Gad was a prophet who served during the reigns of King David and his son Solomon. He first appears in1 Samuel 22:5, where he advises David to leave his stronghold in Moab and return to the land of Judah. Gad played a significant role in the events surrounding David's census of Israel (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21). After David had sinned by taking the census, Gad was sent by God to offer David a choice of three punishments: three years of famine, three months of fleeing from enemies, or three days of plague (2 Samuel 24:11-14;1 Chronicles 21:9-13). David chose the plague, and Gad instructed him to build an altar on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite to stop the plague (2 Samuel 24:18-19;1 Chronicles 21:18-19). Gad is described as David's seer (2 Samuel 24:11;1 Chronicles 21:9) and is credited with writing a book about David's acts (1 Chronicles 29:29). He was also involved in organizing the music and worship in the tabernacle (2 Chronicles 29:25). Gad's ministry as a prophet spanned the latter years of David's reign and continued into the early years of Solomon's reign.
Gad
EnglishA prophet living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.22.5.