Gad, Sweden, and Rabbis -1

Biblical and Rabbinical Sources and the Tribe of Gad

Duration: 43.21 Minutes

Contents:
1. Gad in the Bible
2. Gad, the Goths, and Sweden
3. Gad in Judaic Sources. Abarbanel
4. Peoples of Gad
5. Ram Alboyim: "CeLavi Shacain." A Warrior Tribe concerned for Women and Children
6. "CeLavi Shacain," The Editors, Expansion of Borders
7. Rabbi David Nachum Goldshtof, "Divrei Moed," Self-Control
8. Rabbi Tsvi Rizeman, "Rats Ce-Tsvi," More Expansion of Borders
9. Chayim ben Senior, "Imri Chen," Tefilin, Self-Control and Focused Approach

Continued at Gad, Sweden, and the Rabbis-2

Swedes in the USA. Source: Wikipedia
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Source: Google Maps

1. Gad in the Bible

Gad and Asher were the two sons of Zilphah the Handmaiden of Leah, wife of Jacob.
After the Children of Israel came out of Egypt and journeyed through the Wilderness they approached the Promised Land. The areas formerly pertaining to the Amorite Kings, Og and Sihon, were conquered.
The Tribes of Reuben and Gad having much livestock and seeing the land was suitable for grazing asked to receive the region for themselves (Numbers ch. 32). Moses agreed on condition that they continue to assist the rest of the Israelites in conquering what remained to conquer east of the Jordan. In practice the Tribes of Reuben and Gad were joined east of the Jordan by the Half-Tribe of Manasseh while the other section of Manasseh received its portion west of the Jordan.
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The Birth of Gad

Genesis 30:
9 When Leah saw that she had stopped bearing, she took Zilpah her maid and gave her to Jacob as wife. 10 And Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a son. 11 Then Leah said, 'A troop comes!' So she called his name Gad. 12 And Leah's maid Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. 13 Then Leah said, 'I am happy, for the daughters will call me blessed.' So she called his name Asher.

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The Sons of Gad

"And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli" (Genesis 46:16).

"The children of Gad after their families; of Zephon, the family of the Zephoni: of Haggi, the family of the Haggi: of Shuni, the family of the Shuni:
"Of Ozni, the family of the Ozni: of Eri, the family of the Eri:
"Of Arod, the family of the Arodi: of Areli, the family of the Areli.
"These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred" (Numbers 26:15-18).

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Source: BBC

The Blessings to Gad

Genesis 49:
19 Gad, a troop shall tramp upon him, But he shall triumph at last.

Deuteronomy (NKJV) 33:
20 And of Gad he said:
'Blessed is he who enlarges Gad;
He dwells as a lion,
And tears the arm and the crown of his head.
21 He provided the first part for himself,
Because a lawgiver's portion was reserved there.
He came with the heads of the people;
He administered the justice of the LORD, And His judgments with Israel.'

We see from the above that Gad would expand his territory, and conquer other regions. He is like a lion. His warriors strike blows that cleave both the head and the the arm. Gad (along with Reuben and half-Manasseh) were the first to inherit a portion in the Land. They had expressly requested to do so. Moses, the Lawgiver, had been buried in that area and that was one of the reasons they wanted the region for themselves. Descendants of Gad would be among the warriors who placed themselves at the disposal of David. Gad administers justice and (as we shall see with Sweden) believes in social equity.

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Gad as Warriors

1-Chronicles 5:
18 The sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh had forty-four thousand seven hundred and sixty valiant men, men able to bear shield and sword, to shoot with the bow, and skillful in war, who went to war.

1 Chronicles 12:
8 Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains:

1 Chronicles 12:
14 These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a thousand.

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Gad Exiled by Assyria along with the rest of the Ten Tribes

1-Chronicles 5:
26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, that is, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He carried the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh into captivity. He took them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and the river of Gozan to this day.

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2. Gad, the Goths, and Sweden

The Tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh dwelt in the regions known as the Bashan and Gilead. The Tribe of Dan was also assocaited with the Bashan (Deuteronomy 33:22).
According to the Roman Geographer, Pliny, Scandinavia was also known as "Basilia" which was another name for the Bashan.
The name "GAD" in Biblical Hebrew could be pronounced as "Goth." Groups of Goths were to be found in Scandinavia especially in Sweden.
There was also a people known as the Goths who settled in Poland and Northern Germany and later in Hungary and the Ukraine and also in southern France, Spain, and other areas.
Some of the Goths in Europe were of the same stock as those in Scandinavia whereas others were not.
It may be that people from Europe who came to Israelite areas such as North America, etc., may also be traced to Israel through Goths from the Tribe of Gad.
At all events Sweden is the region were the Goths had been and remained recognizable as such. Sweden also has aspects of the Tribe of Gad.
According to the Zohar the animal-symbol of the Tribe of Gad was the kid of a sheep or goat. This may have been based based on the word for KID, "GADI" in Hebrew, which is similar to the name Gad. The Goths of history are said to have had a GOAT as their symbolic-animal. The name "GAD" in Biblical Hebrew is also connected to the word for cutting and chopping as well as for groups or legions and also for deity (god) . The Goths of history interpreted their name to mean "People (Chosen) of God." Popular traditions (such as that related by John Mandeville, 1499) identified the LOST TEN TRIBES OF ISRAEL with a portion of the GOTHS. So did others.
Sweden is the region were the Goths had been and remained recognizable as such. Sweden also has aspects of the Tribe of Gad.
The area of Sweden was originally divided between the Svea (Svealand i.e. Sweden) and Gotaland (Gothia). The two parts united and the present day country of Sweden came into existence.
The Svea in the Annals of Tacitus are referred to as "Suiones." To our understanding this name is the same as that of the Shuni a major clan of Gad.
The southern portion of Sweden known as "Scania" once belonged to Denmark.

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3. Gad in Judaic Sources. Abarbanel

Jacob (Israel) the patriarch prophesied of Gad, "A troop overcame him: but he shall overcome at the last" (Genesis 49:19). This Prophecy was perhaps exemplified when the Huns' hordes overcame the Goths and forced them to participate in the western invasions. On Attila's death a revolt by the Goths and their Gepid kin destroyed the Hun domination. The great commentator Don Isaac Abarbanel (on Genesis 49:19), after analyzing and weighing all the Biblical verses referring to Gad, came to (the inferred) conclusion that Gad would be numerous and divided into many groups which, nevertheless, would maintain some form of contact and be capable of concerted action. Historically, this concept did fit the Gothic peoples, though it is difficult to see what applicability it could possibly have today.
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4. Peoples of Gad

Gad was a name for Goths and an identifying root in Gothic toponomy.
Gudos was also a name for the Goths.
Getae were a Gothic group in the Balkans and Scandinavia. In Scandinavia and elsewhere the name is just another form of Goth.
Guti was a name for the Goths both in Scandinavia and east of the Caspian.
Guthones = Goths on the Baltic coast.
Gautoi in Scandinavia.
Gadrosia in Iran.
Pasargadoi meant "Sons of Gad" in ancient Iran. Cyrus the Liberator of the Jews and Emperor of Persia may have been from the Tribe of Gad.
Thatagydes in ancient Afghanistan: "Thata-" represented the Teutons and "Gydes" the Goths.
Gadeni in Scotland.
Gaedhal in ancient Scotland and Ireland.
Geddingas were an Anglo-Saxon associated sub-tribe.

Clans of Gad
Ziphion: Thaifalli (Gothic allies from Scythia migrated to France).
Haggi (Chaggi): Chauci (Franks also known as "Hugo", and as "Hocing"). Yngling (Sweden), Cauci (Ireland).
Haggi: Huguenots of France named after a legendary "Hugo" identifiable as "Haggi" of Gad.
Shuni (Suni): Suiones (Sweden).
Etsbon: Bastarnae (Gothic Galatian group moved to France), Astings, Hastings (Vandal group invaded England and Scotland).
Ozni: Osnabruch (Frankish Germany).
Eri (Geri): Grani (Sweden), Greotingi (Goths, Sweden).
Arodi (Ha-Arodi): Harudi (Norway), Hreadgoths (Scandinavia).
Areli (Ha-Eruli): Eruli (Herules) -associated with Goths, Sweden.
Guni: Chouni (a branch of the Huns), cf. Guni of Naphtali (Egan -Denmark, Gugerni- Holland).

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The Tribe of Gad. Selections from Different Rabbinical Sources

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5. Ram Alboyim: "CeLavi Shacain." A Warrior Tribe concerned for Women and Children

The name Gad is cognate with the Hebrew word-root "GDD" and may indicate cutting or chopping.
Gad according to tradition was born circumcised.

Gad - had "Gevurah" - the Heroism of a Warrior (Midrash Breishit Rabah 95;4).
In addition to Gad, the Tribes of Zebulon, Yehudah, Dan, and Naphtali also had this quality.

Gad (and Reuben) volunteered to go first in conquering the Land (Numbers 32:17).

Numbers (NKJV) 32:
16 Then they came near to him and said: "We will build sheepfolds here for our livestock, and cities for our little ones, 17 but we ourselves will be armed, ready to go before the children of Israel until we have brought them to their place; and our little ones will dwell in the fortified cities because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until every one of the children of Israel has received his inheritance. 19 For we will not inherit with them on the other side of the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has fallen to us on this eastern side of the Jordan."

Gad had a Self-sacrificing quality of bravery.

Warriors from Gad came to David (1-Chronicles 12:1-15). Rashi says each one was worth a 100 of the others.

Gad and Reuben built an Altar by the Jordan to ensure the acceptance of their offspring in the eyes of their kinfolk and the unity of all Israel.
cf.

Joshua 22:
34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, Witness, "For it is a witness between us that the LORD is God."

Deuteronomy 33:21 Gad chose his portion where he knew Moses would be buried.

The Prophet Elisha was from the Tribe of Gad.

Gad will help bring the Future Redemption (Midrash B"R 99: 11) and is preferred in that regard more than Dan.

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Relevance to Brit-Am Identifications. Gad as Sweden and the Goths

(a) Expansion of Land

The Ancient Goths were well known as warriors. At least one portion of them were known for using a type of ax as war weapon.
Today, Sweden has a total population of 10.3 million of which 2.6 million have a foreign background.
In World War-2 Sweden was neutral. Nevertheless, in the 1600s Sweden engaged in numerous wars with the nations around them. The Swedes were a mighty nation and defeated all around them. In the 1650s they had an empire of conquered lands which was the third-largest country in Europe by land area, surpassed by only Russia and Spain.

Concerning Swedish immigrants to the USA of about 150 years ago:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Americans
According to one lawyer, it was thought that a Swede without a knife scar in the face was not considered a real man.

cf.

Swedish Personality Traits and Character
by Roman Roams
https://romanroams.com/en/swedish-personality-and-character/
.. Swedes also have positive traits. They are very athletic and hardy, very punctual, and they have everything exactly set.

The self-sacrificing quality of bravery and volunteerism that Gad had is also found in the attitude of public responsibility found in Sweden.

What are unique traits of Swedish culture?
https://www.quora.com/What-are-unique-traits-of-Swedish-culture
by Chris Ebbert,
Paradox no 1. (Extremely individualistic for the common good)
Swedes act for the common good and try to minimize collateral damage to a unique extent. So it might be hard to notice that Swedes are actually extremely individualistic. Like americans, but you would never guess it. This is because where americans are competitive-minded, swedes are cooperative-minded. This is why swedish companies often outperform similar companies from other countries - individual brilliance worked into the cooperative mesh to a common good.

What are unique traits of Swedish culture?
https://www.quora.com/What-are-unique-traits-of-Swedish-culture
by Chris Ebbert,
"Cooperation". People working together of their own free will.

(b) Concern for Women and Children

When the Tribes east of the Jordan (Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh) went to help conquer the western portion the Land of Israel they built strongholds for their women and children.
Both the Scyths (of whom the Goths were once part) according to Herodotos and specifically the Goths according to Jordanes at one stage left their women and children for several years and went out to conquer other lands.

Concern for women and children has a high priority in Swedish culture.

https://unsettledown.com/blog/why-the-swedes-live-better
Swedes are unique in that they highly value the importance of being self-sufficient.
The government also sees the importance in their citizens spending time with their family. Swedish law allows new parents to share up to 480 days, or 16 months, of paid parental time off after having a child.
Swedes are mindful, reserved, and relaxed. They are proud, yet humble, and some of the happiest people on the planet. They are welcoming to other cultures and treat everyone fairly and equally. They are self-reliant and accountable. They know their heritage and celebrate it whenever they can. Most importantly, and most refreshing to me, is that not everyone is trying to outdo each other.

What are unique traits of Swedish culture?
https://www.quora.com/What-are-unique-traits-of-Swedish-culture
by Chris Ebbert,
Strong sense of community - In Sweden, concerning for the community and helping fellow neighbors is strongly valued. Swedes generally care about the well-being of their society and everyone is ensured to have the same access to healthcare, education, etc. Children are ensured to be safe and taken care of, and the elderly are ensured of having health insurance and retirement. People don,t really have to worry about paying off medical bills or easily losing their job.

Why is Sweden so successful? What is their secret?
Chris Ebbert
keep machismo at bay (according to Hofstede, Sweden is the world,s most feminine country); chauvinism rarely fosters longterm success.

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6. "CeLavi Shacain," The Editors, Expansion of Borders

Ramban (Nachmanides): Gad took all the border areas and many cities since he was more of a warrior than Reuben (Nachmanidies, Deuteronomy 33:20).

Soforno: Gad was like a lion and therefore received a large expanse (Deuteronomy 33:20).

Kli Yakar: Gad volunteered to fight more than he had to.

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Relevance to Brit-Am Identifications. Gad as Sweden and the Goths

This ties in with the Goths and Swedes who were once warriors.
In history we had the large-scale conquests of the Goths and later the Swedes. See above.
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7. Rabbi David Nachum Goldshtof, "Divrei Moed," Self-Control

Gad was together with Reuben and Simeon in the south in the encampment around the Tabernacle.
This section was marked by Repentance.
Reuben was denoted by Repentance.
Gad by Gevurah (Warriormanship) (Genesis 49:19, Deuteronomy 33:20, Rashi).
Simeon by Atonement

Gad was able to control his lusts

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Relevance to Brit-Am Identifications. Gad as Sweden

The Swedes are promiscuous in their morals but their men have some self-control.
cf.

What are unique traits of Swedish culture?
by Jah Amira
https://www.quora.com/What-are-unique-traits-of-Swedish-culture
Calmness and practicality- Being very calm, relaxed, and down-to-earth is something that Swedes generally value and take to heart. You should always stay calm and not show any strong/extreme emotions. Swedes would rarely yell or scream whenever they would feel anger or any other strong emotion, and wouldn't find reasons to go insane. In Sweden, there is nothing really to go insane about, and you can easily let your stress go. Just relax.

The Swedish psyche - you could write a book about it
by Christine Demsteader
https://www.thelocal.se/20090415/1885
.'Swedes don't have a very compulsive culture; you see that in everyday life today, just think about the way meetings are run.'