Genesis 49:17
Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
This saying belongs to Jacob's dying testimony spoken to his sorrowing sons under prophetic inspiration, not as merely his own words. By nature he was an affectionate father who had forgiven his children and loved them to the last, having mourned deeply for Joseph, grieved when Simeon was detained in Egypt, and longed for their safe return, so that left to himself he would have spoken only love and tenderness. The stern word against Dan did not spring from an unforgiving or resentful spirit, but God by the Spirit of prophecy lifted his mind above natural paternal feeling, angels surrounded him in his last hours and God's grace shone upon him, enabling him to speak painful truth from God.
The prophecy sets forth the light in which God viewed deeds of violence, declaring that He would visit the offenders for their sins. Yet among those prophecies the word to Dan and to the other sons is not as gloomy as the word to Simeon and Levi. The image is of a roadside serpent striking at the hind feet of a horse to throw its rider backward, meaning Dan would overcome a stronger opponent by a sudden, unexpected attack.