GILEAD, (Heb. connected with Ar. jal'ad, hard, rough). A mountainous district on the east side of the Jordan, whose boundaries are variously conceived in different portions of the Old Testament. In general, it. includes the whole mountain region between the Yarmuk on the north, and the Arnon on the south, the eastern boundaries being formed by the desert tablelands of Arabia (the plains of Bashan), and the western by the Jordan. In spite of its name, Gilead is a beautiful and fruit ful region. The vegetation is luxuriant, especial ly in the central part round the brook Jabbok, where forests of oak and terebinth occur. Gilead(, in fact, is better provided with water and wood land than any part of Western Palestine. It for merly produced gums and spices. The hills are not very high, and they have broad summits al most like tablelands. The district is well adapted for pasturage (Num. xxxii. 1). Gilead was much exposed to Bedouin raids from the east and other hostile attacks, and its history has much to do with wars. The land was conquered from Sihon and Og, and handed over to Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (Num. xxi. 21-26; Deut. iii. 16). These tribes held it against the Midian ites (Judges viii.), Ammonites (Judges xi. 32; xii. 3), and Syrians (II. Kings ix. 14), but
finally lost it to the Assyrians. Tiglathpileser captured the land and carried the inhabitants captives (I. Chron. v. 26). Gilead is also inter esting as forming a refuge to which Absalom fled (II. Sam. xiii. 38) when fearing the anger of his father; while subsequently, during the re bellion of Absalom, David found an asylum there (II. Sam. xvii. 27-29). It was in Gilead, like wise, that Ishbosheth, the son of Saul, was pro claimed King by Abner (II. Sam. ii. 8-9). The valiant men of Jabesh-Gilead performed the last rites for the bodies of Saul and his sons after the battle of Mount Gilboa (I. Sam. xxxi. 11-13). Elijah sojourned there (I. Kings xvii. 1), and Jesus made visits to this region. In the wars of the Maccabees Gilead played an important part, and under Roman occupation its natural re sources were greatly developed. Among the prin cipal cities were Mahanaim, Succoth, Penuel, and Jazer; in latter times Pella and Gerasa. A conspicuous mountain (perhaps the Jebel Osha) was known as the mountain of Gilead (Gen. xxxi. 21 sqq.). Consult: Oliphant,. g'hc Land of Gilead (London, 1380) ;Merrill, East of the Jordan (New York, 1881).