Gilead גִּלְעָד
Son of Machir; grandson of Manasseh; father of six sons.
Biography
Gilead, the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh, is mentioned in several genealogical lists in the Old Testament. In Num.26.29-30, he is identified as the ancestor of the Gileadite clans, which included Iezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher. These clans are also mentioned in Jos.17.1-2, where they are described as receiving an inheritance in the land of Canaan. In Num.27.1 and Jos.17.3, Gilead's great-granddaughters, the daughters of Zelophehad, appeal to Moses for the right to inherit their father's property in the absence of male heirs. This incident leads to a change in the inheritance laws, allowing daughters to inherit property when there are no male heirs (Num.27.2-11). In 1Ch.2.21-23 and 1Ch.7.14-17, Gilead is mentioned in the genealogies of Manasseh, confirming his role as a significant ancestor of the tribe. The repeated mentions of Gilead in these genealogical lists highlight the importance of family lineage and tribal identity in ancient Israelite society.
Family
Parents
Siblings
- daughter of Machir Tribe of ManassehSister of GileadMarried Hezron, bore SegubView full profile →
- Peresh Tribe of ManassehSon of MachirSon of Machir, grandson of ManassehView full profile →
- Sheresh Tribe of ManassehSon of MachirSon of Machir and MaacahView full profile →
- Hammolecheth Tribe of ManassehSister of GileadSister of Gilead; mother of Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.View full profile →
Offspring
- Abiezer Tribe of ManassehBrother of IshhodSon of Hammolecheth, from the tribe of ManassehView full profile →
- Helek Tribe of ManassehSon of GileadSon of Gilead, ancestor of the Helekites.View full profile →
- Asriel Tribe of ManassehSon of GileadSon of Manasseh, founder of the Asrielite clanView full profile →
- Shechem Tribe of ManassehSon of ShemidaSon of Shemida, a ManassiteView full profile →
- Shemida Tribe of ManassehSon of GileadSon of Gilead, great-grandson of ManassehView full profile →
- Hepher Tribe of ManassehSon of GileadSon of Gilead, ancestor of the Hepherites.View full profile →
In Scripture
3 biblical books ; 1 with study contentNumbers 3 verses
- Numbers 26:29
"The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites."
- Numbers 26:30
"These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;"
- Numbers 27:1
"Then the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph came near. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."
Joshua 2 verses
- Joshua 17:1
"This was the lot for the tribe of Manasseh, for he was the firstborn of Joseph. As for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 17:3
"But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."
Study Joshua →
1 Chronicles 4 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:21
"Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub."
- 1 Chronicles 2:23
"Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead."
- 1 Chronicles 7:14
"The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead."
- 1 Chronicles 7:17
"The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גִּלְעָד | H1568H |