Gilead Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Gilead (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids Gilead
גִּלְעָד, جلعاد
Gilead around river Zarqa, biblical River Yabok
Location in Jordan
Coordinates	32°33′N 35°51′E / 32.550°N 35.850°E / 32.550; 35.850
Part of	Jordan
Highest point – elevation	Mount Maqta' al Qurmeya 1,200 m (3,900 ft)

Gilead, also called Gilad, is an old, historic name. It refers to a mountainous area in the northern part of what was once called Transjordan. This region is found in modern-day Jordan. It's known from the Hebrew Bible.

The area is bordered by the Jordan River to the west. To the north, it has the Yarmouk River and the Bashan region. The plains of Moab are to its southwest. Sometimes, the name Gilead refers to the entire area east of the Jordan River. Today, Gilead roughly covers parts of the Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash, and Balqa areas in Jordan.

Gilead is also the name of three different people in the Hebrew Bible. It is a common first name for boys in modern Israel.

What Does the Name Gilead Mean?
History of Gilead
- Gilead in the Hebrew Bible
- Gilead in Later Times
People Named Gilead
Images for kids
See also

What Does the Name Gilead Mean?

The name Gilead comes from Hebrew words. It is explained in the Hebrew Bible as meaning "heap [of stones] of testimony." This comes from the words gal (heap or mound) and ‛êd (witness or testimony).

Another idea is that the name means "rocky region." This makes sense because Gilead is a mountainous place. The Bible sometimes calls it the "Mount of Gilead." It is also known as the "Land of Gilead" in many Bible translations.

History of Gilead

Gilead in the Hebrew Bible

The name Gilead first appears in the Bible when Jacob and Laban meet. This story is found in the Book of Genesis. In this part of the Bible, Gilead is also called Yegar-Sahadutha in the Aramaic language. This Aramaic name means the same thing as Gilead: "heap of stones of testimony."

During the time of the the Exodus, the Bible says that "half Gilead" was ruled by King Sihon. The other half, separated by the Jabbok river, was ruled by King Og of Bashan. After these kings were defeated, Moses gave the region of Gilead to some of the Israelite tribes. These tribes were Gad, Reuben, and the eastern half of Manasseh.

In the Book of Judges, a leader named Jair had thirty sons. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead. The region of Gilead was bordered by Bashan to the north. To the south, it was bordered by Moab and Ammon.

Some mountains in Gilead mentioned in the Bible include Abarim, Pisgah, Nebo, and Peor. The prophet Elijah also lived in Gilead. King David fled to Mahanaim in Gilead when his son Absalom rebelled against him.

Gilead in Later Times

The Assyrian King Tiglath-Pileser III created a province called Gal'azu, which was Gilead. This happened during the time of the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

In Arabic, Gilead is called Ǧalʻād or Jalaad. This Arabic name also refers to the mountainous land. It stretches north and south of the Jabbok river. It was often used for the whole region east of the Jordan River. Today, it is the northwestern part of the country of Jordan.

People Named Gilead

The name Gilead is also used for people in the Bible. Here are some examples:

A grandson of Manasseh. He was the son of Machir. He was an ancestor of some Israelite groups.
The son of Michael and father of Jaroah. This is mentioned in the family records of the Gad tribe.
The father of Jephthah, a famous judge in the Bible.

In Hebrew, the name Gilad (or Ghil'ad) is a male given name. It is sometimes thought to mean "eternal happiness." This comes from the Hebrew words gil (happiness, joy) and ad (eternity, forever).