King James Bible Dictionary

Hill of testimony, (Genesis 31:21), a mountainous region east of Jordan. From its mountainous character it is called "the mount of Gilead" (Genesis 31:25). It is called also "the land of Gilead" (Numbers 32:1), and sometimes simply "Gilead" (Psalms 60:7; Genesis 37:25). It comprised the possessions of the tribes of Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh (Deuteronomy 3:13; Numbers 32:40). It was bounded on the north by Bashan, and on the south by Moab and Ammon (Genesis 31:21; Deuteronomy 3:12-17). "Half Gilead" was possessed by Sihon, and the other half, separated from it by the river Jabbok, by Og, king of Bashan. The deep ravine of the river Hieromax (the modern Sheriat el-Mandhur) separated Bashan from Gilead, which was about 60 miles in length and 20 in breadth, extending from near the south end of the Lake of Gennesaret to the north end of the Dead Sea. Abarim, Pisgah, Nebo, and Peor are its mountains mentioned in Scripture.

the heap or mass of testimony

1. A region east of the Jordan:

Allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half tribe of Manasseh
Numbers 32:1-30; Deuteronomy 3:13; Deuteronomy 34:1; 2 Kings 10:33

Reubenites expel the Hagarites from
1 Chronicles 5:9-10; 1 Chronicles 5:18-22

Ammonites make war against; defeated by Jephthah
Jude 1:11; Amos 1:13

The prophet Elijah, a native of
1 Kings 17:1

David retreats to, at the time of Absalom's rebellion
2 Samuel 17:16; 2 Samuel 17:22; 2 Samuel 17:24

David pursued into, by Absalom
2 Samuel 17:26

Absalom defeated and slain in the forests of
2 Samuel 18:9

Hazael, king of Syria, smites the land of
2 Kings 10:32-33; Amos 1:3

Invaded by Tiglath-Pileser, king of Syria
2 Kings 15:29

A grazing country
Numbers 32:1; 1 Chronicles 5:9

Exported spices, balm, and myrrh
Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11

Figurative of prosperity
Jeremiah 22:6; Jeremiah 50:19

2. A mountain:

General references
Judges 7:3; Song of Solomon 4:1; Song of Solomon 6:5

Laban overtakes Jacob at
Genesis 31:21-25

3. A city
Hosea 6:8; Hosea 12:11

4. Grandson of Manasseh
Numbers 26:29-30; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 36:1; Joshua 17:1; Joshua 17:3; 1 Chronicles 2:21; 1 Chronicles 2:23; 1 Chronicles 7:14; 1 Chronicles 7:17

5. Father of Jephthah
Judges 11:1-2

6. A chief of Gad
1 Chronicles 5:14

(rocky region).

1. A mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon. (Genesis 31:21; 3:12-17) It is sometimes called "Mount Gilead," (Genesis 31:25) sometimes "the land of Gilead," (Numbers 32:1) and sometimes simply "Gilead." (Psalms 60:7; Genesis 37:25) The name Gilead, as is usual in Palestine, describes the physical aspect of the country: it signifies "a hard rocky region." The mountains of Gilead, including Pisgah, Abarim and Peor, have a real elevation of from 2000 to 3000 feet; but their apparent elevation on the western side is much greater, owing to the depression of the Jordan valley, which averages about 3000 feet. Their outline is singularly uniform, resembling a massive wall running along the horizon. Gilead was specially noted for its balm collected from "balm of Gilead" trees, and worth twice its weight in silver.
2. Possibly the name of a mountain west of the Jordan, near Jezreel. (Judges 7:3) We are inclined, however, to think that the true reading in this place should be GILBOA.
3. Son of Machir, grandson of Manasseh. (Numbers 26:29,30)
4. The father of Jephthah. (Judges 11:1,2)

The region of Gilead abounded in spices and aromatic gums, which were exported to Egypt and Tyre (Genesis 37:25; Jeremiah 8:22; 46:11; Ezekiel 27:17). The word "balm" is a contracted form of "balsam," a word derived from the Greek balsamon, which was adopted as the representative of the Hebrew words baal shemen, meaning "lord" or "chief of oils."

The Hebrew name of this balm was tsori. The tree yielding this medicinal oil was probably the Balsamodendron opobalsamum of botanists, and the Amyris opobalsamum of Linnaeus. It is an evergreen, rising to the height of about 14 feet. The oil or resin, exuding through an orifice made in its bark in very small quantities, is esteemed of great value for its supposed medicinal qualities. (See BALM.) It may be noted that Coverdale's version reads in Jeremiah 8:22, "There is no triacle in Galaad." The word "triacle" = "treacle" is used in the sense of ointment.

(Numbers 26:29; Judges 10:3; 12:4,5), a branch of the tribe of Manasseh, descended from Gilead.