and I am a proselyte... Do you at least promise to come after the Sabbath?'” “Oh! Anna! But haven’t you understood yet that your sheep have been healed since the moment I raised my hand towards Lesemdan? Go also to see the miracle and bless the Lord””. This is the only time Leshem Dan is mentioned in the entire work.

Its name

Lesemdan, Leshem Dan, Laish. Leshem (לָשֶׁם), whose name designates a precious stone, was conquered by the clan of Dan, one of the tribes of Israel, and renamed Dan (דָּן). This name means “judge” in Hebrew. The Book of Judges, recounting the same conquest episode, gives the name Laish (לָיִשׁ) which is likely derived from a word meaning “lion” in Hebrew or in a related Canaanite language.

Where is it mentioned in the work?

EMV 330 EMV 331.

Learn more about this place

Known today as Tel Dan, Leshem Dan was located 4 km west of Caesarea Philippi, south of the Hermon and near one of the sources of the Jordan. The rediscovery of the ancient city of Tel Dan (Tell el-Qadi), formerly called Laish, took place in 1966, thanks to the Israeli excavations.

Explore

• 33° 14’ 18’’ N / 35° 39’ 11’’ E /
• +200m

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Notes and references

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Person of non-Israelite origin who renounces their beliefs to join Judaism.