• Gad
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • Ramoth of Gilead, in Gad’s territory, was one of the cities of refuge appointed by Moses. (Deut. 4:41-43) Other Levite cities in their territory were Mahanaim, Heshbon and Jazer. (Josh. 21:38, 39) The city of Dibon, where the famous Moabite Stone was found in 1868 C.E., was one of several cities rebuilt by the Gadites when they took over the territory.—Num. 32:1-5, 34, 35.

      GIVE DAVID SUPPORT

      When David was under restrictions because of Saul, several army heads of the sons of Gad crossed the Jordan River at flood stage to come to his side at Ziklag in Judah. They are described as “valiant, mighty men, army men for the war, keeping the large shield and the lance ready, whose faces were the faces of lions, and they were like the gazelles upon the mountains for speed. . . . The least one was equal to a hundred, and the greatest to a thousand.” (1 Chron. 12:1, 8-15) In the fight with the Hagrites and their allies it is said of them (along with Reuben and Manasseh): “It was to God that they called for aid in the war, and he let himself be entreated in their favor because they trusted in him.” As a result, an enormous number of captives and much livestock fell into their hands.—1 Chron. 5:18-22.

      FOLLOW JEROBOAM

      With the division of the kingdom, the tribe of Gad supported the northern faction under Jeroboam. Years later, in Jehu’s day, when “Jehovah started to cut off Israel piece by piece,” Gad in its exposed position on the eastern frontier became part of the battleground between the northern kingdom of Israel and Syria. (2 Ki. 10:32, 33) Finally, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria overran Gad and carried off the inhabitants captive. This allowed the Ammonites to take possession of this territory.—2 Ki. 15:29; 1 Chron. 5:26; Jer. 49:1.

      In Ezekiel’s prophetic vision of the division of the land, the portion assigned to Gad is in the extreme S. (Ezek. 48:27, 28) In the listing of the tribes of Israel in Revelation chapter 7, Gad is named third.

      3. A prophet and visionary. He advised David, when he was dwelling in the “inaccessible place” in the cave of Adullam as a fugitive from Saul, to return to Judah. (1 Sam. 22:1-5) Toward the latter part of David’s reign, when he presumptuously took the census, Gad gave David three alternative punishments from Jehovah; later he advised David to build an altar for Jehovah on the threshing floor of Araunah (Ornan). (2 Sam. 24:10-19; 1 Chron. 21:9-19) Gad was partially responsible for the organization of the musicians for the sanctuary. (2 Chron. 29:25) Nathan and Gad are generally credited with completing First Samuel and writing all of Second Samuel.—1 Chron. 29:29.

  • Gadarenes
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GADARENES

      (Gad·a·renesʹ).

      The name applied to the inhabitants of an area where Christ Jesus expelled demons from two men. According to what is considered to be the best available manuscript evidence, Matthew originally used “country of the Gadarenes,” whereas Mark and Luke, in relating this event, employed “country of the Gerasenes.”—Matt. 8:28; Mark 5:1; Luke 8:26.

      Both countries are shown to lie on “the other side,” that is, the E side, of the Sea of Galilee. The designation “country of the Gadarenes” possibly applied to the district radiating from the city of Gadara (modern Um Qeis), situated about five miles (8 kilometers) SE of the Sea of Galilee. Coins of Gadara often depict a ship, suggesting that its territory may have extended as far as the Sea of Galilee and therefore could have included at least a part of the “country of the Gerasenes,” to the E of that body of water. Scholars favoring this view link the “country of the Gerasenes” with the region around Khersa, a town about twelve miles (19 kilometers) N of Gadara. However, others believe that “the country of the Gerasenes” may denote the large district centered at the city of Gerasa (Jerash) about thirty-four miles (55 kilometers) SE of the Sea of Galilee and suggest that it extended to the E of that lake and embraced the “country of the Gadarenes.” In either case, Matthew’s account would in no way conflict with that of Mark and Luke.

      Near an unnamed city in the country of the Gadarenes Jesus Christ met two unusually fierce demon-possessed men. These had their dwelling among the tombs, that is, natural caves used as such and/or rock-cut tombs. Jesus, in expelling the demons, permitted them to take possession of a large herd of swine that subsequently rushed over a precipice and drowned in the Sea of Galilee. This so disturbed the local inhabitants that they entreated Jesus to depart from the area.—Matt. 8:28-34.

      While Matthew mentions two men, Mark and Luke center attention on only one, doubtless because his case was more outstanding. Possibly he was more violent and had suffered much longer under demon control than the other man; yet afterward perhaps he alone wanted to accompany the Son of God. Jesus did not allow him to do so, directing him instead to make known what God had done in his behalf.

      This differed from Jesus’ usual instructions not to have his miracles advertised. Rather than seeking showy publicity and having people reach conclusions on the basis of sensational reports, Jesus apparently wanted others to decide on solid evidence that he was indeed the Christ. This also fulfilled the prophetic words spoken through Isaiah: “He will not wrangle, nor cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the broad ways.” (Matt. 12:15-21; Isa. 42:1-4) However, the exception in the case of the former demoniac was appropriate. He could bear witness among people with whom the Son of God would have only limited contact, particularly in view of Jesus’ being requested to leave. The man’s presence would provide testimony about Jesus’ power to work good, counteracting any unfavorable report that might be circulated over the loss of the herd of swine.—Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39; see SWINE.

  • Gadfly
    Aid to Bible Understanding

    • GADFLY

      [Heb., ʽa·rovʹ].

      There is some uncertainty as to the particular insect designated by the original Hebrew word appearing in the Scriptures with reference to the fourth plague upon Egypt, the first from which the Israelites in Goshen were spared. (Ex. 8:21, 22, 24, 29, 31; Ps. 78:45; 105:31) ʽA·rovʹ has been variously rendered “gadfly” (JB, NW, Ro), “beetle” (Yg), “flies” (AS, AV, RS), “gnats” (AT; and “dog-fly” (LXX, Bagster).

      The English designation “gadfly” includes the various kinds of horseflies and botflies. Female horseflies pierce the skin of animals as well as man and then suck their blood. In the larval stage botflies live as parasites in the bodies of animals and man, those infesting humans being found in the tropics. A plague of gadflies would, therefore, have brought great suffering to the Egyptians and their livestock and, in certain cases, even death. Untreated sheep, for example, often die as a result of being infested by botfly maggots.

      Further illustrating the serious