a group of mountains connected with Lebanon by means of Mount Hermon. It begins not far from the latter, and extends southward to the sources of the brooks Jabbok and Arnon, thus inclosing the whole eastern part of the land beyond the Jordan. This was also the name of a large district beyond the Jordan, continually mentioned in the Scriptures in contradistinction to, or apart from, Bashan; though, to judge from its geographical position (as given in Num. xxxii. 26; Deut. iii. 12), it must have comprised the entire possessions of the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, and even the southern part of Manasseh. The cities Ramoth, Jahosh, and Jazer, are usually designated as lying in Gilead. This region was distinguished for its rich pastures and aromatic simples; from which latter different sorts of balsam were prepared—facts confirmed by modern travellers (Seeckt, Burckhardt, &c.)