Gilead גִּלְעָד
Son of Machir; grandson of Manasseh; father of six sons.
Who is Gilead in the Bible?
Gilead was the son of Machir and grandson of Manasseh, serving as a foundational ancestor of the Israelite tribe that bore his name (Numbers 26:29-30). He fathered six sons, Iezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher, who became the heads of the Gileadite clans and received their inheritance in Canaan (Joshua 17:1-2). Gilead's lineage is significant because his great-granddaughters, the daughters of Zelophehad, challenged the inheritance laws by petitioning Moses for property rights when no male heirs existed, resulting in a legal precedent that allowed women to inherit (Numbers 27:1-11). His genealogies are preserved throughout the Old Testament, particularly in Chronicles, establishing him as a key figure in the tribal structure of Israel (1 Chronicles 2:21-23, 7:14-17).
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
"These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead."
- Numbers 26:30
"These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek,"
- Numbers 27:1
"Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached"
Joshua 2 verses
- Joshua 17:1
"Now this was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn son, namely for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh and father of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because Machir was a man of war."
Study Joshua → - Joshua 17:3
"But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah."
Study Joshua →
1 Chronicles 4 verses
- 1 Chronicles 2:21
"Later, Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. He had married her when he was sixty years old, and she bore to him Segub."
- 1 Chronicles 2:23
"But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead."
- 1 Chronicles 7:14
"The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel through his Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead."
- 1 Chronicles 7:17
"The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead son of Machir, the son of Manasseh."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | גִּלְעָד | gilĕʿād | Gilad , a region East of the Jordan; also the name of three Israelites |