GILEAD
867
GILEAD
in Gilead ; and when speaking of the cities of refuge, Moses describes Bezer, whieli was given out of the tribe of Reuben, as being "in tlie wilderness, in the 2)lain country" (\. &. "in the country of the Mishor," "i'ji53ri 'j''^^?), while Ramoth is said to bo in Gilead (Deut. iv, 43). This southern phiteau was also called "the land of Jazer" (Numb, xxxii, 1; 2 Sain, xxiv, 5 ; comp. also Josh, xiii, lG-25). The valley of IIcsli- bon may therefore, in all probability, be tlie southern bounda y of Gilead. Gilead thus extended from the parallel of the south end of tlie Sea of Galilee to that of the north end of the Dead Sea — about GO miles ; and its average breadth scarcely exceeded 20.
(6.) While such were the usual Ihnits of Gilead, the name is used in a wider sense in two or three parts of Scripture. Moses, for example, is said to have seen, from the top of Pisgah, "all the land of Gilead unto Dan" (Deut. xxxiv, 1) ; and in Judg. xx, 1, and Josh, xxii, 9, tlie name seems to comprehend the whole ter- ritory of the Israelites beyond the Jordan. A little attention shows that this is only a vague way of speak- ing, in common use everywhere.
(c.) The district corresponding to Gilead is now di- vided into two provinces, separated by the Jal)bok. The section l.ving between the Jabkok and the Hiero- max is now caUedJcbel Ajlihi ; while that to tlie south of the Jabbok constitutes the modern province of Bel- ka. One of the most conspicuous peaks in the moun- tain range still retains the ancient name, being called Jebel, Jil'ud, " Mount Gilead." It is about seven miles south of the .Jabbok, and commands a magnificent view over the whole Jordan valley, and the mountains of Judah and Ephraiin. It is probably the site of Ra- math-^Iiz.poh of Josh, xiii, "20; *id the " Mizpeh of Gilead," from which .Jephthah "passed over unto the children of Amnion" (Judg. xi, 29). The spot is ad- mirably adapted for a gathering-place in time of inva- sion or aggressive war. The neighboring village of es-Salt occupies the site of the old "city of refuge" in Gad, Ramotli-Gilead (q. v.).
II. IIktor;i. — The Jirst notice we have of Gilead is in connection with the histoiy of Jacob (Gen. xxxi, 21 sq.). That patriarch, having passed the Euphrates, "set his face towards !Mount Gilead ;" he struck across the desert iiy the great fountain at Palmj'ra ; then traversed the eastern part of the plain of Damascus, and the plateau of Bashan, and entered Gilead from the north-east. "In the Mount Gilead Laban over- took him" — apparently soon after he entered the dis- trict; for wiien they separated again, Jacob went on his way and arrived at Mahanaim, which must have been considerably north of the river Jabbok (Gen. xxxii, 1, 2, 22). See Jacob.
Gile id is not mentioned again in the patriarchal his- tory ; but it is possibly this same region which is refer- red to under the name ILim (q. v.), and was inhabited by the gigantic Zuzim. The kings of the East who came to punisli the rebellious "cities of the plain," first at- tacked the Rephaiin in Ashteroth Karnaim — i. e. in the country now called Ilauran; then they advanced southwards against the " Zuzims in Ham ;" and next against the Emim in Shaveh-Kiriathim, which was subsequently possessed by the Moabites (Gen. xiv, 5; Deut. ii, 9-19). See Emim ; Rephaim.
We hear notliing more of Gilead till the invasion of the country l)y the Israelites. One half of it was then in the hands of Silion, king of the Amorites, who had n short time previouslj' driven out the Moaliites. Og, king of Bashan, had the otiier section north of the Jab- bok. The Israelites defeated tiie former at Jahaz, and the latter at Edrei, and took possession of Gilead and Bashan (Numb, xxi, 23 sq.). The rich pasture-land of Gilead, with its shady forests and copious streams, attracted the attention of Reuben and Gad, who " had a VQry great multitude of cattle," and was allotted to them. The future historj' and habits of the tribes that occupied Gilead were greatl}^ affected bj' the character
of the country. Rich in flocks and herds, and now the lords of a fitting region, tliej' retained, almost un- changed, the nomad pastoral habits of their patriarchal ancestors. Lilce all Bedawin, they lived in a constant state of warfare, just as Jacob had predicted of Gad — "a troop shiiW plunder \\\m, but he sh,x\\ jilunder at the last" (Gen. xlix, 19). The sons of Ishmael were sub- dued and jdundered in tlie time of Saul (1 Chron. v, 9 sq.), and tiie children of Amnion in the daj'S of Jeph- tliah and David (Judg. xi, 32 sq. ; 2 Sam. x, 12 sq.). Their wandering tent life, and their almost inaccessi- ble country, made them in ancient times what the Bed- awi tribes are now — tlie protectors of the refugee and the outlaw. In Gilead the sons of Saul found a home while they vainly attempted to re-establish the author- ity of their house (2 Sam. ii, 8 sq.). Here, too, David found a sanctuary during the unnatural i-ebellion of a beloved son ; and the surrounding tribes, with a char- acteristic hospitality, carried presents of the best they possessed to the fallen monarch (2 Sam. xvii, 22 sq.). Elijah the Tishbite was a Gileadite (1 Kings xvii, 1) ; and in his simple garb, wild aspect, abrupt address, wonderfull}'^ active habits, and movements so rapid as to evade the search of his watchful and bitter foes, we see all the characteristics of the genuine Bedawi, en- nobled liy a high prophetic mission. See Gad.