Topical Bible: Gad: Jacob's Seventh Son

◄ Gad: Jacob's Seventh Son ►

Jump to: Nave's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Gad, the seventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of Zilpah, Leah's maidservant, holds a significant place in the biblical narrative. His birth is recorded in Genesis 30:9-11, where Leah, having ceased bearing children, gives Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. Zilpah conceives and bears a son, whom Leah names Gad, saying, "How fortunate!" (Genesis 30:11). The name Gad is associated with fortune or good luck, reflecting Leah's joy and hope for prosperity.

Tribe of Gad

The descendants of Gad formed one of the twelve tribes of Israel. As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, the tribe of Gad was counted among the twelve tribes in the census taken by Moses. According to Numbers 1:24-25, the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650 men of fighting age. The tribe was known for its valor and strength, characteristics that were prophetically attributed to Gad by Jacob in his blessings over his sons: "Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels" (Genesis 49:19).

Territory and Settlement

Upon entering the Promised Land, the tribe of Gad chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan River, along with the tribes of Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh. This decision is documented in Numbers 32, where the Gadites, impressed by the land's suitability for livestock, request to receive their inheritance there. Moses grants their request on the condition that they assist the other tribes in conquering the land west of the Jordan. The territory allotted to Gad was a fertile region, ideal for their herds, stretching from the Jabbok River to the territory of Ammon and including the land of Gilead.

Role in Israel's History

The tribe of Gad played a crucial role in the military campaigns of Israel. Known for their fierce warriors, the Gadites were instrumental in the conquest of Canaan. In 1 Chronicles 12:8, the Gadites are described as "mighty men of valor, trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and who were as swift as gazelles on the mountains" . This reputation for bravery and skill in battle made them a formidable force in Israel's military endeavors.

Prophetic Significance

The prophetic words spoken over Gad by both Jacob and Moses highlight the tribe's martial prowess and resilience. In Deuteronomy 33:20-21, Moses blesses Gad, saying, "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad’s domain! Gad dwells like a lion, tearing at arm or head. He chose the best land for himself, because a ruler’s portion was reserved there" . This blessing underscores Gad's strategic importance and the tribe's role in securing Israel's borders.

Legacy

The legacy of Gad is one of strength, resilience, and faithfulness. Despite the challenges of settling in a region vulnerable to attacks, the tribe of Gad remained steadfast in their commitment to the covenant community of Israel. Their account is a testament to the enduring promise of God's provision and protection for His people, as well as the importance of courage and unity in the face of adversity.

Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 30:11
And Leah said, A troop comes: and she called his name Gad.
Nave's Topical Index

Genesis 35:26
And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid: Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.
Nave's Topical Index

Exodus 1:4
Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Nave's Topical Index

Library

Concerning Jacob's Flight into Mesopotamia, by Reason of the Fear ...
... had by Zilpha a son, whose name was Gad, which may ... after one day's time, being
acquainted with Jacob's and his ... of men with him; and on the seventh day overtook ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 19 concerning jacobs flight.htm

Chapter xxx
... Asher is practically only a synonym of Gad, as is ... and Rachel's toward the end of
the seventh, leaving Dinah ... be born later." So by this time Jacob's family was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxx.htm

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs.
... branch; the sixth put a crown on his head; the seventh gave him ... Jacob and his sons
embark, a tempest arises and carries away the father ... Gad"Concerning Hatred. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the testaments of the twelve.htm

Scriptural Poems; Being Several Portions of Scripture Digested ...
... By reason of her importunity, Did on the seventh day to ... Now unto Jonah, old Amittai's
son, Thus did the word ... When Jacob from his brother Esau fled, He by the ...
/.../scriptural poems being several portions.htm

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... for at this day, 'the remnant of Jacob shall be ... The sixth, upon her Euphrates: And
the seventh, into her ... Tis evident that this man of sin, this son of perdition ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1824 to the ...
... sooner did this great change take place in Jacob's heart than ... until his death, which
happened on the seventh day of ... in England, and he educated his son John in ...
/.../chapter 8 from the close.htm