Jacob’s son
Gen 30:11 and Leah said…and called his name G
Gen 49:19 G, army will attack him; more him
Deu 33:20 blessed is he who made G widen
Gad (Heb. Gâd, “good luck” or “troop”; Gr. Gád). 1. Jacob’s son by Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant (Gen 30:10, 11). Jacob foretold that the descendants of Gad would be hard pressed by hostile forces, but would resist them (49:19). Of the 7 sons of Gad (46:16), at least 5 were heads of tribal families (Num 26:15-18). 2. Tribe of Gad, the descendants of Gad 1. Moses compared this brave tribe to a lion (Deu 33:20, 21). The Gadites* inherited the territory east of the Jordan taken from the Amorite kings of Heshbon and Bashan. They were allowed to occupy that territory only after they had helped the other tribes to conquer their territories west of the Jordan (Num 32:20-32). The boundaries of their territory were somewhat elastic and difficult to define. They seem to overlap somewhat with those of Reuben to the south and Manasseh to the north. Generally speaking, the territory of Gad was between the Jabbok River and the city of Heshbon, and included the southern part of Gilead, and extended along the Jordan to the Sea of Galilee (Jos 13:24-28; Deu 3 :12, 16, 17). The Moabite Stone* mentions the “men of Gad” as the closest neighbors of the Moabites to the north (lines 10 and 11). Before David became king of Judah, some brave Gadites joined him at Ziklag (1Ch 12:8). Ezekiel included Gad among the other tribes in his prophecy of Israel’s restoration (Eze_48). Gad is one of the 12 sealed tribes in Rev_7 (v 5). 3. Prophet, generally called “seer”, who was David’s adviser when he was persecuted by Saul (1Sa 22:1, 5). He was sent by God to rebuke David after he took the census of Israel and to give him a choice between 3 punishments (2Sa 24: 11-14; 1Ch 21: 9-13). He and the prophet Nathan helped David organize the sanctuary services (2Ch 29:25). He later wrote a biography of David (1Ch 29:29). 4. Valley (Heb. hannajal ha-Gâd, “the river of luck”) where, according to the RVR, Aroer is located and the Arnon river flows (2Sa 24:5). But the 2 Hebrew words have an article, so the RVR translation seems incorrect and the DHH would be more exact: “In the middle of the valley, in the direction of Gad and Jazer”.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
hebrew happy, lucky. Name of a man and of a deity. 1. Son of Jacob with Zilpah, Leah’s slave, Gn 30, 9-11; 35, 26; from whom comes one of the twelve tribes of Israel, the Gadites. G.’s family is among those who went with Jacob to Egypt, where Joseph was, and prospered there, Ex 1, 1-4. In the census carried out after leaving Egypt, in the Sinai desert, there were 45,650 Gadites fit for war, twenty years old and above, Nm 1, 24-25. In the second census, 40,500 Gadites, Nm 26, 18. In the distribution of the land, the Gadites and the Reubenites asked Moses to give them the lands of Yazer and Gilead, Transjordan, which was granted on the condition that continue fighting for the conquest of the rest of the land of Canaan, Nm 32, 1 ss; Joshua 13, 24-28. When the trans-Jordanian tribes of the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half of Manasseh erected an altar on the banks of the Jordan as a sign of their belonging to Israel. The other tribes met in Shiloh and considered this as infidelity, so they sent the priest Pinchas with ten princes to reproach him, since they argued that there should only be one place to worship Yahweh. But the three tribes accused of infidelity explained their intention in erecting the altar: “We are going to build this altar, but not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but so that it may be a witness between us and you and between our descendants after us, that we worshiped Yahweh† , with which harmony was restored, Jos 22, 9-34. 2. King David’s seer, 1 Sam 22, 5; 2 Sa 24, 11-19. 3. Aramaic divinity of happiness, Is 65, 11, whose name is given to various places, such as Baal G., Jos 11, 17; 12, 7; 13, 5; Migdal G., Jos 15, 37.
Digital Bible Dictionary, Grupo C Service & Design Ltda., Colombia, 2003
Source: Digital Bible Dictionary
(Heb., gadh, fortune).
1. Jacob’s seventh son, firstborn of Zilpah, Leah’s servant (Gen 30:9-11). He had seven sons when he went down to Egypt (Gen 46:16). The Gadites had 45,650 adult males at the Sinai census (Num 1:24-25) but by the second census their number had dropped to 40,500 (Num 26:18). His position on the march was south of the tabernacle, next to Reuben. These two tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh remained shepherds like their ancestors and because of the very large herd of cattle (Num 32:1) they asked Moses to give them the rich grazing lands east of the Jordan as their possession. It was granted to them (Jos 18:7). Warriors from these two and a half tribes led the conquest of western Palestine (Jos 1:12-18; Josh 4:12) and returned to their families with Joshua’s blessing (Jos 22:1-9).
Gen 49:19 seems to describe the military prowess of the Gadites. They were known for their courage and faith (Deu 33:20; 2Sa 17:27; 2Sa 19:31-40; 1Ch 5:16-22; 1Ch 12:8). The land of Gad was close to the battlefield between Syria and Israel (2Ki 10:33). Gad was eventually taken captive by Assyria (2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26) and Amon took the land and cities from him (Jer 49:1).
2. King David’s seer or prophet (1Sa 22:5; 2Sa 24:11-18; 2Sa 24:1. Chronicles 21:9-17). Gad assisted in the preparation of the temple’s musical services (2Ch 29:25) and recorded David’s deeds in a book (1Ch 29:29).
3. A Canaanite god of fortune, seen in compound names such as Baal-gad (Jos 11:17; Jos 12:7; Jos 13:5) and Migdal-gad (Jos 15:37).
Source: Hispanic World Bible Dictionary
(Fortune). Name of people and a place of the OT.
1. Seventh son of Jacob. His mother was † ¢ Zilpah, Leah’s servant (Gen 30: 10-11). His offspring constituted one of the tribes of Israel, originally made up of seven families, the Zephonites, the Hagites, the Sunnis, the Oznites, the Erites, the Arodites, and the Arelites, headed by sons of G. (Num 26: 15-17). In the second census forty thousand five hundred were counted (Num 26:18). Of Gad, Moses prophesied: “As a lion lies down, and snatches off arm and head” (Deu 33:20). The men of this tribe are described as “men carrying shield and sword…skilled in war” (1Ch 5:18).
The Gadites, together with the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, had “a very immense herd of cattle,” for which they wanted to stay E of the Jordan, which they were allowed as long as they crossed the river armed and helped their brothers in the conquest of the land (Num. 32; Deu 3:12-20). So they lived in †¢Gilead, in the center of Transjordan. Its border O was the Jordan River, between Lake Cineret (†¢Sea of Galilee) and the Dead Sea. Towards the E were the Ammonite tribes, with whom he had permanent conflicts. Ultimately these would prevail in the territory (Jer 49:1).
2. Prophet of David’s time. He counseled him when he was fleeing from Saul (1Sa 22:5). When David fell into the sin of taking the census “the word of the Lord came to the prophet G.† to propose one of three divine punishments for the king and then said to him: “Go up and build an altar to Jehovah in the age of †¢ Arauna Jebuseo† , where the †¢temple was later built (2Sa 24:11-18; 1Ch 21:9-19). Together with David and the prophet † ¢ Nathan participated in the organization of worship in the house of Jehovah † œbecause that commandment proceeded from Jehovah through his prophets † (2Ch 29:25). He is mentioned as one of the sources for the making of the books of Chronicles (1Ch 29:29).
. Place where “Joab with the captains of the army” encamped on their way to take the census. In RV60 it is called “valley of G.† (2Sa 24:5). Other translations say: the ravine of G. Possibly it is the valley of the river †¢Arnón.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
tip, TR12 BIOG TRIB HOMB HOAT
sit, a6, 386, 230
vet, = “fortune”. The seventh son of Jacob and the first of Zilpah, Leah’s maid. Little is known about Gad, except that he had seven sons (Gen. 30:11; 46:16; 1 Chron. 5:11). In blessing him to his sons, Jacob said of Gad: “An army will attack him; but he will attack in the end” (Gen. 49:19). Moses said: “Blessed is he who enlarged Gad; as a lion rests, and he snatches arm and head. He chooses the best of the land for himself, because there the portion of the legislator was reserved for him. And he came in the lead of the people; with Israel he executed the commands and the righteous decrees of Jehovah” (Deut. 33:20, 21). On leaving Egypt the number of those capable of bearing arms in the tribe was 45,650, but on crossing the Jordan this number had decreased by 5,000. Being their territory east of the Jordan, with Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh, they would necessarily have to bear the first blows of enemies attacking from the east (1 Chron. 5:18-22). They were a warlike tribe, well suited to holding such an exposed position. Of those who joined David it is said that they were “men of war very valiant to fight, skilled with shield and buckler; their faces were like the faces of lions, and they were swift as gazelles on the mountains” (1 Chron. 12:8-15). Jephthah and Barzillai were from this tribe. Gad possessed a large district from a point a little north of the Dead Sea to the southern tip of the Sea of Galilee, with a very fertile plain suitable for his cattle and herds, including the highlands of Gilead. The tribes east of the Jordan were the first to be taken captive by the king of Assyria in 740 BC, with the Ammonites taking possession of the territory of Gad (1 Chron. 5:25, 26; Jer. 49:1). Twelve thousand of this tribe will be sealed in a future day for blessing (Rev. 7:5). His territory in the restoration of Israel will be found in the southern extremity of the earth (Ez. 48:27).
Source: New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
(Good luck).
1. Son of Jacob and Zilpah, Leah’s servant. Zilpah also gave birth to Asher, Gad’s younger brother. When Gad was born (in Paddan-aram, about 1770 BCE), Leah exclaimed: “With good fortune!” Hence the name Gad. (Ge 30: 9-13; 35:26) Gad accompanied his brothers on two trips to Egypt to get grain from Joseph. (Ge 42:3; 43:15) Gad was about forty-two years old when in 1728 B.C. CE he and his family moved to Egypt together with Jacob, his father. (Ge 46:6, 7, 16) Seventeen years later, when Jacob was about to die, he blessed his twelve sons, saying of Gad: “As for Gad, a marauding party will raid against him, but he will raid the extreme rear† . (Ge 49:1, 2, 19)
2. The tribe that was formed from the seven sons of Gad. In the second year of the exodus from Egypt, the tribe’s warriors numbered 45,650. (Ge 46:16; Nu 1:1-3, 24, 25) Gad was in the three-tribe division, along with Reuben and…