Gad is one of Jacob's twelve sons, born to Leah's servant Zilpah (Genesis 30:11). His name means 'fortune' or 'good fortune,' though a wordplay on gedud (troop/raiding party) is suggested by the birth oracle. The tribe of Gad settled east of the Jordan River and was known as warriors (1 Chronicles 12:8). Gad also appears as a pagan god of fortune (Isaiah 65:11).
The tribal history of Gad illustrates the perils of choosing comfort over covenant. The Gadites and Reubenites requested the fertile lands east of Jordan because of their cattle — Moses initially rebuked this as reminiscent of the spies' failure of faith, but ultimately permitted it on condition of military service (Numbers 32). Their choice to settle outside the Promised Land left them on the frontier, more exposed and eventually among the first deported by Assyria (2 Kings 15:29). The name's double meaning (fortune/troop) captures both divine blessing and military responsibility.