Bible Dictionary
Jair
Jair was the name of several men, including a descendant who possessed towns in Gilead, an Israelite judge who ruled for twenty-two years, the father of Mordecai, and the father of Elhanan.
Definition
Jair was the name of several men. One Jair, descended from Judah and Manasseh, captured villages in Gilead that became known as Havoth-jair. Another was a judge of Israel for twenty-two years. Jair was also the father of Mordecai and the father of Elhanan.
Biblical Usage
The judge Jair had thirty sons who possessed thirty cities. The other men named Jair appear in genealogies, including the ancestry of Mordecai and Elhanan.
Historical Background
The first Jair was connected with the region of Gilead and Bashan and was descended through both Judah and Manasseh. The supplied material notes difficulty harmonizing the accounts of the two principal Jairs.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
Enlightener. (1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1 Chr. 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” (Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14; Josh. 13:30). (2.) The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His opulence is described in Judg. 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 Chr. 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 Chr. 20:5).
Smith's Bible Dictionary
(enlightener).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ja'-er:</p><p>(1) Jair (ya'ir, "he enlightens" or "one giving light"):</p><p>(a) Son, i.e. descendant of Manasseh (Nu 32:41; De 3:14; Jos 13:30; 1Ki 4:13; 1Ch 2:22 f). According to 1Ch 2:21 f 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 of Jud 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</p><p>(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 (Jud 10:3,4). One tradition identifies (a) and (b). Others reconcile the two narratives by interpreting the word "son" in a non-literal sense.</p><p>(c) The father of Mordecai (Es 2:5). In the Apocrypha (Additions to Esther 11:2) his name is given as "Jairus" (Iaeiros).</p><p>(2) Jair (Qere: ya`ir, "he arouses"; Kethibh: ya`ur; a different name from (1) above): The father of Elhanan, the giant-slayer (1Ch 20:5). In the parallel passage (2Sa 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.</p><p>James Crichton</p>