Gilead

About Gilead Written by AI

Gilead is mentioned in Judges 11:1 to 2 as the father of Jephthah, a judge of Israel. Jephthah is described as a mighty warrior and the son of Gilead by a prostitute. Gilead's legitimate sons, born to his wife, drove Jephthah away, denying him a share in the inheritance because of his mother's status. As a result, Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where he gathered a group of worthless men around him. Later, when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead approached Jephthah and asked him to be their commander in the fight against the Ammonites (Judges 11:4 to 6). Jephthah agreed on the condition that he would become the head over Gilead if he successfully defeated the Ammonites (Judges 11:7 to 11). Gilead's role in this narrative is limited to being the father of Jephthah and the namesake of the region where Jephthah and his brothers lived. The story of Jephthah and his relationship with Gilead and his half-brothers provides insight into the social dynamics and family conflicts of the time, as well as the role of judges in delivering Israel from its enemies.

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 Gilead, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

Hill of testimony, (Gen. 31:21), a mountainous region east of Jordan. From its mountainous character it is called “the mount of Gilead” (Gen. 31:25). It is called also “the land of Gilead” (Num. 32:1), and sometimes simply “Gilead” (Ps. 60:7; Gen. 37:25). It comprised the possessions of the tribes of Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh (Deut. 3:13; Num. 32:40). It was bounded on the north by Bashan, and on the south by Moab and Ammon (Gen. 31:21; Deut. 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.

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