Land Of Gilead

The Beautiful forests and orchards overlooking the Jordan Valley was the Biblical land

of Gilead (means: Stone of Witness or Rocky Region). Some of the references are

(Genesis 31 :21-25, 37:25); (Numbers l3:29, 32:l-40); (Deut. 3:lO-16, 34:l); (Judges

5: 17, 10:4-18, 20:l); (Joshua 12:2-3, 13:11-31, 17:5-6, 22:9-32); (I Samuel 13:7);

(Hosea 12:ll); (Amos 1 :3, 13) and (Zechariah 10:lO). The region was famous for its forests (Jeremiah 22:6; Micah 7:14) and a medicinal balm (Jer. 8:22, 46:ll). The area was captured by the Assyrians in 734 BC (I1 Kings 15:29) leaving scattered refugees. Gilead was conquered by Alexander’s army in 332 BC by the Roman Pompey in 64 BC. The Greco-Roman name was PEREA (Greek for the Land Beyond), as mentioned in (Matthew 19:1, 13); (Mark 10:l); (Luke 13:22); (John 10:40). During the Byzantine times, the hills were covered with towns, churches, farms, springs and oil presses; but following it was lightly inhabited.