Bible Encyclopedias
Gad (2)

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(גּד , gādh , "fortunate"): David's seer (ḥōzeh , 1 Chronicles 21:9; 1 Chronicles 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25 ), or prophet (nābhı̄ ); compare 1 Samuel 22:5; 2 Samuel 24:11 ). He appears (1) to advise David while an outlaw fleeing before Saul to return to the land of Judah (1 Samuel 22:5 ); (2) to rebuke David and give him his choice of punishments when, in spite of the advice of Joab and the traditional objections (compare Exodus 30:11 ), he had counted the children of Israel (2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:9 ); (3) to instruct David to erect an altar on the threshing-floor of Araunah when the plague that had descended on Israel ceased (2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Chronicles 21:18 ); and (4) to assist in the arrangement of Levitical music with cymbals, psalteries and harps (compare 2 Chronicles 29:25 ). Of his writings none are known, though he is said to have written a history of a part of David's reign (1 Chronicles 29:29 ).