Topical Encyclopedia
Etymology and Meaning:The name "Jair" is derived from the Hebrew word יָאִיר (Ya'ir), meaning "he enlightens" or "he shines." This name reflects the biblical character's role and influence within the narratives of the Old Testament.
Biblical References:Jair is a name associated with several individuals in the Bible, each playing distinct roles in the history of Israel.
1.
Jair the Judge (Judges 10:3-5): Jair was a Gileadite who judged Israel for twenty-two years. He is noted for having thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys and controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which were called Havvoth Jair, meaning "villages of Jair." This indicates his significant influence and wealth. The Berean Standard Bible states: "After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day" (
Judges 10:3-4).
2.
Jair, Son of Segub (1 Chronicles 2:22): This Jair is mentioned in the genealogies of the tribe of Manasseh. He is the son of Segub and a descendant of Manasseh through his mother, who was a daughter of Machir, the father of Gilead. This connection highlights the integration of Jair's lineage into the broader narrative of Israel's tribes.
3.
Jair, Father of Mordecai (Esther 2:5): In the Book of Esther, Jair is mentioned as the father of Mordecai, a Jew living in Susa, the capital of Persia. Mordecai is a central figure in the account of Esther, known for his role in saving the Jewish people from Haman's plot. The text states: "Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, named Mordecai son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish" (
Esther 2:5).
Historical and Theological Significance:Jair's role as a judge in Israel is significant in the context of the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterizes the Book of Judges. His leadership is marked by stability and prosperity, as indicated by the mention of his sons and their towns. This period of peace under Jair's judgeship reflects God's provision and faithfulness to Israel despite their recurring unfaithfulness.
The mention of Jair in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles and Esther underscores the importance of lineage and heritage in the biblical narrative. Jair's connection to Mordecai situates him within the broader account of God's preservation of His people, as seen in the deliverance of the Jews during the Persian Empire.
Cultural and Geographical Context:The region of Gilead, where Jair judged, is located east of the Jordan River. It was known for its balm and rugged terrain. The reference to "Havvoth Jair" suggests a network of settlements or villages that were under Jair's control, indicating a level of organization and governance.
Legacy:Jair's legacy is one of leadership and influence. His account, though brief, is a testament to the diverse ways God raised leaders in Israel to guide and protect His people. The mention of his descendants and their towns serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of faithful leadership in the history of Israel.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
JairJairus, my light; who diffuses light
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jair(enlightener).
- A man who on his father's side was descended from Judah, and on his mother's from Manasseh. (B.C. 1451.) During, the conquest he took the whole of the tract of Argob (3:14) and in addition possessed himself of some nomad villages in Gilead, which he called after his own name Havoth-Jair. (Numbers 32:41;1 Chronicles 2:23)
- JAIR THE GILEADITE, who judged Israel for two-and-twenty years. (Judges 10:3-5) (B.C. 1160.) He had thirty sons, and possessed thirty cities in the land of Gilead, which like those of their namesakes were called Havoth-jair.
- A Benjamite, son of Kish and father of Mordecai. (Esther 2:5) (B.C. before 598.)
- The father of Elhanan, one of the heroes of David's army. (1 Chronicles 20:6)
ATS Bible Dictionary
Jair1 A leader in the conquest of Bashan, probably before the Jews crossed the Jordan, B. C. 1451. Twenty-three cities near Argob were called after him Havoth-jair, which see.
2. The eighth judge of Israel, in Gilead of Manasseh, B. C. 1210. He seems to have been a descendant and heir of the former, Jud 10:3- 5.
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Enlightener.
(1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1 Chronicles 2:22). He distinguished himself in an expedition against Bashan, and settled in the part of Argob on the borders of Gilead. The small towns taken by him there are called Havoth-jair, i.e., "Jair's villages" (Numbers 32:41;Deuteronomy 3:14;Joshua 13:30).
(2.) The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His opulence is described inJudges 10:3-5. He had thirty sons, each riding on "ass colts." They had possession of thirty of the sixty cities (1 Kings 4:13;1 Chronicles 2:23) which formed the ancient Havoth-jair.
(3.) A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther's uncle (Esther 2:5).
(4.) The father of Elhanan, who slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath (1 Chronicles 20:5).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JAIRja'-er:
(1) Jair (ya'ir, "he enlightens" or "one giving light"):
(a) Son, i.e. descendant of Manasseh (Numbers 32:41Deuteronomy 3:14Joshua 13:301 Kings 4:131 Chronicles 2:22 f). According to1 Chronicles 2:21 he was the son of ScRub, son of Hezron, a descendant of Judah, who married the daughter of Machir, son of Manasseh. He was thus descended both from Judah and Manasseh. At the time of the conquest he distinguished himself by taking the tent-villages HAVVOTH-JAIR (which see). The accounts of his exploit are difficult to harmonize (see ICC on above passages). Some would identify him with the Jair ofJudges 10:3, holding that Manasseh's settlement in Northern Gilead and Bashan took place, not before Israel's passage of the Jordan, but after the settlement of the tribe on the West. For a criticism of this view see HGHL, 577, note
(b) One of the judges. He is said to have had 30 sons, who rode on 30 ass colts, and who had as many cities, known as Havvoth-jair (Judges 10:3, 4). One tradition identifies (a) and (b). Others reconcile the two narratives by interpreting the word "son" in a non-literal sense.
(c) The father of Mordecai (Esther 2:5). In the Apocrypha (Additions to Esther 11:2) his name is given as "Jairus" (Iaeiros).
(2) Jair (Qere: ya`ir, "he arouses"; Kethibh: ya`ur; a different name from (1) above): The father of Elhanan, the giant-slayer (1 Chronicles 20:5). In the parallel passage (2 Samuel 21:19) his name is given as "Jaare-oregim," but the text should be corrected to Jair, "oregim" ('oreghim) having crept in from the line below through a copyist's error.
James Crichton
Greek
2383. Iairos -- Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue in Palestine... NASB Word Usage Jairus (2). Jairus. Of Hebrew origin (Ya'iyr); Jairus (ie
Jair),
an Israelite -- Jairus. see HEBREW Ya'iyr. (iairos) -- 2 Occurrences.
...Strong's Hebrew
2334. Chavvoth Yair -- "tent villages ofJair," an area East of...... "tent villages of
Jair," an area East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Chavvoth Yair
Phonetic Spelling: (khav-vothe' yaw-eer') Short Definition: Havvoth-
jair.
...2972. Yairi -- descendant ofJair
... descendant ofJair. Transliteration: Yairi or Yairi Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-ee-ree')
Short Definition: Jairite.... ofJair NASB Word Usage Jairite (1). Jairite....
7056. Qamon -- burial place ofJair
... 7055, 7056. Qamon. 7057 . burial place ofJair. Transliteration: Qamon
Phonetic Spelling: (kaw-mone') Short Definition: Kamon. Word...
2971. Yair -- "he enlightens," three Israelites
... Yair. 2972 . "he enlightens," three Israelites. Transliteration: Yair Phonetic
Spelling: (yaw-ere') Short Definition:Jair.... NASB Word UsageJair (9).Jair....
3265. Yaor -- an Israelite
... an Israelite. Transliteration: Yaor Phonetic Spelling: (yaw-oor') Short Definition:
Jair. Word Origin from ur Definition an Isr. NASB Word UsageJair (1)....
Library
Chronology from Adam.
... Then they served the Midianites 7 years. Then Gideon judged them 40 years;
Abimelech, 3 years; Thola, 22 years;Jair, 22 years....
Ascalon. Gerar. The Story of the Eighty Witches.
... or parts of Ascalon,"namely, what were within the land, and what without, &c.)
"They pronounced it clean from the authority of R. Phinchasi BenJair, who said...
The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the...
... explanation of this history on the supposed symbolical meaning of what they designate
as the fictitious name of the Ruler of the Synagogue -Jair, he will give...
But on the Death of Gideon, his Son Abimelech...
... After him cameJair; and after he had held the chief place for a like period of
twenty-two years, the people, forsaking God, gave themselves up to idols....
That the Judges who Succeeded Gideon Made War with the Adjoining...
... went to their own homes. 6. Now it was thatJair the Gileadite, [16] of
the tribe of Manasseh, took the government. He was a man...
Miller's views on the Second Coming of Christ.
... Abimelech 3 2853 1304 Judges 9:22.11. Tola 23 2876 1281 Judges 10:2.12.Jair 22
2898 1259 Judges 10:3.13. Philistines 18 2916 1241 Judges 10:8.14....
The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... such as Shamgar, Ibzan, Tola, Elon, and Abdon; indeed, some scholars have thrown
doubts on the personality of a few of them, as, for instance,Jair, whom they...
What did Moses Write?
... Similarly the account of the naming of the villages ofJair, which we find in
Deuteronomy 3:14, is quite inconsistent with another account in Judges 10:3, 4...
Thesaurus
Jair (14 Occurrences)... The small towns taken by him there are called Havoth-
jair, ie, "
Jair's villages"
(Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; Joshua 13:30).
...JAIR.
...Bashan-havoth-jair (1 Occurrence)
Bashan-havoth-jair. Bashanhavothjair, Bashan-havoth-jair. Bashanhavvothjair .
Easton's Bible Dictionary The Bashan of the villages...
Bashan-havvoth-jair
Bashan-havvoth-jair. Bashanhavvothjair, Bashan-havvoth-jair. Bashan's . Int....
BASHAN-HAVVOTH-JAIR. ba'-shan-hav'-oth-ja'-ir (bashan chawwoth ya'ir)....
Havoth-jair (3 Occurrences)
Havoth-jair. Havothjair, Havoth-jair. Havran .... (1.)Jair, the son of Manasseh,
took some villages of Gilead and called them by this name (Numbers 32:41)....
Havvoth-jair (5 Occurrences)
Havvoth-jair. Havvothjair, Havvoth-jair. Havvoth-ja'ir . Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia HAVVOTH-JAIR. hav-oth-ja'-ir...
Ja'ir (8 Occurrences)
Ja'ir.Jair, Ja'ir. Jairite .... Ja'ir (8 Occurrences). Numbers 32:41Jair the
son of Manasseh went and took its towns, and called them HavvothJair. (See RSV)...
Havvothjair
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HAVVOTH-JAIR. hav-oth-ja'-ir (chawwoth
ya'ir "the encampments" or "tent villages ofJair"; the King...
Elhanan (4 Occurrences)
... whose spear was like a weaver's beam"; while in the latter we are told, "And there
was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son ofJair slew Lahmi...
Havvoth (4 Occurrences)
... Havvoth (4 Occurrences). Numbers 32:41Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its
towns, and called them HavvothJair. (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV)....
Settlements (27 Occurrences)
... with fire. (DBY). Numbers 32:41Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its
towns, and called them HavvothJair. (See NIV). Numbers...
Resources
Who were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Jephthah? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Mordecai in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgBible Concordance •
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