GAD, a Semitic name. 1. A god of fortune, originally, per haps, Aramaean, whose name occurs not infrequently in corn pound place names. The god himself is mentioned in Is. lxv. 11 (R.V.).
3. An Israelite tribe claiming descent from Jacob and Zilpah, Leah's maid.
The name is now generally supposed to be that of the god (I), but the traditional derivation is that which connects it with a word meaning "a raiding troop" (cf. Gen. xlix. 19) . The territory of Gad lay to the east of Jordan, between Manasseh (Machir) and Reuben, and the more usual term for this district is Gilead. From Jud. v. 17, where Gilead is condemned for not following Barak, we gather that this name might be used for the tribe as well as for its territory. Gad is mentioned in the in scription of Mesha, and it is noteworthy that by this time Reuben has entirely disappeared, having been absorbed, apparently, partly by Gad and partly by Moab. Gad belonged nominally to the northern kingdom of Israel, but was liable to be raided from the desert, while it was also exposed to attack from the Syrians of Damascus in the north and from Moab in the south; hence the control exercised by the court of Samaria was uncertain and ir regular.