Gad (prophet)

{{Short description|Seer or prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible}}

{{For|the son of Jacob|Gad (son of Jacob)}}

Gad ({{Hebrew Name|גָּד|Gad|Gāḏ|"luck"}}, {{IPAc-en|ɡ|æ|d}}) was a seer or prophet mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and the writings of Jewish historian Josephus. He was one of the personal prophets of King David of Israel and, according to the Talmudic tradition, some of his writings are believed to be included in the Books of Samuel.Apologetics Press, [http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1972 The Canon and Extra-Canonical Writings], 2003 He is first mentioned in {{bibleverse|1|Samuel|22:5|HE}} telling David to return from refuge in Moab to the forest of Hereth in the land of Judah.

The next biblical reference to Gad is {{bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:11-13|HE}} ({{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|21:9-13|HE}}) where, after David confesses his sin of taking a census of the people of Israel and Judah, God sends Gad to David to offer him a choice of three forms of punishment.See also Josephus, [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-7.htm Antiquities], 7:13,4

Gad is mentioned a final time in the Books of Samuel in {{bibleverse|2|Samuel|24:18|HE}}, coming to David and telling him to build an altar to God after God stops the plague that David had chosen as punishment. The place indicated by Gad for the altar is "in the threshing-floor of Araunah the Jebusite".

{{bibleverse|1|Chronicles|21:18-19|ESV}} tells of an encounter Gad had with the angel of the Lord.

A tomb attributed to Gad is located at Halhul.Burial Places of the Fathers, published by Yehuda Levi Nahum in book: Ṣohar la-ḥasifat ginzei teiman (Heb. צהר לחשיפת גנזי תימן), Tel-Aviv 1986, p. 253 (Hebrew)