Gilead

GALAAD. - 1. Mountainous plateau of Trans-

jordan from the Arnon river (Māǧib) to the Jarmūk (Seri'at el-Menādirah; Ios. 22, 9-15; II Reg. 10,37), but more commonly from the Wādi Ḥesbān to the Jarmūk. It is divided by the Jabbok (Nahr ez-Zerqā) into two sections: the northern one, today 'Aǧlūn, the highest part of the plateau (800-900 m.), with Mount Umm ed-Dereǧ (1300 m.) to the south, is well-watered, with pasture areas and, as in ancient times (II Sam. 18, 6), interspersed with forests of oak, terebinth, and pine. The southern section,

today el-Belqā, with hills (850-1000 m.), is incised by various wādi that flow toward the Jarmūk or the Jordan and has notable cultivable areas; but it is predominantly a pastoral country.

By the simple name of G., there is sometimes designated either 1) 'Aǧlūn (Num. 32, 39-40; Deut. 3, 15; Ios. 17, 6) or Belqā (Num. 32, 1; Ios. 13, 25). The « mountain of G. », where the final meeting between Jacob and Laban took place (Gen. 31, 21-25) is all of Transjordan, and not just the mountainous area between es-Salṭ and the Jabbok, still called Gabel Gel'ad today.

At the time of the Israelite invasion, the region occupied by Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan became part of the territory of Gad to the south and Manasseh to the north (Deut. 3, 12-13; Ios. 13, 24-31). G. formed the Assyrian province of Transjordan while « Galaaditis » extended only into Bashan (I Mach. 5, 17-36).

2. Name of the son of Machir, a descendant of Manasseh, and head of an Israelite clan (Num. 26, 29; Ios. 17, 1). Name of the father of Jephthah (Iude. 11, 1 ff.).