Vayechi 49:17 · unit 1

Parashas Vayechi · Passuk 49:17

The Complete Passuk

יְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר׃

Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that biteth the horse’s heels, so that his rider falleth backward.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 9b.

Sefaria — Sotah 9b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא: מַאי דִּכְתִיב ״וַתָּחֶל רוּחַ ה׳ לְפַעֲמוֹ״ — חָלְתָה נְבוּאָתוֹ שֶׁל יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ, דִּכְתִיב ״יְהִי דָן נָחָשׁ עֲלֵי דֶרֶךְ״.

English: R’ Chama bar R’ Chanina said: What is the meaning of that which is written “And the spirit of Hashem began to move him”? The prophecy of Yaakov our father began to take effect, as it is written “Dan shall be a serpent in the way.”

On the daf / in context: The verse in Shoftim describing the onset of Shimshon’s divine empowerment is linked to the fulfilment of Yaakov’s blessing on Dan.

Type of Learning

Derash linking the blessing to the career of Shimshon.

What Is Learned

The stirring of the spirit of Hashem upon Shimshon is the beginning of the fulfilment of Yaakov’s prophecy that Dan would be a serpent in the way.