Atomic Bible

Prophet during the reigns of David and Solomon.

Gad

Named in 13 verses across 4 books, first in 1 Samuel 22:5.

גָּדGad

The name means “a band; a troop.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Gad Written by AI

Gad was a prophet who served during the reigns of King David and his son Solomon. He first appears in 1 Samuel 22:5, where he advises David to leave his stronghold in Moab and return to the land of Judah. Gad played a significant role in the events surrounding David's census of Israel (2Samuel 24; 1Chronicles 21). After David had sinned by taking the census, Gad was sent by God to offer David a choice of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague (2 Samuel 24:11 to 14; 1 Chronicles 21:9 to 13). David chose the plague, and Gad instructed him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to stop the plague (2 Samuel 24:18 to 19; 1 Chronicles 21:18 to 19). Gad is described as David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:9) and is credited with writing a book about David's acts (1 Chronicles 29:29). He was also involved in organizing the music and worship in the tabernacle (2 Chronicles 29:25). Gad's ministry as a prophet spanned the latter years of David's reign and continued into the early years of Solomon's reign.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Gad, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Fortune; luck. (1.) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher (Gen. 30:11-13; 46:16, 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc., should rather be rendered, “In fortune [R.V., ‘Fortunate’]: and she called,” etc., or “Fortune cometh,” etc.

The tribe of Gad during the march through the wilderness had their place with Simeon and Reuben on the south side of the tabernacle (Num. 2:14). The tribes of Reuben and Gad continued all through their history to follow the pastoral pursuits of the patriarchs (Num. 32:1-5).

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The portion allotted to the tribe of Gad was on the east of Jordan, and comprehended the half of Gilead, a region of great beauty and fertility (Deut. 3:12), bounded on the east by the Arabian desert, on the west by the Jordan (Josh. 13:27), and on the north by the river Jabbok. It thus included the whole of the Jordan valley as far north as to the Sea of Galilee, where it narrowed almost to a point.

This tribe was fierce and warlike; they were “strong men of might, men of war for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, their faces the faces of lions, and like roes upon the mountains for swiftness” (1 Chr. 12:8; 5:19-22). Barzillai (2 Sam. 17:27) and Elijah (1 Kings 17:1) were of this tribe. It was carried into captivity at the same time as the other tribes of the northern kingdom by Tiglath-pileser (1 Chr. 5:26), and in the time of Jeremiah (49:1) their cities were inhabited by the Ammonites.

(2.) A prophet who joined David in the “hold,” and at whose advice he quitted it for the forest of Hareth (1 Chr. 29:29; 2 Chr. 29:25; 1 Sam. 22:5). Many years after we find mention made of him in connection with the punishment inflicted for numbering the people (2 Sam. 24:11-19; 1 Chr. 21:9-19). He wrote a book called the “Acts of David” (1 Chr. 29:29), and assisted in the arrangements for the musical services of the “house of God” (2 Chr. 29:25). He bore the title of “the king’s seer” (2 Sam. 24:11, 13; 1 Chr. 21:9).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. 1 Samuel 22:5

    Then the prophet Gad said to David, “Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart and go into the land of Judah.” So David left and went to the forest of Hereth.

  2. 2 Samuel 24:11

    When David got up in the morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer:

  3. 2 Samuel 24:13

    So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.”

  4. 2 Samuel 24:14

    David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

  5. 2 Samuel 24:18

    And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.”

  6. 2 Samuel 24:19

    So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded.

  7. 1 Chronicles 21:9

    And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer,

  8. 1 Chronicles 21:11

    So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose

  9. 1 Chronicles 21:13

    David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.”

  10. 1 Chronicles 21:18

    Then the angel of the LORD ordered Gad to tell David to go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

  11. 1 Chronicles 21:19

    So David went up at the word that Gad had spoken in the name of the LORD.

  12. 1 Chronicles 29:29

    Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are indeed written in the Chronicles of Samuel the Seer, the Chronicles of Nathan the Prophet, and the Chronicles of Gad the Seer,

  13. 2 Chronicles 29:25

    Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.