Gilead
גִּלְעָד, جلعاد | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 32°33′N 35°51′E / 32.550°N 35.850°E | |
Location | Irbid Governorate, Jordan |
Highest elevation | 1,200 m (3,900 ft) |
Gilead or Gilad (UK: /ˈɡɪliæd/, US: /ˈɡɪliəd/;[1][2] Hebrew: גִּלְעָד Gilʿāḏ, Arabic: جلعاد, Ǧalʻād, Jalaad) is the ancient, historic, biblical name of the mountainous northern part of the region of Transjordan.[3] The region is bounded in the west by the Jordan River, in the north by the deep ravine of the river Yarmouk and the region of Bashan, and in the southwest by what were known during antiquity as the "plains of Moab", with no definite boundary to the east. In some cases, "Gilead" is used in the Bible to refer to all the region east of the Jordan River.[4] Gilead is situated in modern-day Jordan, corresponding roughly to the Irbid, Ajloun, Jerash and Balqa Governorates.