GAD (2)

(gadh, "fortunate"): David's seer (chozeh, 1 Chronicles 21:9; 29:29; 2 Chronicles 29:25), or prophet (nabhi'; compare 1 Samuel 22:5; 2 Samuel 24:11). He appears (1) to advise David while an outlaw fleeing before Saul to return to the land of Judah (1 Samuel 22:5); (2) to rebuke David and give him his choice of punishments when, in spite of the advice of Joab and the traditional objections (compare Exodus 30:11 ff), he had counted the children of Israel (2 Samuel 24:11; 1 Chronicles 21:9 ff); (3) to instruct David to erect an altar on the threshing-floor of Araunah when the plague that had descended on Israel ceased (2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Chronicles 21:18); and (4) to assist in the arrangement of Levitical music with cymbals, psalteries and harps (compare 2 Chronicles 29:25). Of his writings none are known, though he is said to have written a history of a part of David's reign (1 Chronicles 29:29).

Ella Davis Isaacs

From the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
Edited by James Orr, published in 1939 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.