Tribe of Gad
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The Tribe of Gad (גָּד "soldier" or "luck", Standard Hebrew Gad, Tiberian Hebrew Gāḏ) is one of the tribes that made up the ancient Kingdom of Israel. The Tribe of Gad occupied the region east of the River Jordan in the land of Gilead. Among its cities at various times were Ramoth, Jaezer, Aroer, and Dibon. The territory was never secure from invasion and attacks, since to the south it was exposed to the Moabites, to the north Aram-Damascus and the later Assyrians.
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[edit] Origin
In Judaism, Gad is viewed as one of the Hebrew tribes, and according to the Bible was founded by Gad, a son of Jacob and Zilpah, the handmaiden of Jacob's first wife, Leah. Gad is portrayed as somewhat warlike, and took part in the Israelite conquest of the regions east of the Jordan (Genesis 49:19, Deuteronomy 33:20-21, Numbers 32:6+).
Since archaeological remains indicate the undisturbed continuence of Canaanite culture up to and including the time of Omri, the majority of archaeologists and critical scholars see the supposed conquest as non-historic, and the Israelites as having emerged gradually as a subculture within Canaanite society. Consequently the tribe of Gad is seen as having always been a part of the eastern region, rather than invaders.
The geographical notes on Gad are diverse and divergent. The city of Dibon is designated in the Book of Numbers as belonging to Gad (Numbers 33:45), with Ataroth and Aroer, but in the Book of Joshua this same territory, north of the Arnon, belongs to the tribe of Reuben (Joshua 13:15+). The boundaries of Gad in Joshua 13:24-27 (assigned by textual scholars to a different source than Joshua 13:15) are also different. These and other discrepancies show a wide latitude and indefiniteness in the use of Gad as a territorial designation. Gilead is sometimes used to include Gad (among other passages see Judges 5:17), though at times it denotes a country north of Gad, and at others a country south of Jaazer (2 Samuel 24:5; Joshua 13:24+).
These facts seem to indicate that Gad was originally the name of a nomadic tribe, and was then applied to the territory which this tribe passed over and settled in. The gradual extension of the use of the name shows on the whole that the tribe coming from the south pushed on steadily northward (2 Samuel 24:5; cf. 1 Chronicles 5:11, 16). Rather than being descended from a figure named Gad, the biblical explanation of their name is seen by critical scholars as an eponymous folk etymology, and instead it is seen as more plausible that the tribe took their name from the semitic god of fortune, Gad.
[edit] Relationship with the kingdom of Israel
Although traditionally seen as a member of the kingdom of Israel, the books of Samuel and of Kings portray the tribe of Gad as somewhat of an enemy of the Israel; Gad is described as having been loyal to Eshbaal rather than David, and as having caused Jeroboam sufficient anxiety that he built the fortress of Penuel in order to keep the tribe in check.
The inscription on the Mesha Stele distinguishes between Israel and Gad, and treats Gad as the older inhabitants of the parts east of the Jordan. The same notion that Gad is not of pure Israelitish stock appears to underlie the Biblical etymology for the tribe's eponym. Gad, the biblical figure, is described as the son of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, rather than as a full brother to Reuben and the other northern tribes. Accordingly, in critical scholarship, Gad is seen as having joined the Israelite confederacy at a much later date than the other tribes, possibly not even having become 'Israelite' until after the time of Jeroboam; as hinted at in Samuel and Kings.
[edit] Later history
Along with the other tribes of the Kingdom of Israel, Gad was taken into captivity by Assyria, when Tiglath-pileser III annexed this region about 733-732 B.C. (cf. 2 Kings 15:29; 1 Chronicles 5:26). The Talmud portrays the tribes of Gad and of Reuben as the first that went into exile (Lam. R. i. 5). Due to the Assyrian policy of distributing captives throughout its empire, Gad's tribal identity appears to have been dissolved, and it consequently became one of the 9 Ten Lost Tribes.
Under Uzziah and Jotham the territory appears to have become part of the kingdom of Judah, though the Ammonites are said by the Book of Jeremiah to have eventually conquered the territory from them (Jeremiah 49:1).
[edit] Miscellaneous rabbinical opinions
Gad was born on the 10th of Ḥeshwan, and lived 125 years (Ex. R. i. 5; Yalḳ., Ex. 1). He was called "Gad" after the manna, which was like coriander (גד; Ex. R. l.c.). Because of his great strength he was not presented by Joseph to Pharaoh, lest the latter should appoint him one of his guards (Gen. R. xcv. 4). Foreseeing that the children of Gad would devote themselves to the breeding of cattle, Jacob ordered that in carrying his bier Gad should walk on the southern side, whence came the beneficent rains and fructifying dew (Num. R. iii. 12). The tribe of Gad occupied the southern side of the camp also (Num. R. l.c.). They were neighbors of Korah because, like him, they were quarrel-some. Their standard was of red and black, with a camp painted on it (Num. R. ii. 6). According to some, the name of Gad was inscribed on the agate in the breastplate of the high priest (Shalshelet ha-Ḳabbalah, p. 13), according to others on the ligure (Samuel Ẓarẓa, Meḳor Ḥayyim to Ex. xxviii.), while others declare it to have been cut on the amethyst, which has the virtue of infusing martial courage (Ex. R. xxxviii.; Baḥya ben Asher's commentary, ad loc.).
The tribe of Gad is blamed for having chosen the "other side" of the Jordan, the verse "Riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt" (Eccl. v. 12) being applied to them (Gen. R. 1. 11). When they arrived at the Jordan and saw the fertility of the land, they said: "One handful of enjoyment on this side is better than two on the other" (Lev. R. iii. 1). However, because they crossed the river to help their brethren in the conquest of Palestine, just as Simeon did when he took his sword and warred against the men of Shechem, they were found worthy to follow the tribe of Simeon at the sacrifices on the occasion of the dedication of the Tabernacle (Num. R. xiii. 19). Moses was buried in the territory of Gad (Soṭah 13b; Yalḳuṭ, Vezot ha-Berakah, p. 961). According to some, Elijah was a descendant of Gad (Gen. R. lxxi.).
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from the 1901–1906 Jewish Encyclopedia, a publication now in the public domain.
