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
(Deuteronomy 3:12), bounded on the east by the Arabian desert, on the
west by the Jordan (Joshua 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 Chronicles
12:8; 5:19-22). Barzillai (2 Samuel 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 Chronicles 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 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25;
1 Samuel 22:5). Many years after we find mention made of him in
connection with the punishment inflicted for numbering the people (2
Samuel 24:11-19; 1 Chronicles 21:9-19). He wrote a book called the “Acts
of David” (1 Chronicles 29:29), and assisted in the arrangements for the
musical services of the “house of God” (2 Chronicles 29:25). He bore the
title of “the king’s seer” (2 Samuel 24:11, 13; 1 Chronicles 21:9).
- GADARA the capital of the Roman province of Peraea. It stood on the
summit of a mountain about 6 miles south-east of the Sea of Galilee. Mark
(5:1) and Luke (8:26-39) describe the miracle of the healing of the
demoniac (Matthew [8:28-34] says two demoniacs) as having been
wrought “in the country of the Gadarenes,” thus describing the scene
generally. The miracle could not have been wrought at Gadara itself, for
between the lake and this town there is the deep, almost impassable ravine
of the Hieromax (Jarmuk). It is identified with the modern village of
Um-Keis, which is surrounded by very extensive ruins, all bearing
testimony to the splendour of ancient Gadara.
“The most interesting remains of Gadara are its tombs, which dot the cliffs
for a considerable distance round the city, chiefly on the north-east
declivity; but many beautifully sculptured sarcophagi are scattered over
the surrounding heights. They are excavated in the limestone rock, and
consist of chambers of various dimensions, some more than 20 feet square,