Gad

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

Gad (‘fortunate’).   Genesis 30:9 ff. (J [Note: Jahwist.] ),   Genesis 35:26 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ); the first son of Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, by Jacob, and full brother of Asher (‘Happy’). This like other of the tribal names, e.g. Dan, Asher , is very probably, despite this popular etymology, the name of a deity (cf.   Isaiah 65:11 , where Av [Note: Authorized Version.] renders ‘troop’ but Rv [Note: Revised Version.] ‘ Fortune ’). Another semi-etymology or, better, paronomasia (  Genesis 49:19 ) connects the name of the tribe with its warlike experiences and characteristics, taking note only of this feature of the tribal life:

gâdh gedhûdh yeghûdhennu

wehû’ yâghûdh ’âqçbh:

‘As for Gad, plunderers shall plunder him,

And he shall plunder in the rear’ ( i.e. effect reprisals and plunder in return).

In the Blessing of Moses ( Deuteronomy 33:20 ) Gad is compared to a lioness that teareth the arm and the crown of the head, and later (  1 Chronicles 12:8;   1 Chronicles 12:14 ) the Gadites who joined David are described as leonine in appearance and incomparable in combat: ‘Their faces are as the faces of lions, the smallest is equal to a hundred and the greatest to a thousand.’

Upon the genetic relations of Gad and Asher the genealogy throws no light, for the fact that Gad and Asher, as it appears, were names of related divinities of Good Fortune would be sufficient ground for uniting them; but why they should have been brought together under the name of Zilpah is not to be conjectured with any certainty. Leah, unlike Rachel, who was barren until after her maid had brought forth to Jacob, had already borne four sons before Zilpah was called in to help her infirmity.

It appears that Gad, notwithstanding the genealogy, was a late tribe. In the Song of Deborah it is not even mentioned. Gilead there takes its place, but Mesha (9th cent.) knows the inhabitants of Gilead as the ‘men of Gad.’

The families of Gad are given by P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] in  Genesis 46:16 and   Numbers 26:15 ff.,   1 Chronicles 5:11 ff. repeats them with variations. In the Sinai census P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] gives 46,650 men of war. By the time they had reached the Wilderness they had decreased to 40,500. Their position on the march through the desert is variously given in Numbers as 3rd, 6th, 11th.

 Numbers 32:34-36 (P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] ) gives eight towns lying within the territory of Gad. The most southerly, Aroer, lay upon the Arnon; the most northerly, Jogbehah, not far from the Jabbok. Ataroth, another of these towns, is mentioned on the Moabite stone (l. 10), and the ‘men of Gad’ are there said to have dwelt within it ‘from of old.’ Within this region, and clustering about Heshbon, P [Note: Priestly Narrative.] gives six cities to the Reubenites, But in   Joshua 13:15 ff. Reuben has all to the south of Heshbon, and Gad all to the north of it. Owing to the divergent statements in the Hexateuch and the historical books, it is quite impossible to say what the northern boundary was. In any case it was not a stable one.

The reason assigned by the traditions for the settlement of Gad and Reuben in Gilead is that they were pastoral tribes, with large herds and flocks, and that they found the land pre-eminently adapted to their needs. They, therefore, obtained from Moses permission to settle on the east side of Jordan after they had first crossed the river and helped the other tribes in the work of conquest (see  Numbers 32:1-42 and   Deuteronomy 3:18-20 ).

After the conquest, in the time of the Judges, the people of Gilead were overrun by the Ammonites until Jephthah finally wrought their deliverance. In David’s conflicts with Saul, the Gadites and other eastern tribes came to his assistance. As the Mesha stone shows, they had probably at that time absorbed the Reubenites, who had been more exposed previously to Moabite attacks, which at this time fell more directly upon Gad. When the northern tribes revolted, Jeroboam must have found the Gadites among his staunchest supporters, for it was to Penuel in Gadite territory that he moved the capital from Shechem in Ephraim ( 1 Kings 12:25 ).

In 734 the Gadites with their kinsmen of the East Jordan, Galilee and Naphtali, were carried captive by Tiglath-pileser iii. when Ahaz in his perplexity ventured upon the bold alternative of appealing to him for assistance against the powerful confederation of Syrians, Israelites, and Edomites who had leagued together to dethrone him ( 1 Kings 15:29 ,   2 Chronicles 28:16 ff.). It was clearly a case of Scylla and Charybdis for Ahaz. It was fatal for Gad. See also Tribes of Israel.

James A. Craig.

Gad . A god whose name appears in   Genesis 30:11 (‘by the help of Gad’; so in   Genesis 30:13 ‘by the help of Asherah’); in the place-names Baal-gad, and Migdal-gad (  Joshua 11:17;   Joshua 12:7;   Joshua 13:5;   Joshua 15:37 ); and in the personal name Azgad (  Ezra 2:12 ,   Nehemiah 7:17;   Nehemiah 10:15 ). In   Isaiah 65:11 Gad (Rv [Note: Revised Version.] ‘ Fortune ’) and Meni are named as two demons with whom the Israelites held communion (see Meni). Gad was probably an appellative before it became a personal name for a divinity, and is of Aramæan, Arabian, and Syrian provenance, but not Babylonian. He was the god who gave good fortune (Gr. Tyche ), and presided over a person, house, or mountain.

W. F. Cobb.

Gad is entitled ‘the seer’ (  1 Chronicles 29:29 ), ‘David’s’ or ‘the king’s seer’ (  1 Chronicles 21:9 ,   2 Chronicles 29:25 ,   2 Samuel 24:11 ), or ‘the prophet’ (  1 Samuel 22:5 ,   2 Samuel 24:11 ), He is represented as having announced the Divine condemnation on the royal census, and as having advised the erection of an altar on Araunah’s threshing-floor (  2 Samuel 24:11 ff. =   1 Chronicles 21:9 ff.). The Chronicler again (  1 Chronicles 29:29 ) names him as having written an account of some part of his master’s reign. A late conception associated him with the prophet Nathan (  2 Chronicles 29:25 ) in the task of planning some of the king’s regulations with reference to the musical part of the service, while (  1 Samuel 22:5 ) he is also stated to have acted as David’s counsellor in peril during the period when the two dwelt together in ‘the hold.’

Gad (Valley of). Mentioned only in   2 Samuel 24:5 , and there the text should read ‘in the midst of the valley towards Gad,’ the valley ( wady ) here being the Arnon (wh. see).

E. W. G. Masterman.

Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary

We meet with this name in the holy Scriptures, to denote three very different characters. The first is one of Jacob's sons, which he had by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, ( Genesis 30:11) and she called his name Gad, which signifies armed; and, therefore, in the margin of our Bibles it is marked a troop, or company. The second Gad we meet with, is the prophet Gad, David's seer. ( 2 Samuel 24:11) The character of this man is well spoken of, by his conduct and faithfulness, in Scripture. He was much attached to David; (See  1 Samuel 22:5) yet faithful to the Lord at the time of David's transgression. (See  2 Samuel 24:10-19) We read also, that Gad compiled a history of the acts of David. (See  1 Chronicles 29:29-30) The third mention of Gad is as an idol. There was a Baal-Gad in the valley of Lebanon. ( Joshua 11:17) And the prophet Isaiah speaks of some "who prepared a table for that troop" [Gad,] "and that furnished a drink offering for that number." [meni] ( Isaiah 65:11) The dying patriarch Jacob blessing his sons, made a memorable prophecy concerning Gad: "A troop" (said Jacob) "shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last." ( Genesis 49:19) Considered in a temporal sense, this was literally true. For the Gadites were a numerous tribe, and a warlike tribe. We find no less than forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty, came out of Egypt, ( Numbers 2:15) "men both of might, and men of war, fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains." ( 1 Chronicles 12:8) And considered in a spiritual sense, the seed of Israel, though frequently overcome by troops of foes, yet though conquered, still they are a conquering people. Troops of lusts, troops of corruptions, troops from hell, and troops from the world, may, and will, bring the poor exercised soul too often under: yet the victory is still on the side of Jacob's seed. The praying seed of Jacob, at length come off as the prevailing Israel; for they must overcome "by the blood of the Lamb," and be more than conquerors through his grace making them so.

American Tract Society Bible Dictionary

Prosperity, fortune,

1. Son of Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's servant,  Genesis 30:11 . Leah called him Gad, and said, "A troop cometh." Compare  Genesis 49:19; but many Hebrew scholars prefer the rendering, good fortune or prosperity cometh. The tribe of Gad came out of Egypt in number forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty,  Genesis 46:16   Numbers 1:24 . After the defeat of the kings Og and Sihon, Gad and Reuben desired to have their allotment east of Jordan, alleging their great number of cattle. Moses granted their request, on condition that they should accompany their brethren, and assist in conquering the land west of Jordan,  Numbers 32:1-42 . The inheritance of the tribe of Gad lay between Manesseh on the north, Reuben on the south, the Jordan on the west, and the Ammonites on the east. The northwest point stretched to the Sea of Galilee. It was a fine pastoral region, though its exposure to the incursion of eastern Arabians compelled the Gadites to be well armed and on the alert,  Genesis 49:19   Deuteronomy 33:20   1 Chronicles 5:18-22,25,26   12:8 . The principal cities of Gad are called cities of Gilead,  Joshua 13:25 .

2. David's friend, who followed him when persecuted by Saul, and was often sent with a divine message to David,  1 Samuel 22:5   2 Samuel 24:11-19   1 Chronicles 21:9-19   2 Chronicles 29:25 . Scriptures styles him a prophet, and David's seer. He appears to have written a history of David's life;

which is cited in  1 Chronicles 29:29 .

3. Rendered "troops" in  Isaiah 65:11 , but generally supposed to be the name of a heathen god of fortune; and perhaps of the planet Jupiter, the star of good fortune. Compare  Joshua 11:17   15:37 . Meni in the same verse, translated "number," is supposed by some to mean destiny; by others, the planet Benus, and the goddess of good fortune.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

The seventh son of Jacob, and the first of Zilpah, Leah's maid. Very little is recorded of Gad, except that he had seven sons.  Genesis 30:11;  Genesis 46:16;  1 Chronicles 5:11 . Jacob in blessing his sons said of Gad, "A troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last."  Genesis 49:19 . Moses said, "Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with [or rather, 'even'] the crown of the head. And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgements with Israel."  Deuteronomy 33:20,21 . On leaving Egypt the number of those able to bear arms was 45,650, but on the crossing of the Jordan their number was about five thousand less.

Being on the east of Jordan, this tribe, with Reuben and Manasseh, would necessarily have to bear the shock of the enemies that attacked Israel on the east.  1 Chronicles 5:18-22 . They were a warlike tribe, suitable for such an exposed position. Of those who joined David it is said they were "men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains."  1 Chronicles 12:8-15 . Jephthah and Barzillai were of this tribe.

Gad possessed a large district from a little above the north corner of the Dead Sea to near the south corner of the Sea of Galilee, then a very fertile plain suitable for their flocks and herds, including the highlands of Gilead. The tribes on the east of the Jordan were the first carried away by the king of Assyria, about B.C. 740; and the Ammonites took possession of the territory of Gad.  1 Chronicles 5:25,26;  Jeremiah 49:1 . Twelve thousand of this tribe will in a future day be sealed for blessing.  Revelation 7:5 . Their allotment will be in the extreme south in the restoration of Israel.  Ezekiel 48:27 .

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

was the name of the son of Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's servant,  Genesis 30:9-11 . Leah, Jacob's wife, gave him also Zilpah, that by her she might have children. Zilpah brought a son, whom Leah called Gad, saying, "A troop cometh." Gad had seven sons, Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli,  Genesis 46:16 . Jacob, blessing Gad, said, "A troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last,"

 Genesis 49:19; and Moses, in his last song, mentions Gad as "a lion which teareth the arm with the crown of the head," &c,  Deuteronomy 33:20-21 . The tribe of Gad came out of Egypt in number forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty. After the defeat of the kings Og and Sihon, Gad and Reuben desired to have their lot in the conquered country, and alleged their great number of cattle. Moses granted their request, on condition that they would accompany their brethren, and assist in the conquest of the land beyond Jordan. Gad had his inheritance between Reuben south, and Manasseh north, with the mountains of Gilead east, and Jordan west.

2. Gad, a prophet, David's friend, who followed him when persecuted by Saul. The Scripture calls him a prophet and David's seer,   2 Samuel 24:11 . The first time we find him with this prince is when he fled into the land of Moab,  1 Samuel 22:5 , to secure his father and mother in the first year of Saul's persecution. The Prophet Gad warned him to return into the land of Judah. After David had determined to number his people, the Lord sent to him the Prophet Gad, to offer him his choice of three scourges: seven years' famine, or three months' flight before his enemies, or three days' pestilence. Gad also directed David to erect an altar to the Lord, in the threshing floor of Ornan or Araunah, the Jebusite,  2 Samuel 24:13-19; and he wrote a history of David's life, cited in  1 Chronicles 29:29 .

Bridgeway Bible Dictionary

Only nine and a half of Israel’s twelve tribes settled in the area commonly known as Canaan (i.e. the land west of the Jordan River). The other two and a half tribes settled in the area east of Jordan. In this eastern area half of the tribe of Manasseh was in the north, the tribe of Gad in the centre and the tribe of Reuben in the south ( Numbers 32:1-5;  Numbers 32:33;  Joshua 13:8-33). (For the settlement of the two and a half eastern tribes see Reuben.)

Although the tribe was known as Gad (after the son of Jacob who fathered it;  Genesis 30:9-11), the area where it dwelt was commonly known as Gilead. Sometimes the names Gad and Gilead were used interchangeably ( Joshua 13:24-25;  Judges 5:17;  Judges 11:5;  Judges 12:4;  1 Samuel 13:7). (For the physical features of the region see Gilead.)

Gad, like the other eastern tribes, was more open to attack than the western tribes, but the men of Gad were fierce fighters who drove back the invaders ( Genesis 49:19). They could not, however, withstand invasions for ever, and when Israel was later destroyed by Assyria, they were among the first Israelites to go into captivity ( 2 Kings 10:32-33;  2 Kings 15:29).

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A prophet who joined David in the "hold," and at whose advice he quitted it for the forest of Hareth ( 1 Chronicles 29:29;  2 Chronicles 29:25;  1 Samuel 22:5 ). Many years after we find mention made of him in connection with the punishment inflicted for numbering the people ( 2 Samuel 24:11-19;  1 Chronicles 21:9-19 ). He wrote a book called the "Acts of David" ( 1 Chronicles 29:29 ), and assisted in the arrangements for the musical services of the "house of God" ( 2 Chronicles 29:25 ). He bore the title of "the king's seer" ( 2 Samuel 24:11,13;  1 Chronicles 21:9 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Gad'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/gad.html. 1897.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Gad (găd ), good fortune (?) 1. The seventh son of Jacob, and the first-born of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid.  Genesis 30:11. 2. A prophet and particular friend of David, the history of whose reign he wrote.  1 Chronicles 29:29. He came to David when the latter was in the cave of Adullam.  1 Samuel 22:5. He then began his career of counsellor, under divine direction, which eventually won him the title of "the king's Beer,"  2 Samuel 24:11;  2 Samuel 24:13;  1 Chronicles 21:9. In Hezekiah's day he was remembered.  2 Chronicles 29:25.

Holman Bible Dictionary

 Genesis 30:9-11 Numbers 32:1 Jeremiah 49:1 Joshua 13:24-28 Joshua 11:17 Joshua 15:37 Isaiah 65:11 Gad  1 Samuel 22:5 2 Samuel 24:11-14 2 Samuel 24:18-19 1 Chronicles 29:29 2 Chronicles 29:25

King James Dictionary

Gad, n.

1. A wedge or ingot of steel. 2. A style or graver. 3. A punch of iron with a wooden handle, used by miners.

Gad,

1. To walk about to rove or ramble idly or without any fixed purpose.

Give the water no passage, neither a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.

2. To ramble in growth as the gadding vine.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

See Tribes.

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Gad (a troop, or fortunate).

Gad, 1

A son of Jacob by his concubine Zilpah (, sq.), and who became the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes. The sons of Gad are enumerated in , sq., and , sq. At the time of the conquest of Canaan, the tribe of Gad counted 45,650 warriors : the position of their camp in the desert is given , and the names of their chiefs,;; , sq.

As a reward for their having formed the vanguard in war of the army of the tribes collectively, they were allowed to appropriate to their exclusive use some pastoral districts beyond the Jordan (, sq.).

The inheritance of this tribe, called the landsof Gad , was situated beyond the Jordan in Gilead, north of Reuben, and separated on the east from Ammon by the river Jabbok. According to , the Gadites had extended their possessions on the east as far as Salcah, though the latter had been allotted by Moses to Manasseh : a proof how difficult it is to draw a strong line of demarcation between the possessions of pastoral tribes. The territory of Gad forms a part of the present Belka.

In , the land of Gad is called 'half the land of the children of Ammon;' not because the latter were then in possession of it, but probably because the part west of the Jabbok had formerly borne that name (comp. ).

The principal cities of Gad pass by the general appellation of the Cities of Gilead

The Gadites were a warlike people, and were compelled to be continually armed and on the alert against the inroads of the surrounding Arabian hordes (comp.;; , sq.).

Gad, 2

Gad, a prophet contemporary with David, and probably a pupil of Samuel, who early attached himself to the son of Jesse . Instances of his prophetic intercourse with David occur in , sq.; , sq.; 29:25. Gad wrote a history of the reign of David, to which the author of the Ii Samuel seems to refer for further information respecting that reign , B.C. 1062-1017.

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

Bibliography Information McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Gad'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/g/gad.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

One of the Jewish tribes inhabiting the E. of the Jordan.