III. GAD, an heathen deity, mentioned in several passages of Scripture. For example, Isaiah lxv. 11. Ye are they that prepare a table for Gad, and that furnish the drink-offering unto Meni. There is a place in Palestine called Baal-Gad, or the God Gad1; and we are assured, that the Arabians call the planet Jupiter, and whatsoever is good and beneficent, Gad. We are of opinion, that in the passage cited from Isaiah, it signifies the Sun; and that St. Jerom, who translates it, Qui ponitis fortunæ mensam, by Gad understood good Fortune. Accordingly, they who of old used to cast nativities, believed the Sun to be a sign of good Genius, and the moon of See our Comment upon Gen. xxx. 11. De Bello, l. 5. c. 3. Idem lib. de vita sua, p. 1025. Plin. l. 5. c. 16. Joseph. Antiq. l. 14. c. 8. p. 475. Polyb. hist. l. 5. Epiphan. l. adversus hæres. p. 131.good Fortune.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages
Footnotes
-
Translators’ note. See an account of this God more at large in Selden and Beyer. ↩