“Dan will avenge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel” (Genesis 49:16). “Dan will avenge his people, [as one [ke’aḥad] of the tribes of Israel]” – like the most special [kamyuḥad] of the tribes, which is Judah. Another matter: “As one” – like the single One of the world, who needs no assistance in war, as it is stated: “I have trodden the winepress alone” (Isaiah 63:3), so, Samson, who descended from Dan, did not need others to assist him – without a sword, with but the jawbone of a donkey.
“Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper on the path, that bites a horse’s heels, and his rider falls backward” (Genesis 49:17). “Dan will be a serpent on the road, a viper” – all the beasts go in pairs, but the serpent goes on the road only alone. Another matter: “Dan will be a serpent on the road” – just as a serpent is vindictive, so was Samson, as it is stated: “Let me take vengeance once” (Judges 16:28).
When Jacob saw him, he said: “For your salvation, I await, Lord” (Genesis 49:18). This one will not bring salvation, which will come only from Gad, as it is stated: “Gad, a troop will slash his enemies, and he will slash their heel [akev]” (Genesis 49:19), [alluding] to the one who will come at the End [be’akev]: “Behold, I am sending Elijah the prophet to you” (Malachi 3:23), who was from the tribe of Gad. That is why it says: “And he will slash their heel [akev].”