Reference: Gilead
Easton
hill of testimony, (Ge 31:21), a mountainous region east of Jordan. From its mountainous character it is called "the mount of Gilead" (Ge 31:25). It is called also "the land of Gilead" (Nu 32:1), and sometimes simply "Gilead" (Ps 60:7; Ge 37:25). It comprised the possessions of the tribes of Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh (De 3:13; Nu 32:40). It was bounded on the north by Bashan, and on the south by Moab and Ammon (Ge 31:21; De 3:12-17). "Half Gilead" was possessed by Sihon, and the other half, separated from it by the river Jabbok, by Og, king of Bashan. The deep ravine of the river Hieromax (the modern Sheriat el-Mandhur) separated Bashan from Gilead, which was about 60 miles in length and 20 in breadth, extending from near the south end of the Lake of Gennesaret to the north end of the Dead Sea. Abarim, Pisgah, Nebo, and Peor are its mountains mentioned in Scripture.
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So fled he, and all that he had, and made himself ready, and passed over the rivers, and set his face straight toward the mount Gilead.
So fled he, and all that he had, and made himself ready, and passed over the rivers, and set his face straight toward the mount Gilead.
And Laban overtook Jacob: and Jacob had pitched his tent in that mount. And Laban with his brethren pitched their tent also upon the mount Gilead.
And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
The children of Reuben and the children of Gad had an exceeding great multitude of cattle. And when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was an apt place for cattle,
And when we had conquered this land the same time, I gave from Aroer, which is upon the river of Arnon, and half mount Gilead and the cities thereof unto the Reubenites, and Gadites. And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan the kingdom of Og, I gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob with all Bashan was called the land of Giants.
And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan the kingdom of Og, I gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob with all Bashan was called the land of Giants. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called the towns of Bashan after his own name: the towns of Jair unto this day. read more. And I gave half Gilead unto Machir. And unto Reuben and Gad, I gave from Gilead unto the river of Arnon and half the valley and the coast, even unto the river Jabbok which is the border of the children of Ammon, and the fields and Jordan with the coast, from Chinnereth even unto the sea in the field which is the salt sea under the springs of Pisgah eastward.
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head, Judah is my lawgiver;
Fausets
("a hard rocky region".) The mountainous range and the region E. of Jordan are meant by "mount Gilead," not some one mountain. Bashan ("soft level soil"), a fertile plateau, bounds it on the N.; the Arabian table land on the E.; Moab and Ammon on the S. (De 3:12-17); Jordan on the W.; Hieromax river (now Sheriat'el Mandhur) divides it from Bashan. The Jabbok divided Og's northern half of Gilead (now Jebel Ajlun) from Sihon's southern half (now Belka.). The valley of Heshbon was probably Gilead's southern bound. Mishor, "a table land," is used to denote the plateau S. and E. of Gilead. Thus Bezer was in the country of the Mishor ("plain country," KJV De 4:43), the smooth downs of Moab contrasting with the higher districts of Bashan northwards and the rugged country W. of the Jordan.
One prominent peak is still called Jebel Jil'ad, "mount Gilead," the probable site of Ramath Mizpeh (Jos 13:26), and the "Mizpeh of Gilead" from whence Jephthah passed over to Ammon (Jg 11:29), an admirable place for assembling forces for war. Es-Salt, a town close by, is on the site of "Ramoth Gilead," the city of refuge in Gad. The mountains of Gilead, 2,000 or 3,000 ft. high, appear still more elevated from the W. owing to the depression of the Jordan valley 1,000 ft., and resemble a massive wall along the horizon; but when ascended they present a" wide table land tossed about in wild confusion of undulating downs, clothed with rich grass and magnificent forests, and broken by three deep defiles, those of the Jarmuk, Jabbok, and Arnon" (Stanley, Sinai and Palestine)
The high Arabian plateau makes them look low from the E. Pasturage abounds in Gilead more than in western Palestine, from whence Reuben and Gad chose it for their numerous flocks and herds (Numbers 32). The physical nature of the country affected the character of its people, who ever retained nomadic pastoral habits. Gad, which lay S. and W. by Jordan, stretching N. as far as the sea of Galilee.) (See GAD.) Manasseh lay N. and E., and stretched S. to Mahanaim. Gilead's isolation kept its people in the background in Israel's history. Its aromatic spices and balm were exported to Egypt (Ge 37:25; Jer 8:22). Chedorlaomer attacked the giant Zuzim in Ham, i.e. probably Gilead; having first attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, now the Hauran, afterward the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, the country subsequently of Moab. In Gilead Saul's son at Mahanaim tried to gain his father's throne (2Sa 2:8-9).
Here David found shelter and hospitality while fleeing from Absalom (2Sa 17:22,27-29). Elijah the Tishbite was of Gilead, and in garb, abruptness, and active energy reflected his country's characteristics. Being a border land, it was exposed to the marauding tribes of the desert (Jos 17:1), and Ramoth Gilead was thought the eastern key of Palestine (1Ki 22:3-6). (See RAMOTH GILEAD.) Twice our Lord withdrew to the trans-jordanic hills: after His baptism; again just before His last stay at Jerusalem (Joh 10:39-40). At Pella in the same region the disciples found the refuge from the siege of Jerusalem which their Lord had told them of beforehand; Cestius Gallus having providentially retired, and so given them the opportunity of fleeing (Mt 24:15-16).
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And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
And when we had conquered this land the same time, I gave from Aroer, which is upon the river of Arnon, and half mount Gilead and the cities thereof unto the Reubenites, and Gadites. And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan the kingdom of Og, I gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob with all Bashan was called the land of Giants. read more. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called the towns of Bashan after his own name: the towns of Jair unto this day. And I gave half Gilead unto Machir. And unto Reuben and Gad, I gave from Gilead unto the river of Arnon and half the valley and the coast, even unto the river Jabbok which is the border of the children of Ammon, and the fields and Jordan with the coast, from Chinnereth even unto the sea in the field which is the salt sea under the springs of Pisgah eastward.
Bezer in the wilderness, even in the plain country, among the Reubenites; and Ramoth in Gilead among the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan among the Manassites.
And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the borders of Debir.
And the tribe of Manasseh which was the eldest son of Joseph received a lot. And Machir, the eldest son of Manasseh, which was the father of Gilead and a man of war, had Gilead and Bashan.
Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. And he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and came to Mizpeh that lieth in Gilead, and from thence unto the children of Ammon.
But Abner the son of Ner that was captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul and brought him to Mahanaim; and made him king over Gilead and over the Asherites, and over Jezreel; and over Ephraim and Benjamin and over all Israel.
Then David arose and all the people that were with him, and they were come over Jordan by that it was day, that there lacked not one of them that was not come over Jordan.
And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash out of Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel out of Lodebar and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogelim, brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels: and also corn, barley, flour and parched corn, beans and rice, read more. honey, butter, sheep and cheese of kine - for David, and all the people that were with him, to eat. For they supposed that the people should be hungry, fainty, and thirsty in the wilderness.
Then said the king of Israel unto his servants, "Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we sit still and take it not out of the hands of the king of Syria?" And he said unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me to battle, to Ramoth in Gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "I will be as thou art, and my people shall be as thine, and my horses as thine." read more. And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, "Ask counsel, I pray thee, of the LORD today." And then the king of Israel gathered of the Prophets together, upon a four hundred men, and said unto them, "Shall I go to Ramoth in Gilead to battle, or be still?" And they said, "Go: for the Lord shall deliver it into the hands of the king."
for there is no more treacle at Gilead, and there is no Physician, that can heal the hurt of my people.
When ye, therefore, shall see the abomination that betokeneth desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place: let him that readeth it, understand it: Then let them which be in Jewry fly into the mountains.
Again they went about to take him, but he escaped out of their hands, and went away again beyond Jordan, into the place where John before had baptised, and there abode.
Hastings
1. A person (or personified sept), son of the Manassite Machir (Nu 26:29; 1Ch 2:21), and grandfather of Zelophehad (Nu 27:1). See No. 4 below. 2. A Gadite, son of Michael (1Ch 5:14). 3. A mountain mentioned in Jg 7:3 in an order of Gideon's to his followers, 'Whosoever is fearful
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And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
The children of Manasseh: Machir, of whom cometh the kindred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead, of whom cometh the kindred of the Gileadites.
And the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Heber the son of Gilead, the son of Machir the son of Manasseh, of the kindreds of Manasseh the son of Joseph - whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah -
And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them the towns of Jair.
Gilead abode on the other side Jordan, and why tarried Dan in ships? And Asher sat in the havens of the sea, and abode still in his own coasts.
Now therefore make a proclamation in the ears of the people and say, 'If any man dread or be afraid, let him return and get him soon from mount Gilead.'" And there departed and returned of the people twenty two thousand, and there abode ten thousand.
And it became an ordinance in Israel, year by year, that the daughters of Israel should go and lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in a year.
Then all the children of Israel went out: and there gathered a congregation together as it had been but one man, even from Dan to Beersheba and out of the land of Gilead, unto the land to Mizpeh.
And the Hebrews went over Jordan unto the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was yet in Gilgal, and all the people that followed him were astonished.
and made him king over Gilead and over the Asherites, and over Jezreel; and over Ephraim and Benjamin and over all Israel.
And when David was come to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash out of Rabbah, the city of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel out of Lodebar and Barzillai the Gileadite out of Rogelim,
And Barzillai the Gileadite came from Rogelim and went over Jordan with the king, to accompany him over Jordan:
And then they went to Gilead and to the nether land of Hodshi, and from thence to Dan-Jaan, and about to Sidon,
The son of Geber had Ramoth Gilead, and his were the towns of Jair the son of Manasseh which lie in Gilead, and his were the coasts of Argob in Bashan, three score great cities with wall and bars of brass;
And Elijah the Tishbite, which was of the inhabiters of Gilead, said unto Ahab, "As truly as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, save as I appoint it."
from Jordan Eastward: even all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, the Reubenites and the Manassites, from Aroer upon the river of Arnon, with Gilead and Bashan.
And Pekah, the son of Remaliah, a lord of his, conspired against him and slew him in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh and fifty men with him that were Gileadites: and when he had killed him, reigned in his room.
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, Abelbethmaacah, Janoah, Kadesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and carried them away to Assyria.
These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri the son of Jaroah Gilead the son of Michael the son of Jeshishai the son of Jahdo the son of Buz.
And of the children of the priests: The children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was counted among the same names:
And of the priests, the children of Habaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was named after their name.
O that I might go to the mountain of Myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense, till the day break, and till the shadows be past away.
Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have set me on fire! Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Gilead.
for there is no more treacle at Gilead, and there is no Physician, that can heal the hurt of my people.
Go up, O Gilead, and bring treacle unto the daughter of Egypt: But in vain shalt thou go to surgery, for thy wound shalt not be stopped.
Gilead is a city of wicked doers, of malicious people and bloodshedders.
But at Gilead is the abomination, they are fallen to vanity. At Gilgal they have slain oxen: and as many heaps of stones as they had in their land furrows, so many altars have they made.
"Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of Damascus, I will not spare her: because they have threshed Gilead with iron stales.
Thus sayeth the LORD, 'For three and four wickednesses of the children of Ammon, I will not spare them: because they ripped up the women great with child in Gilead, to make the borders of their lands the wider.
Morish
Gilead. Gil'ead
The district on the east of the Jordan, extending from the river Yarmouk, a little south of the Sea of Galilee, to the north corner of the Dead Sea. It fell to the lot of Gad, except its northern part, which, where it joined Bashan, was possessed by Manasseh. It is a mountainous district, which accounts for some part of it being called 'the mount of Gilead' in Ge 31:21-25. Some of the mountains are 2,000 to 3,500 feet high, but from the west they look much higher because of the depression of the Jordan valley. Pasturage abounds in Gilead, and accounts for Gad and the others choosing it for their cattle. The district is divided into north and south by the river Jabbok (Zerka). The northern part is cultivated and has numerous villages; but the southern is mostly held by nomadic tribes, with but little cultivation, and having but one inhabited town now, called es Salt, 32 2' N, 35 42' E.
In the days of Ahab Ramoth-gilead was in possession of the Syrians, which was followed by all Gilead and Moab falling into their hands. 1Ki 22:3; 2Ki 10:32-33. This was followed by Tiglath-pileser conquering the region, and carrying the Israelites into captivity. 2Ki 15:29; 1Ch 5:26. In the restoration of Israel their border eastward will extend to Damascus and Gilead. Eze 47:18. This ancient possession will thus be brought into blessing. The Ishmaelites who bought Joseph were travelling with balm and myrrh from Gilead. Ge 37:25. The balm of Gilead was proverbial for its healing virtues. Jer 8:22; 46:11.
Gilead. Gil'ead
1. Son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh. Nu 26:29-30; 27:1; 36:1; Jos 17:1,3; 1Ch 2:21,23; 7:14,17.
2. Father of Jephthah. Jg 11:1-2.
3. Son of Michael of the family of Gad. 1Ch 5:14.
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So fled he, and all that he had, and made himself ready, and passed over the rivers, and set his face straight toward the mount Gilead. Upon the third day after, was it told Laban that Jacob was fled. read more. Then he took his brethren with him and followed after him seven days' journey, and overtook him at the mount Gilead. And God came to Laban the Sirian in a dream by night, and said unto him, "Take heed to thyself, that thou speak not to Jacob ought save good." And Laban overtook Jacob: and Jacob had pitched his tent in that mount. And Laban with his brethren pitched their tent also upon the mount Gilead.
And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
The children of Manasseh: Machir, of whom cometh the kindred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead, of whom cometh the kindred of the Gileadites. And these are the children of Gilead: Iezer, of whom cometh the kindred of the Iezerites; and of Helek cometh the kindred of the Helekites;
And the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Heber the son of Gilead, the son of Machir the son of Manasseh, of the kindreds of Manasseh the son of Joseph - whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah -
And the ancient heads of the children of Gilead the son of Machir the son of Manasseh of the kindred of the children of Joseph, came forth and spake before Moses and the princes which were ancient heads among the children of Israel,
And the tribe of Manasseh which was the eldest son of Joseph received a lot. And Machir, the eldest son of Manasseh, which was the father of Gilead and a man of war, had Gilead and Bashan.
But Zelophehad the son of Hepher the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons save daughters. And these are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah;
And there was one Jephthah a Gileadite, a strong man, which was the son of a harlot: Howbeit Gilead begat Jephthah. But Gilead's wife bare him sons, which when they were come to age, thrust out of Jephthah, and said unto him, "Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house, for thou art the son of a strange woman."
Then said the king of Israel unto his servants, "Know ye not that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we sit still and take it not out of the hands of the king of Syria?"
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, came Tiglathpileser, king of Assyria, and took Ijon, Abelbethmaacah, Janoah, Kadesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali, and carried them away to Assyria.
These were the children of Abihail the son of Huri the son of Jaroah Gilead the son of Michael the son of Jeshishai the son of Jahdo the son of Buz.
for there is no more treacle at Gilead, and there is no Physician, that can heal the hurt of my people.
Go up, O Gilead, and bring treacle unto the daughter of Egypt: But in vain shalt thou go to surgery, for thy wound shalt not be stopped.
The east side shall ye measure from Hauran and Damascus, from Gilead and the land of Israel by Jordan and so forth, from the sea coast, that lieth eastward. And this is the East part.
Smith
Gil'e-ad
(rocky region).
1. A mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon.
Ge 31:21; De 3:12-17
It is sometimes called "Mount Gilead,"
sometimes "the land of Gilead,"
and sometimes simply "Gilead."
The name Gilead, as is usual in Palestine, describes the physical aspect of the country: it signifies "a hard rocky region." The mountains of Gilead, including Pisgah, Abarim and Peor, have a real elevation of from 2000 to 3000 feet; but their apparent elevation on the western side is much greater, owing to the depression of the Jordan valley, which averages about 3000 feet. Their outline is singularly uniform, resembling a massive wall running along the horizon. Gilead was specially noted for its balm collected from "balm of Gilead" trees, and worth twice its weight in silver.
2. Possibly the name of a mountain west of the Jordan, near Jezreel.
We are inclined, however, to think that the true reading in this place should be GILBOA.
See Gilboa
3. Son of Machir, grandson of Manasseh.
4. The father of Jephthah.
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So fled he, and all that he had, and made himself ready, and passed over the rivers, and set his face straight toward the mount Gilead.
And Laban overtook Jacob: and Jacob had pitched his tent in that mount. And Laban with his brethren pitched their tent also upon the mount Gilead.
And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
The children of Manasseh: Machir, of whom cometh the kindred of the Machirites. And Machir begat Gilead, of whom cometh the kindred of the Gileadites. And these are the children of Gilead: Iezer, of whom cometh the kindred of the Iezerites; and of Helek cometh the kindred of the Helekites;
The children of Reuben and the children of Gad had an exceeding great multitude of cattle. And when they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, that it was an apt place for cattle,
And when we had conquered this land the same time, I gave from Aroer, which is upon the river of Arnon, and half mount Gilead and the cities thereof unto the Reubenites, and Gadites. And the rest of Gilead and all Bashan the kingdom of Og, I gave unto the half tribe of Manasseh: all the region of Argob with all Bashan was called the land of Giants. read more. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the region of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi, and called the towns of Bashan after his own name: the towns of Jair unto this day. And I gave half Gilead unto Machir. And unto Reuben and Gad, I gave from Gilead unto the river of Arnon and half the valley and the coast, even unto the river Jabbok which is the border of the children of Ammon, and the fields and Jordan with the coast, from Chinnereth even unto the sea in the field which is the salt sea under the springs of Pisgah eastward.
Now therefore make a proclamation in the ears of the people and say, 'If any man dread or be afraid, let him return and get him soon from mount Gilead.'" And there departed and returned of the people twenty two thousand, and there abode ten thousand.
And there was one Jephthah a Gileadite, a strong man, which was the son of a harlot: Howbeit Gilead begat Jephthah. But Gilead's wife bare him sons, which when they were come to age, thrust out of Jephthah, and said unto him, "Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house, for thou art the son of a strange woman."
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of my head, Judah is my lawgiver;
Watsons
GILEAD, the name given to the monument erected by Laban and Jacob, in testimony of a mutual covenant and agreement, Ge 31:47-48. Hence the hill upon which it was erected, was called Mount Gilead, Song 4:1; 6:5; Jer 50:19. The mountains of Gilead were part of that ridge of mountains which extend from Mount Lebanon southward, on the east of the Holy land; they gave their name to the whole country which lies on the east of the sea of Galilee, and included the mountainous region called in the New Testament Trachonitis. The Scripture speaks of the balm of Gilead, Jer 8:22; 46:11; 51:8. The merchants who bought Joseph came from Gilead, and were carrying balm into Egypt, Ge 37:25. See BALM.
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And Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called Gilead. Then said Laban, "This heap be witness between thee and me this day." Therefore is it called Gilead.
And they sat them down to eat bread. And as they lift up their eyes and looked about, there came a company of Ishmaelites from Gilead, and their camels laden with spicery, balm, and myrrh, and were going down into Egypt.
O how fair art thou, my love, how fair art thou? Thou hast doves' eyes, beside that which lieth hid within. Thy hairy locks are like the wool of a flock of goats that be shorn on Mount Gilead.
Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have set me on fire! Thy hairy locks are like a flock of goats upon the mount of Gilead.
for there is no more treacle at Gilead, and there is no Physician, that can heal the hurt of my people.
Go up, O Gilead, and bring treacle unto the daughter of Egypt: But in vain shalt thou go to surgery, for thy wound shalt not be stopped.
And will bring Israel again to his pleasant pasture, that he may feed upon Carmel and Bashan, and be satisfied upon the mount of Ephraim and Gilead.
But suddenly is Babylon fallen and destroyed. Mourn for her; bring plasters for her wounds, if she may peradventure be healed again.