DEDAN, a People of Idumæa or Arabia. See above DADAN.
It is very credible, that the two names signify the same thing, and that the people called Dedan or Dedanim in Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, are descendants of Dadan the son of Raamah, grandson of Canaan, Gen. x. 7. or of Dadan the son of Jochshan, grandson to Abraham by Keturah, Gen. xxv. 3. But it is hard to discern one from the other, because the characters which the Scripture gives us of these two are not sufficiently distinct. The Prophets If. xxi. 3. Jerem. xxv. 23. xlix. 8. Ezek.xxv. 13.Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, place visibly the Dedanim with the Arabians and Edomites, in the severe prophecies which they pronounce against them. We believe these predictions were accomplished in the time of Nebuchadnezzar, who subdued all Joseph. Antiq. l. x. c. 11.these people, five years after the taking of Jerusalem. Ezekiel puts Dedan among the merchants who came to traffick at Tyre. He Ezek. xxvii. 15, 20.places them with Gog and Magog, who came to ravage and lay waste the land of Israel. As these people dwelt probably in Idem xxxviii. 13.Arabia Deserta, it is impossible to point out exactly the place of their abode. Jeremiah seats them with the Arabians, who cut their hair round. Et Dedan, & Thezna, & Buz, & universis qui attonsi sunt in comam.