To conclude August, we have my poem and study on the next son to be blessed by Jacob which is Gad. Gad is Jacob's seventh son, and the founding father of the tribe of Gad.
There are so many themes found within the study of Gad's life and tribe. I pray this offering from my Twelve Tribes of Israel series is a blessing to you. Love Lucy x
The Tribe Of Gad
Key Facts
Order of birth- Seventh
Order of blessing- Eighth
Mother- Zilpah
Meaning of name- Troop or Good Fortune
Character details- Played his part in selling his half brother, Joseph. Not to be confused with the prophet Gad, seer to King David.
Tribe details- Known for their outstanding warriors, military strength and prowess. Responsible for defending the Israelites, often leading in battles.
Symbol of tribe- A Military Tent
Land allocation- Settled in the northeastern territory of Israel, east of the River Jordan.
Relevant Scriptures
Genesis 30:9-11
“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.”
Genesis 49:1 & 19
“And Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.’”
GadThere are so many themes found within the study of Gad's life and tribe. I pray this offering from my Twelve Tribes of Israel series is a blessing to you. Love Lucy x
The Tribe Of Gad
Key Facts
Order of birth- Seventh
Order of blessing- Eighth
Mother- Zilpah
Meaning of name- Troop or Good Fortune
Character details- Played his part in selling his half brother, Joseph. Not to be confused with the prophet Gad, seer to King David.
Tribe details- Known for their outstanding warriors, military strength and prowess. Responsible for defending the Israelites, often leading in battles.
Symbol of tribe- A Military Tent
Land allocation- Settled in the northeastern territory of Israel, east of the River Jordan.
Relevant Scriptures
Genesis 30:9-11
“When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. And Leah’s maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad.”
Genesis 49:1 & 19
“And Jacob called his sons and said, ‘Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:
Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.’”
Twelve tribes of Israel from twelve different brothers,
All the sons of Jacob, but from four different mothers.
Leah bore him six of them, while two came from Zilpah.
Rachel bore another two, and two more came from Bilhah.
Scripture shows this family was filled with grief and strife.
The sisters’ battle, evident. Their competition, rife!
Seeing Rachel’s actions as she gave Jacob her maid,
Leah did the same, as she refused to be outplayed!
She gave her husband Zilpah; she would not be outdone.
Then Gad was born soon after, marking Jacob’s seventh son.
Leah said, “Behold, a troop!” The meaning of Gad’s name.
Her need for children shown within this envy-driven game.
The sisters sought out surrogates to introduce more life;
Their babies used as pawns within this war as “favourite wife.”
Yet war would be a theme for Gad, for once again we see
The meaning of his name in Jacob’s words of prophecy.
He said a troop would trample him and spoke of woe to come.
He also said that triumph was predicted for this son.
The tribe of Gad would represent a time of tribulation;
Yet victory for Israel was promised for the nation!
1 Timothy 6:6
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Insight to Gad
Mother-Zilpah, on behalf of Leah
At the beginning of Genesis 30, we know that Leah has borne Jacob four sons, while her sister Rachel has been unable to conceive so far. Last month, I took a look at the turmoil this caused between Rachel and Jacob and how it inspired Rachel to give Bilhah, her maid, to her husband so that she might bear children on Rachel’s behalf. This led to the birth of Jacob’s fifth son, Dan, and then also Naphtali, who I’ll look at in October, as he’s tenth in the order of blessing.
Gad is the seventh son to be born to Jacob but the eighth in the order of blessing. At the beginning of verse 9 of chapter 30, we learn that after having four sons, Leah has stopped bearing children. She decides to take the same measures as Rachel did and give her own handmaid, Zilpah, to Jacob, in order that she might bear children on Leah’s behalf. This then leads to the birth of Gad and a seventh son to carry on the family legacy.
As with Bilhah, the text is silent on what Zilpah may have been thinking or feeling during these events. This is such a contrast to how much we hear about the inner emotions and words expressed by Rachel and Leah, which really raises my curiosity about what was going on within Bilhah and Zilpah at this time.
I think it’s really interesting to consider that there are the well-known Matriarchs found within Scripture, the women who many people have frequently heard of in sermons and studies. Bilhah and Zilpah don’t seem to have the same exposure, though, and aren’t generally considered to be among the Matriarchs of the Bible. If we were to mention Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, or Rachel in conversation, there’s a high chance that most Christians would probably say they’re familiar with these names. Not so much with Bilhah and Zilpah, however.
This is quite incredible to consider, as together, these two women are the mothers of one-third of the tribes of Israel, and yet they’re never presented with any voice, opinion, or power of their own. Does this mean they didn’t have opinions or views on their circumstances? Of course not. We’re just not made privy to that information, as the text remains focused on the wives of Jacob and the complex relationships between them all during the births of his children.
Although we, the reader, don’t know the thoughts lying within the hearts of these two biological mothers, we know that God did. Scripture speaks openly of God’s loving, attentive character, and constantly reassures us of His mercy, patience and faithfulness. We know that nothing and no one is beneath God’s care, and so if we do find ourselves wondering if God would have cared for Zilpah and Bilhah, we need only look to His Word and to the ministry of Jesus to find our answer.
The kingdoms on earth may not be hugely familiar with the names Bilhah and Zilpah, but Christ’s ministry demonstrated how different God’s Kingdom is. Jesus constantly broke the moulds and turned preconceptions upside down by choosing the humble and despised things of this world to be used as powerful instruments for His glory. He touched the leper, dined with those shunned by society, healed the Gentiles, chose lowly fishermen as disciples, and taught women, who were considered to be less important in that culture. He saw the marginalised and forgotten of this world while calling out the proud and boastful elite.
When it comes to Bilhah and Zilpah, their thoughts may go unspoken, but their actions speak loudly indeed. Scripture shows us that these two women were faithful to the roles and positions they were given, and God rewarded them greatly for it. They were blessed with family, safety, security, and the joy of becoming a mother, which was a highly esteemed and sought-after role. Their children went on to have better lives as a result of their faithfulness, inheriting land, authority and status that their mothers could never have even imagined.
Despite their lesser positions, it’s encouraging to know that Bilhah and Zilpah were acknowledged as mothers, alongside Leah and Rachel in Genesis 46. In the account of Jacob’s journey to Egypt, Zilpah is mentioned in verse 18, by name, as the mother of Gad and Asher. She is also attributed the credit for the children they in turn produced, making her mother of 16 persons in total. Likewise, in verse 25, Bilhah is also mentioned in this manner and is credited as the mother of 7 persons in total. God’s Word does acknowledge these humble servants who were clearly seen and valued by God.
What encourages me even more is when I consider the words of Matthew 6:3-4. The verses read,
“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”
Scripture makes it known here that when righteous acts are done in quiet faithfulness and humility, they will be rewarded openly by God. This brings great comfort to consider how different the story must be for Bilhah and Zilpah in eternity! God rewards the faithful, and so whether or not their names are well-known by many in this life, it seems pretty reasonable to say that these mothers are not without honour in the next!
Jacob’s Prophetic Blessing
As with Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, and Dan, the meaning of Gad’s name is given a second mention through Jacob’s prophetic words. At the birth of each boy, we hear the meaning of their name announced by either Leah or Rachel, and so while Genesis 30 tells us, “Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” So she called his name Gad”, Jacob’s words in Genesis 49 declare, “Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.” While the name Gad can also be translated to mean “good fortune”, it seems “troop” is a very significant meaning in this case, as it’s referenced by both Leah at his birth and Jacob during the blessing.
The tribe of Gad chose to settle on the east side of the Jordan River, next to the land of Ammon, which meant that they were susceptible to attack. 1 Chronicles 12:8-15 does make it clear that the men of Gad’s tribe were renowned for their mighty strength in battle, often fighting as warriors alongside King David, as verse 8 tells us,
“Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valour, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.”
The tribe of Gad was one of three (Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh being the others) to fight for Israel and be awarded lands east of the Jordan River, the gateway to the Promised Land. In spite of their battle prowess, we can also read in Jeremiah 49:1 that foreign armies did oppress Gad’s tribe as a result of their close proximity, and these foreigners went on to dwell in the land. The verse reads,
“Thus says the Lord:
“Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, And his people dwell in its cities?”
This certainly reflects the truth behind the first part of Jacob’s prophecy to his seventh son when he says, “a troop shall tramp upon him.” Thankfully, we can also read in Joshua 22 that the tribe of Gad did have their land restored to them, again, along with the tribe of Reuben and half the tribe of Manasseh. This brings to pass the second part of Jacob’s blessing when he mentions that “he shall triumph at last.”
For this series, I’ve also been taking a summarised look at the study of Israel as a nation and end times prophecy. In this matter, Gad’s tribe represents a time of great persecution during the tribulation, giving another level to Jacob’s prophetic words. Through the first six sons of Jacob, we can look back at the history of the nation of Israel and see them go from being a disappointing people to a dispersed people, a delivered people, an exiled people, and then an exploited people.
Last month’s study on the tribe of Dan marked the start of the things we will see take place for the nation of Israel in the future. Things yet to come during the tribulation period. The tribulation is another very in-depth study in its own right, of course, but in brief, this is a season that Jeremiah 30:7 refers to as “the time of Jacob’s trouble.” Not the time of the Church’s trouble, but Jacob’s trouble. A period when the Church has been removed from this earth, and the apostate nation of Israel will have to face the consequences of their rejection of Christ as the Messiah.
We can read in Luke 19:41-44 the sorrow that this caused for Jesus. He wept over Jerusalem, as He knew the woe that would befall the Jewish people as a result of their rejection of Him. He could see the oncoming, heartbreaking consequences of their actions and lamented this sorrowful position.
As I explained in my July study, many scholars and rabbis have suggested that the Antichrist will arise from the tribe of Dan during the tribulation, thus making the nation a poisoned people. The tribe of Gad now continues the story and shows how the nation of Israel will then become a persecuted people under the wicked hand of the Antichrist.
Studying the Scriptures in the Book of Revelation, we see that the armies of the world will join in an attempt to destroy the nation of Israel, reflecting Jacob’s words when he said, “a troop shall tramp upon him”. Jacob’s prophecy goes on to say, however, “But he shall triumph at last.” This is speaking of the time when the Messiah, Jesus Christ, will return and save the nation of Israel. Though the forces on this earth may gather as one colossal troop against Israel, Christ will be triumphant over all, and the nation will at last receive Jesus as her Saviour.
This glorious moment is what Jacob is speaking of when it comes to the tribe of Gad. Though troops will tramp upon Israel, marking a time of great persecution for the Jews, Christ will return to rescue His people, and they will at last accept Him as the Messiah. Israel will be saved.
For further study on this complex subject, I’d recommend my pastor’s teaching, which you can find on the Calvary London website. Look for the Genesis 49 sermon entitled “Israel’s Future Laid Out”.
Closing Thoughts
Going back to the birth of Gad, Leah’s resort to using her own handmaid to bear children on her behalf reveals the fact that these two sisters continue to use their children as pawns in a domestic power struggle. Leah has seemingly lost the peace she had gained during the time of Judah’s birth and has slid back into bitterness and rivalry with Rachel.
This really highlights the truth that if we take our focus off of heavenly things and set our eyes back onto matters of this world, we lose our eternal perspective. If we’re not careful to guard our hearts and stay close to the Lord, we too will find ourselves in a similar place of having lost our former peace and praise-filled heart.
1 Timothy 6:6 is one of my favourite verses, and these words spring to mind when I think of this story. The verse reads,
“Now godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Many people misuse or misunderstand God’s Word and think that “godliness” is a means of material gain. As Luke 12:15 tells us, however,
“Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”
Leah’s desire to have an entire troop and abundance of sons for Jacob reveals her heart was in a place of wanting more, more, more. Four sons of her own apparently hadn’t been enough, as she coveted yet more children and went to extreme measures to get them. It is true that godliness is great gain, but as 1 Timothy 6:6 declares, only when accompanied by contentment.
It can be so challenging to live with true contentment in this fast-paced world, so full of consumer pressure, but if we resist the urge to constantly pine for “more”, whatever form “more” takes in our lives, we can have contentment in God and in His will for us. As these Scriptures make clear, we can only find true contentment when our hearts are rooted in eternal things, and our eyes are focused not on earthly wealth or material gain.
Romans 12:2 helps us to understand that to attain this kind of contentment, we must first be transformed by the renewing of our mind and start putting material things in their proper place, behind spiritual matters. Whether it’s children, a nicer house, a newer car, or more money in the bank, anything that causes us to act through the “arm of the flesh” instead of walking by the Spirit must be put back in its rightful position.
My prayer for us is that our hearts are so wholly entrenched in the things of God that we can genuinely live with the deep contentment 1 Timothy speaks of. As we stay rooted in our relationship with Christ, the God who made us, may we find that our every need is met and fulfilled entirely through Him.
