This article is part of our larger Holy Week and Easter resource library centered around the events leading up to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. What religion is Handmaids Tale based on? Nouns (gil) and (gila) mean a rejoicing. If this is the case, it is likely derived from gald . Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh,and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt. This portion of Scripture records the story of Joseph who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. What is the significance of the Negev in the Bible? ; Josh 13:24-31). In an attempt to restore the empire of David, Josiah seized the territory of the former kingdom of Israel that had been Gilead. From hair trends to relationship advice, our daily newsletter has everything you need to sound like a person whos on TikTok, even if you arent. He carried part of the population captive to Assyria (2 Kings 15:29). We encounter three instances of the balm of Gilead mentioned in the Bible. 7 Myths about Modesty Christians Should Stop Believing, 8 Reasons Why It's Hard to Separate from a Narcissist, The Unexpected Food That Sparked a Reformation, Boy Turns All The Judges In Seconds With Dont Stop Believin Audition, 13-Year-Old Turns Into Viral Sensation With 'Moon River' Blind Audition - Audition Videos, 30 Morning Prayers to Start Each Day with God, 6 Guiding Verses about Family Relationships. In The Handmaid's Tale's fourth episode, several characters repeat the following verse from Genesis (30:1-3). 10 Reasons God Might Not Be Blessing Your Life, 9 Ways to Make Your Marriage Extraordinary. Shechem was a place of promise. The Arabic jilead means "rough," "rugged." (1) A city named in Hosea 6:8; 12:11, possibly to be identified with Gilead near to Mizpah ( Judges 10:17 ). Almost as high (3,430 ft.) is Jebei Kafkafah, about 12 miles to the Northeast. The name Gilead is mentioned in Genesis as the area south of the Jabbok river, according to Bible Hub, which is known today as the Zarqa river in Jordan. The Hebrew word for balm is tsoriy (Strong's Concordance #H6875) and comes from an unused root word meaning to leak or crack. The famous balm of Gilead was made from the secretions of the balsam tree. It might be the same as the town. Several people and places in the Bible bear the name and the name Gilead means mountain or hill country, according to Bible Hub. (2) The father of Jephthah (Judges 11:1,2). Jehu made some kind of protective alliance with Shalmaneser III (c. 837 b.c. For the shattering of the daughter of my people have I been shattered (in heart). Gilead was an area east of the Jordan River, well known for its spices and ointments. Which Teeth Are Normally Considered Anodontia. Gilead is explained in the Hebrew Bible as derived from the Hebrew words .mw-parser-output .script-hebrew,.mw-parser-output .script-Hebr{font-family:"SBL Hebrew","SBL BibLit","Taamey Ashkenaz","Taamey Frank CLM","Frank Ruehl CLM","Ezra SIL","Ezra SIL SR","Keter Aram Tsova","Taamey David CLM","Keter YG","Shofar","David CLM","Hadasim CLM","Simple CLM","Nachlieli",Cardo,Alef,"Noto Serif Hebrew","Noto Sans Hebrew","David Libre",David,"Times New Roman",Gisha,Arial,FreeSerif,FreeSans} gald, which in turn comes from gal ('heap, mound, hill') and d ('witness, testimony'). The Argument from Contingency: A Proof for God, 6 Verses to Cling to When You Are Overwhelmed. Article Images Copyright 2023 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. Rising from the Jordan Valley on the W, 700 ft. below sea level, Gilead rises to heights of more than 3,300 ft. People generally have their own references when it comes to healing and this ointment is one of them. The balm was made from resin taken from a flowering plant in the Middle East, although the exact . In the North we have Jebel Hakart (3,408 ft.) W, of Reimun. From its mountainous character, it is called the Mount of Gilead (Genesis 31:25; Song 4:1). Blessed Be the Fruit: Gileadean for hello. Handmaids use this line to greet each other to encourage fertility. (1) A son of Machir, grandson of Manasseh (Numbers 26:29,30). During the period of the early settlement, the tribes E of the Jordan enjoyed a measure of security and did not even come to help their kinsmen W of the Jordan in their struggle with Sisera (Judg 5:17). Answer: Interestingly, for all its use in certain religious circles, the balm of Gilead is reference in only three places in the King James Version Old Testament. "Half Gilead" was possessed by Sihon, and the other half, separated from it by the river Jabbok, by Og, king of Bashan. Its a leader in developing HIV drugs such as Truvada and Genvoya. Gilead was a fertile, mountainous area east of the Jordan River. The Rose of Sharon is not truly a rose. Jesus Christ is called the Rose of Sharon in Christian works because of the similarities between the plant and Christ. Salem Media Group. More than 1400 of her works have been featured in various publications. Banned and challenged for profanity and for vulgarity and sexual overtones. This classic novel was included on a reading list before the beginning of a twelfth-grade advanced placement literature and composition class at a north Atlanta suburbs high school in Georgia. (3) The name is applied generally to the mountain mass lying between the Yarmuk on the North, and Wady Chesban on the South; the Jordan being the boundary on the West, while on the East it marched with the desert. Ramoth-gilead was early designated as one of the cities of refuge (Josh 20:8). Jacob tells him that he ran away in order to protect his wives and children, in fear that Laban would trick him again and take them away. The Lord was the balm that could completely heal and restore the nations hurts. Gilead or Gilad (/lid/;[1] Hebrew: Gl, Arabic: , ald, Jalaad) is the ancient, historic, biblical name of the mountainous northern part of the region of Transjordan. I mourn, dismay has taken hold of me. The Ephraimites were routed, and when they tried to flee back across the river, they found that the Gileadites had taken possession of all the fords. Gilead, area of ancient Palestine east of the Jordan River, corresponding to modern northwestern Jordan. Meaning of Gilead. It sounds more like something someone from an essential oils multi-level marketing business might try to sell as a new product line. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand: and there remained ten thousand. Thus the plateau becomes desert, while the hill slopes abound in streams and springs; and for this reason Western Gilead is a fertile country, and Eastern Gilead is a wilderness (Conder, DB, under the word). That name became symbolic for the power to soothe and heal. BDB Theological Dictionary mentions an Arabic equivalent that comes from a root meaning camel, and assumes that the mountain of Gilead was known as Camel Hump.. NOBSE Study Bible Name List and Jones' Dictionary of Old Testament Proper Names assume that the first part of the name Gilead, like that of the names Galeed and Gilgal, comes from the . Most well-known for its spices and ointments, Gilead was especially celebrated for the balsam plant or tree which was used to produce its most precious commodity, the Balm of Gilead. Then were built such cities as Gadara and Gerasa, which are still imposing, even in ruins. Both the TV series and book take place in a world where the United States has become the Republic of Gilead, so you might be wondering what does Gilead mean in The Handmaid's Tale? The name Gilead first appears in the biblical account of the last meeting of Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:2122). This balm could either be applied to cuts, burns and wounds or it could be used in the embalming process to mask the scent of rotting flesh (Luke 23:56). A balm is an aromatic, medicinal substance derived from plants. In Hebrew, (transcribed Gilad or Ghil'ad) is used as a male given name and is often analyzed as deriving from (gil) "happiness, joy" and (ad) "eternity, forever"; i.e. This seems to have led to a reconquest of the land by heathenism, and return to Gilead was promised to Israel (Zechariah 10:10). The soil is not now cultivated to any great extent; but it furnishes ample pasture for many flocks and herds (Song of Solomon 6:5). Song of Solomon of a harlot That is, a bastard. During the ninth and eighth centuries, Damascus (Syria) was a constant threat to the Israelites. [4] If that is the case, Gilead means 'heap [of stones] of testimony'. This resinous balsam product originated from trees that grew in Palestine and in the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula. The term was applied to the entire central section of Israelite Trans-Jordan (2 Kings 10:33). The region hosted several Biblically important cities such as Jabeshgilead (Judges 21), Ramothgilead (1Kings 22:1 - 3), Mahanaim (Genesis 32:1 - 2), Peniel (also called Penuel, 32:30 - 31) and Succoth (33:17). The name Gilead first appears in the biblical account of the last meeting of Jacob and Laban (Gen. 31:2122). On their behalf Judas Maccabeus invaded the country and met with striking success (1 Macc 5:9). By submitting your email address, you understand that you will receive email communications from Bible Gateway, a division of The Zondervan Corporation, 3900 Sparks Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 USA, including commercial communications and messages from partners of Bible Gateway. Nouns (mo'ed), (mo'ad) and (mu'ada) describe a place (or time) of meeting. Why then is there no healingfor the wound of my people? At length Tiglath-pileser overran the country and transported many of the inhabitants (2Kings 15:29). Tishbite is a demonym predicated of the Prophet Elijah in the Hebrew Bible. At a later time the Jewish residents in Gilead were exposed to danger from their heathen neighbors. The region is bounded in the north by the Yarmk River and in the southwest by what were known in ancient times as the "plains of Moab"; to the east there is no definite boundary. Judges 10:7 - 8And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon. tseri; Gr. Based on these three verses, we discover that the balm produced in the region of Gilead was both valuable and rare. Is there no physician there? Elijah was from Gilead (1 Kings 17:1). What does Gilead mean? It was from the ruggedness of this hard limestone that Gilead obtained its name. But in any case it is clear that the bulk of Gilead fell to Gad, so that Gilead might stand for Gad (Judges 5:17). It is called also the Land of Gilead (Numbers 32:1, Judges 10:4) in many translations, and sometimes simply Gilead (Genesis 37:25; Judges 10:8; Psalm 60:7), also mentioned in Micah 7:1415. It's a site that collects all the most frequently asked questions and answers, so you don't have to spend hours on searching anywhere else. This section of the Bible details Labans pursuit of his son-in-law after Jacob unexpectedly fled from Laban and his oppressive demands. The companys drugs Sovaldi, Harvoni, and Epclusa have changed the landscape in treatment of hepatitis C. Gilead is now one of the biggest biotechs in the world. Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people? Above this lies the hard, impervious dolomite limestone which appears in 'the rugged hills round' the Jabbok and in Jebel `Ajlun, rising on an average 1,500 ft. above the sandstone and forming the bed of the copious springs. Noun (gil) describes a circle or time: an age. The first is a grandson of Manasseh, the founder of one of Israel's tribes (Numbers 26:29). Once again, in Jeremiah (Jeremiah 46:11), God tells the Israelites to get a balm in Gilead, because theyve wounded themselves beyond repair. Go up to Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt; In vain you will use many medicines; You shall not be cured(Jeremiah 46:11 NKJV). Sign up now for the latest news and deals from Bible Gateway! 22:5ff.). When Babylon overran the land, no changes were made in the provincial organization established by the Assyrians. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". Israel and Judah entered into an alliance to wrest Ramoth-gilead from the king of Syria (1 Kings 22:1-4), resulting in the death of Ahab on the battlefield. rosin. However, a feud arose between the Ephraimites and the Gileadites because they were not called to participate in the struggle against the Ammonites. The name Gilead is sometimes used to denote the whole country East of the Jordan (Genesis 37:25; Joshua 22:9; 2Samuel 2:9, etc.). Three Biblical men are named Gilead. Like Laban with Jacob, we have an . The most known location that produced this type of ointment was the city of Ein Gedi (or Engedi, located on the western shore of the Dead Sea). . The balm of Gilead referenced in the Bible was a representation and foretelling of Jesus Christ, but an actual balm of Gilead oil still exists today. ( 1 Kings 4:13 ) It was the city of refuge for the tribe of Gad, ( 4:43 ; Joshua 20:8 ; 21:38 ) and the residence of one of Solomons commissariat officers. Above this again is the white chalk of the desert plateau, the same as that found in Samaria and Lower Galilee, with bands of flint or chert in contorted layers, or strewn in pebbles on the surface. Solomon had two commissariat districts in Gilead (1Kings 4:13,19). ThisFREE podcast provides a fresh approach to the Lenten season and can be used as a devotional or study for individuals and groups. For less than $5/mo. After the conquest, as we have seen, Gilead passed mainly into the hands of Gad. We only need to turn from our sin, or repent, and seek His will in our lives. Jeremiah 8:21 - 22For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt: I am black: astonishment hath taken hold on me. Important people who were from the region included the prophet Elijah (1Kings 17:1) as well as Israel's Judges Jephthah (Judges 11) and Jair (10:3 - 4). Many probably hadnt heard of Israels God and few knew what made Him different than the gods of wood and stone they were accustomed to worshipping. Jeremiah looked to the time of restoration of Gilead to Israel (Jer 50:19), and Obadiah foresaw its restoration to Benjamin (Obad 19). It comprised the possessions of the tribes of Gad and Reuben and the south part of Manasseh ( Deuteronomy 3:13 ; Numbers 32:40 ). There is no profound truth in the Scriptural references to the balm of Gilead. The frontiers between the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh cannot be indicated with any certainty. Hosea said Gilead was a city of evildoers (Hos 6:8). The modern division of the country follows the natural features. And, I'm sure there will be many other Gilead similarities as the rest of the series' episodes are released on Hulu, as the series takes it biblical comparisons seriously. Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale is a chilling and timely adaptation of the bestselling dystopian novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. The name is explained in Genesis 31:46,51, as derived from Hebrew gal, "a cairn," and `edh, "witness," agreeing in meaning with the Aramaic yegharsahadhutha'. "Entry for 'GILEAD (1)'". Sihon, the king, would not allow the Israelites to pass through his land, which resulted in warfare that ended with the land in the possession of the Israelites (Num 21). While the tree no longer exists, the healing resin either had to be forced from the stems and leaves of the plant by piercing them, or the resin leaked from the tree through open pores or wounds. It is also known for its grapes, olives, fruit trees, and pasture lands. [3] Gilead is situated in modern-day Jordan, corresponding roughly to the Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash and Balqa Governorates. Jeremiah observes that Gods judgment extends to nations who do not know Him. Again, along with Bashan, it indicates the land East of Jordan, as distinguished from the Moab plateau (Deuteronomy 3:10; Joshua 13:11; 2Kings 10:33). The surveys directed by the Palestine Exploration Fund, in so far as they have been carried out, are invaluable. The scenery is more beautiful and picturesque than that of any other district of Palestine. In many ways, they dont have much more power than the handmaids or the Marthas. Bibliography M. Noth, The History of Israel (1960), 158, 274, 371; J. In Jeremiahs time, we see this represented by the country of Egypt. "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia". It is famous for its raisins. The Mosaic Law directed the people not to reap the edges of their fields completely nor to take all the olives or grapes. 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