Gad

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Jacob's seventh son; Leah's maid Zilpah's firstborn; Asher's brother.  Genesis 30:11-13, for "a troop cometh," translated "good fortune cometh," answering to Asher, "blessedness," the name of the next son;  Genesis 46:16;  Genesis 46:18. In  Genesis 49:19 translated "Gad, troops shall troop upon him (Gad , gedud ye -guddenu ), but he shall troop upon (yagud ) their rear" in retreat; alluding to the Arab tumultuous tribes near, who would invade Gad, then retire, Gad pressing on them in retreat. Gedud implies not merely a numerous "troop," but a fierce turbulent band. The tribe's position on march was S. of the tabernacle ( Numbers 2:14). Eliasaph, Reuel's' son, was their leader. In  Numbers 2:10;  Numbers 2:14, we find Gad united to Reuben on the S. side of the sanctuary. Companionship in arms and hardships in the wilderness naturally led them to desire neighborhood in their possessions; also similarity of pursuits in tending flocks and herds led Gad to alliance with Reuben.

And their respective numbers were nearly the same; at the first census, Gad 45,650, Reuben 46,500; at the last, Gad 40,500, and Reuben 43,330. These undesigned coincidences confirm the truth of the narrative. Like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of the tribes they two alone remained shepherds still after the intervening centuries since Jacob left Canaan for Egypt. They therefore received the pasture lands E. of Jordan for their possession (Numbers 32), as suited for their "multitude of cattle," but accompanied the nine tribes and a half across Jordan to war with the Canaanites; and only after their conquest and the apportionment of the whole land to their brethren "at the doorway of the tabernacle of the congregation in Shiloh, before Jehovah" ( Joshua 19:51;  Joshua 22:1-8), were they dismissed "to their tents (for still they led a half nomadic life) and the land of their possession."

Gad's allotment lay chiefly about the center of the land E. of Jordan, comprising the high land on the general level, stopping short at the Jabbok, and also the sunk valley of the Jordan itself, the whole eastern side up to the sea of Cinnereth or Gennesaret. The farthest landmark eastward is Aroer facing Rabbah, now Arabian ( Joshua 13:25). Half Gilead ( Deuteronomy 3:12), and half of the land of Ammon, the mountainous district intersected by Jabbok. (See Gilead.) Manasseh lay N. and E. (reaching S. as far as Mahanaim), Reuben S., of Gad. Mahanaim the ancient sanctuary was on Gad's northern border; Heshbon lay somewhat S. of its southern border. From western Palestine the territory of Gad looks like a wall of purple mountain with a marked horizontal outline. On a nearer approach picturesque undulating downs are seen on every side clothed with rich grass; and three rivers, the Yarmuk, Jabbok, and Arnon flow down into the Jordan and Dead Sea by deep ravines which seam the horizontal line of hills.

Not the flat sheep walks of Reuben and Moab, but well wooded, especially in the N., with sycamore, beech, terebinth, ilex, cedar, arbutus, and enormous fig trees. In the official record in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and Jeroboam king of Israel, Gad had extended its possessions to Salcah in Bashan ( 1 Chronicles 5:11;  1 Chronicles 5:16-17), E. of the Hauran plain, while Manasseh was pushed further N. to mount Hermon ( 1 Chronicles 5:23). Thus Gad and Gilead became synonymous ( Judges 5:17).

Jephthah is called "the Gileadite," being a native of Mizpeh of Gad ( Judges 11:31;  Judges 11:34;  Joshua 13:26). In  Deuteronomy 33:20-21, Moses said of Gad, "Blessed is He that enlargeth (i.e. God who gives a large territory to) Gad; he lieth down as a lioness, and teareth the arm, yea (aph , not with) the crown of the head (of his foes); and he provided the first part (the first-fruit portion of the land conquered by Israel) for himself, because there was the leader's (Gad's) portion reserved (saphun ), Gad at the head of the tribes asked Moses for the conquered land E. of Jordan ( Numbers 32:2;  Numbers 32:6;  Numbers 32:25;  Numbers 32:34, etc.), even as they took the lead above Reuben in fortifying the cities Dibon, etc. Their name accordingly is prominent on the Dibon stone); and he came with the heads of the people (i.e., he according to his stipulation to Moses went at the head of the tribes to conquer Canaan W. of Jordan, along with them:  Numbers 32:17;  Numbers 32:21;  Numbers 32:32;  Joshua 1:14;  Joshua 4:12), he executed the justice of Jehovah (Moses prophetically foresees Gad will do what Jehovah required of His people as righteousness) and His judgments (in fellowship) with (the rest of) Israel." (See Dibon.)

Their prowess is vividly portrayed in  1 Chronicles 12:8, "men of might and of war, fit, for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were the faces of lions, and as swift as the roes upon the mountains"; "one of the least was a match for a hundred, and the greatest for a thousand." In spite of the Jordan's overflow in the first month, and of the opposition of "all them of the valleys toward the E. and toward the W.," they joined David at Ziklag. Their war, in concert with Reuben, against the Hagarites, with Jetur, Nephish, and Nodab, resulted in the defeat and utter spoiling of the Hagarites, and the dispossessing them of "their steads."

"The war was of God," and the victory was because the Gadites, etc., "cried to God in the battle and He was entreated of then, because they put their trust in Him" ( 1 Chronicles 5:18-22). Other famous men of Gilead or Gad were the loyal, generous, and unambitious Barzillai ( 2 Samuel 17:27-29;  2 Samuel 19:31-40) and the prophet Elijah. The land of Gad was the battlefield for long between Syria and Israel ( 2 Kings 10:33). Gad finally was carried captive by Tiglath Pileser, and Ammon seized their land and cities ( 2 Kings 15:29;  1 Chronicles 5:26;  Jeremiah 49:1).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(גּד , gādh , "fortune"; Γάδ , Gád ):

1. The Name

The seventh son of Jacob, whose mother was Zilpah ( Genesis 30:11 ), and whose birth was welcomed by Leah with the cry, "Fortunate!" Some have sought to connect the name with that of the heathen deity Gad, of which traces are found in Baal-gad, Migdal-gad, etc. In the blessing of Jacob ( Genesis 49:19 ) there is a play upon the name, as if it meant "troop," or "marauding band." "Gad, a troop shall press upon him; but he shall press upon their heel" (Hebrew gādh , gedhūdh , yeghūdhennū , wehū yāghūdh ‛āḳēbh ). Here there is doubtless a reference to the high spirit and valor that characterized the descendants of Gad. The enemy who attacked them exposed himself to grave peril. In the blessing of Moses again ( Deuteronomy 33:20 ) it is said that Gad "dwelleth as lioness, and teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head." Leonine qualities are ascribed to the Gadites , mighty men of valor, who joined David ( 1 Chronicles 12:8 ,  1 Chronicles 12:14 ). Their "faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the roes upon the mountain." Among their captains "he that was least was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand."

2. The Tribe

Of the patriarch Gad almost nothing is recorded. Seven sons went down with him into Egypt, when Jacob accepted Joseph s invitation ( Genesis 46:16 ). At the beginning of the desert march Gad numbered 45,650 "from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war" ( Numbers 1:24 ). In the plains of Moab the number had fallen to 40,500 ( Numbers 26:18 ). The place of Gad was with the standard of the camp of Reuben on the South side of the tabernacle ( Numbers 2:14 ). The prince of the tribe was Eliasaph, son of Deuel ( Numbers 1:14 ), or Reuel ( Numbers 2:14 ). Among the spies Gad was represented by Geuel son of Machi ( Numbers 13:15 ). See Numbers .

3. The Tribal Territory

From time immemorial the dwellers east of the Jordan have followed the pastoral life. When Moses had completed the conquest of these lands, the spacious uplands, with their wide pastures, attracted the great flock-masters of Reuben and Gad. In response to their appeal Moses assigned them their tribal portions here: only on condition, however, that their men of war should go over with their brethren, and take their share alike in the hardship and in the glory of the conquest of Western Palestine (Nu 32). When the victorious campaigns of Joshua were completed, the warriors of Reuben and Gad returned to their possessions in the East. They halted, however, in the Jordan valley to build the mighty altar of Ed. They feared lest the gorge of the Jordan should in time become all too effective a barrier between them and their brethren on the West. This altar should be for all time a "witness" to their unity in race and faith (Josh 22). The building of the altar was at first misunderstood by the western tribes, but the explanation given entirely satisfied them.

4. Boundaries

It is impossible to indicate with any certainty the boundaries of the territory of Gad. Reuben lay on the South, and the half-tribe of Manasseh on the North. These three occupied the whole of Eastern Palestine. The South border of Gad is given as the Arnon in  Numbers 32:34; but six cities to the North of the Arnon are assigned in  Numbers 32:16 to Reuben. Again,   Joshua 13:26 makes Wādy Ḥesbān the southern boundary of Gad. Mesha, however (Ms), says that the men of Gad dwelt in Ataroth from old time. This is far South of Wady Chesban. The writer of Nu 32 may have regarded the Jabbok as the northern frontier of Gad; but  Joshua 13:27 extends it to the Sea of Chinnereth, making the Jordan the western boundary. It included Rabbath-ammon in the East. We have not now the information necessary to explain this apparent confusion. There can be no doubt that, as a consequence of strifes with neighboring peoples, the boundaries were often changed (  1 Chronicles 5:18 f). For the Biblical writers the center of interest was in Western Palestine, and the details given regarding the eastern tribes are very meager. We may take it, however, that, roughly, the land of Gilead fell to the tribe of Gad. In   Judges 5:17 Gilead appears where we should naturally expect Gad, for which it seems to stand. The city of refuge, Ramoth in Gilead, was in the territory of Gad (  Joshua 20:8 ). For description of the country see Gilead .

5. History

Reuben and Gad were absent from the muster against Sisera ( Judges 5:15 ); but they united with their brethren in taking vengeance on Benjamin, Jabesh-gilead, from which no contingent was sent, being destroyed (20 f). Jephthah is probably to be reckoned to this tribe, his house, Mizpah ( Judges 11:34 ), being apparently within its territory ( Joshua 13:26 ). Gad furnished a refuge for some of the Hebrews during the Philistine oppression ( 1 Samuel 13:7 ). To David, while he avoided Saul at Ziklag, certain Gadites attached themselves ( 1 Chronicles 12:8 ). A company of them also joined in making him king at Hebron ( 1 Chronicles 12:38 ). In Gad the adherents of the house of Saul gathered round Ish-bosheth ( 2 Samuel 2:8 ). Hither David came in his flight from Absalom ( 2 Samuel 17:24 ). Gad fell to Jeroboam at the disruption of the kingdom, and Penuel, apparently within its borders, Jeroboam fortified at first ( 1 Kings 12:25 ). It appears from the Moabite Stone that part of the territory afterward passed into the hands of Moab. Under Omri this was recovered; but Moab again asserted its supremacy. Elijah probably belonged to this district; and the brook Cherith must be sought in one of its wild secluded glens.

Gad formed the main theater of the long struggle between Israel and the Syrians. At Ramoth-gilead Ahab received his death wound (1 Ki 22). Under Jeroboam Ii, this country was once more an integral part of the land of Israel. In 734 bc, however, Tiglath-pileser appeared, and conquered all Eastern Palestine, carrying its inhabitants captive ( 2 Kings 15:29;  1 Chronicles 5:26 ). This seems to have furnished occasion for the children of Ammon to occupy the country ( Jeremiah 49:1 ). In Ezekiel's ideal picture ( Ezekiel 48:27 ,  Ezekiel 48:34 ), a place is found for the tribe of Gad. Obadiah seems to have forgotten the tribe, and their territory is assigned to Benjamin ( Obadiah 1:19 ). Gad, however, has his place among the tribes of Israel in Rev 7.