Atomic Bible

Gileadite judge who led Israel

Jair

Named in 2 verses of Judges, first in Judges 10:3.

יָאִירJair

The name means “Jairus, my light; who diffuses light.” Hitchcock's Bible Names, 1869

About Jair Written by AI

Jair the Gileadite is introduced in Judges 10:3 to 5 as a judge who led Israel for twenty-two years. He came after Tola and was succeeded by Jephthah. Jair had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which were called Havvoth-jair. This suggests that Jair and his family held significant influence and power in the region. The text does not provide any further details about Jair's leadership or accomplishments during his time as a judge. After his death, Jair was buried in Kamon, a location likely within Gilead.

Drafted by an AI model for STEPBible's TIPNR (Tyndale House Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). Check it against the verses below.

Easton's Bible Dictionary, 1897

This entry is on the name Jair, and may cover more than one person or place by that name.

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.

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(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).

M. G. Easton, Illustrated Bible Dictionary, third edition (1897), public domain, from CrossWire. Shown as written; its Scripture quotes are from older translations.

GenesisMatthewRevelation

Where the Bible names him

  1. Judges 10:3

    Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

  2. Judges 10:5

    When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

From STEPBible's TIPNR, Tyndale House Cambridge (CC BY 4.0): names, family, references and the AI written article. Verse text is the BSB.