Gilead גִּלְעָד
Father of Jephthah, a judge of Israel.
Who is Gilead in the Bible?
Gilead was the father of Jephthah, one of Israel's judges and a mighty warrior recorded in Judges 11:1-2. Born to Gilead by a prostitute, Jephthah was rejected and driven away by his legitimate half-brothers, who denied him any inheritance because of his mother's status. Though Gilead himself appears only briefly in the biblical narrative, his role is significant because his son Jephthah eventually became a key deliverer of Israel, leading the nation to victory against the Ammonites when the elders of Gilead later summoned him to command their forces. Gilead's family story illustrates themes of rejection, redemption, and God's use of unlikely figures to accomplish His purposes.
Biography
Gilead is mentioned in Jdg.11.1-2 as the father of Jephthah, a judge of Israel. Jephthah is described as a mighty warrior and the son of Gilead by a prostitute. Gilead's legitimate sons, born to his wife, drove Jephthah away, denying him a share in the inheritance because of his mother's status. As a result, Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where he gathered a group of worthless men around him. Later, when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead approached Jephthah and asked him to be their commander in the fight against the Ammonites (Jdg.11.4-6). Jephthah agreed on the condition that he would become the head over Gilead if he successfully defeated the Ammonites (Jdg.11.7-11). Gilead's role in this narrative is limited to being the father of Jephthah and the namesake of the region where Jephthah and his brothers lived. The story of Jephthah and his relationship with Gilead and his half-brothers provides insight into the social dynamics and family conflicts of the time, as well as the role of judges in delivering Israel from its enemies.
Family
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 2 verses
- Judges 11:1
"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father."
- Judges 11:2
"And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גִּלְעָד | gilĕʿād | Gilad , a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites |