Gilead

Manasse's son and ancestor of the Gileadites

Les patriarchesPatriarchc. 1700–1600 BC

Gilead was the son of Makir and grandson of Manasse, Joseph's son. He became the ancestor of the Gileadite clan, and his descendants were given the land east of the Jordan that came to be known as Gilead. His name is closely linked to both the lineage and the geographical region that played an important role in Israel's history.

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Événements clés

The Genealogy of Gilead Recorded

Gilead is mentioned as the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, and his descendants are listed as significant clans in Israel.

29The sons of Manasseh: from Machir, the Machirite clan; and Machir was the father of Gilead; from Gilead, the Gileadite clan.
בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה לְמָכִיר֙ מִשְׁפַּ֣חַת הַמָּכִירִ֔י וּמָכִ֖יר הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־גִּלְעָ֑ד לְגִלְעָ֕ד מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַגִּלְעָדִֽי׃ ‬
30These were the sons of Gilead: from Iezer, the Iezerite clan; from Helek, the Helekite clan;
אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד אִיעֶ֕זֶר מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָאִֽיעֶזְרִ֑י לְחֵ֕לֶק מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽחֶלְקִֽי׃ ‬
31from Asriel, the Asrielite clan; from Shechem, the Shechemite clan;
וְאַ֨שְׂרִיאֵ֔ל מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הָֽאַשְׂרִֽאֵלִ֑י וְשֶׁ֕כֶם מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשִּׁכְמִֽי׃ ‬
32from Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; from Hepher, the Hepherite clan.
וּשְׁמִידָ֕ע מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשְּׁמִידָעִ֑י וְחֵ֕פֶר מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽחֶפְרִֽי׃ ‬
1Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward—Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
וַתִּקְרַ֜בְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֗ד בֶּן־חֵ֤פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה נֹעָ֔ה וְחָגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ ‬

The Descendants of Gilead in the Tribe of Manasseh

In 1 Chronicles, the genealogy of Gilead and his place in the tribe of Manasseh is described as an important branch of Joseph's descendants.

14The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she also bore Machir, the father of Gilead.
בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה אַשְׂרִיאֵ֖ל אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָלָ֑דָה פִּֽילַגְשׁוֹ֙ הָֽאֲרַמִּיָּ֔ה יָלְדָ֕ה אֶת־מָכִ֖יר אֲבִ֥י גִלְעָֽד׃ ‬
15Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites;* his sister's name was Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad, and Zelophehad had only daughters. [*Footnote: Or "Machir took a wife for Huppim and for Shuppim."]
וּמָכִ֞יר לָקַ֤ח אִשָּׁה֙ לְחֻפִּ֣ים וּלְשֻׁפִּ֔ים וְשֵׁ֤ם אֲחֹתוֹ֙ מַעֲכָ֔ה וְשֵׁ֥ם הַשֵּׁנִ֖י צְלָפְחָ֑ד וַתִּהְיֶ֥נָה לִצְלָפְחָ֖ד בָּנֽוֹת׃ ‬
16Maacah, Machir's wife, bore a son and named him Peresh; his brother was named Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
וַתֵּ֨לֶד מַעֲכָ֤ה אֵֽשֶׁת־מָכִיר֙ בֵּ֔ן וַתִּקְרָ֤א שְׁמוֹ֙ פֶּ֔רֶשׁ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו שָׁ֑רֶשׁ וּבָנָ֖יו אוּלָ֥ם וָרָֽקֶם׃ ‬
17The son of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
וּבְנֵ֥י אוּלָ֖ם בְּדָ֑ן אֵ֚לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד בֶּן־מָכִ֖יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ ‬

The Land Allocation to the Descendants of Gilead

The region of Gilead east of the Jordan was allotted as an inheritance to the descendants of Makir and Gilead, a decision confirmed under Joshua.

1A lot also fell to the tribe of Manasseh, since he was Joseph's firstborn. Machir, Manasseh's firstborn and the father of Gilead, received Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war.
וַיְהִ֤י הַגּוֹרָל֙ לְמַטֵּ֣ה מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה כִּי־ה֖וּא בְּכ֣וֹר יוֹסֵ֑ף לְמָכִיר֩ בְּכ֨וֹר מְנַשֶּׁ֜ה אֲבִ֣י הַגִּלְעָ֗ד כִּ֣י ה֤וּא הָיָה֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִלְחָמָ֔ה וֽ͏ַיְהִי־ל֖וֹ הַגִּלְעָ֥ד וְהַבָּשָֽׁן׃ ‬
2The rest of the descendants of Manasseh received land by their clans: the sons of Abiezer, the sons of Helek, the sons of Asriel, the sons of Shechem, the sons of Hepher, and the sons of Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their clans.
וַ֠יְהִי לִבְנֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה הַנּוֹתָרִים֮ לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם֒ לִבְנֵ֨י אֲבִיעֶ֜זֶר וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֗לֶק וְלִבְנֵ֤י אַשְׂרִיאֵל֙ וְלִבְנֵי־שֶׁ֔כֶם וְלִבְנֵי־חֵ֖פֶר וְלִבְנֵ֣י שְׁמִידָ֑ע אֵ֠לֶּה בְּנֵ֨י מְנַשֶּׁ֧ה בֶֿן־יוֹסֵ֛ף הַזְּכָרִ֖ים לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם׃ ‬
3Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
וְלִצְלָפְחָד֩ בֶּן־חֵ֨פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָ֜ד בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה לֹא־הָ֥יוּ ל֛וֹ בָּנִ֖ים כִּ֣י אִם־בָּנ֑וֹת וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה וְנֹעָ֔ה חָגְלָ֥ה מִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ ‬

The Daughters of Selophahad Claim Their Inheritance

Selophahad, a descendant of Gilead through Hefer, had no sons. His daughters claimed their right to inherit before the Lord, and Moses granted them their request.

1Then the daughters of Zelophehad came forward—Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
וַתִּקְרַ֜בְנָה בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָ֗ד בֶּן־חֵ֤פֶר בֶּן־גִּלְעָד֙ בֶּן־מָכִ֣יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֔ה לְמִשְׁפְּחֹ֖ת מְנַשֶּׁ֣ה בֶן־יוֹסֵ֑ף וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ שְׁמ֣וֹת בְּנֹתָ֔יו מַחְלָ֣ה נֹעָ֔ה וְחָגְלָ֥ה וּמִלְכָּ֖ה וְתִרְצָֽה׃ ‬
2They stood before Moses, before Eleazar the priest, and before the leaders and the whole assembly at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and said:
וַֽתַּעֲמֹ֜דְנָה לִפְנֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֗ה וְלִפְנֵי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְלִפְנֵ֥י הַנְּשִׂיאִ֖ם וְכָל־הָעֵדָ֑ה פֶּ֥תַח אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֖ד לֵאמֹֽר׃ ‬
3"Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company that banded together against the LORD with Korah; he died for his own sin, and he had no sons.
אָבִינוּ֮ מֵ֣ת בַּמִּדְבָּר֒ וְה֨וּא לֹא־הָיָ֜ה בְּת֣וֹךְ הָעֵדָ֗ה הַנּוֹעָדִ֛ים עַל־יְהוָ֖ה בַּעֲדַת־קֹ֑רַח כִּֽי־בְחֶטְא֣וֹ מֵ֔ת וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָ֥יוּ לֽוֹ׃ ‬
4Why should our father's name disappear from his clan just because he had no son? Give us a holding among our father's brothers."
לָ֣מָּה יִגָּרַ֤ע שֵׁם־אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ מִתּ֣וֹךְ מִשְׁפַּחְתּ֔וֹ כִּ֛י אֵ֥ין ל֖וֹ בֵּ֑ן תְּנָה־לָּ֣נוּ אֲחֻזָּ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֥י אָבִֽינוּ׃ ‬
5So Moses brought their case before the LORD,
וַיַּקְרֵ֥ב מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־מִשְׁפָּטָ֖ן‪[5]‬ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃ ס ‬
6and the LORD said to Moses:
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ ‬
7"The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You shall certainly give them a holding as their inheritance among their father's brothers, and transfer their father's inheritance to them.
כֵּ֗ן בְּנ֣וֹת צְלָפְחָד֮ דֹּבְרֹת֒ נָתֹ֨ן תִּתֵּ֤ן לָהֶם֙ אֲחֻזַּ֣ת נַחֲלָ֔ה בְּת֖וֹךְ אֲחֵ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם וְהַֽעֲבַרְתָּ֛ אֶת־נַחֲלַ֥ת אֲבִיהֶ֖ן לָהֶֽן׃ ‬

Gilead's Significance in the Period of the Judges

The region of Gilead and the Gileadites played a central role during the period of the judges, especially through Jephthah, who was a Gileadite and became a judge in Israel.

1Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father.
וְיִפְתָּ֣ח הַגִּלְעָדִ֗י הָיָה֙ גִּבּ֣וֹר חַ֔יִל וְה֖וּא בֶּן־אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶת־יִפְתָּֽח׃ ‬
2Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when her sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out. "You will inherit nothing in our father's house," they told him, "for you are the son of another woman."
וַתֵּ֧לֶד אֵֽשֶׁת־גִּלְעָ֛ד ל֖וֹ בָּנִ֑ים וַיִּגְדְּל֨וּ בְֽנֵי־הָאִשָּׁ֜ה וַיְגָרְשׁ֣וּ אֶת־יִפְתָּ֗ח וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹֽא־תִנְחַ֣ל בְּבֵית־אָבִ֔ינוּ כִּ֛י בֶּן־אִשָּׁ֥ה אַחֶ֖רֶת אָֽתָּה׃ ‬

The Descendants of Gilead in the Land Distribution under Moses

Moses allotted the land of Gilead to the descendants of Makir because they were warriors who had conquered the area.

39The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ בְּנֵ֨י מָכִ֧יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֛ה גִּלְעָ֖דָה וַֽיִּלְכְּדֻ֑הָ וַיּ֖וֹרֶשׁ אֶת־הָאֱמֹרִ֥י אֲשֶׁר־בָּֽהּ׃ ‬
40So Moses gave Gilead to Machir son of Manasseh, and he settled there.
וַיִּתֵּ֤ן מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶת־הַגִּלְעָ֔ד לְמָכִ֖יר בֶּן־מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בָּֽהּ׃ ‬

Mentionné dans la Bible (23)