Jair

Jair [N] [H] [S]

enlightener.

  • 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 ).

  • The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His opulence is described in Judges 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.

  • A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther's uncle ( Esther 2:5 ).

  • The father of Elhanan, who slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath ( 1 Chronicles 20:5 ).

    These dictionary topics are from
    M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
    published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.

    [N] indicates this entry was also found in Nave's Topical Bible
    [H] indicates this entry was also found in Hitchcock's Bible Names
    [S] indicates this entry was also found in Smith's Bible Dictionary

    Bibliography Information

    Easton, Matthew George. "Entry for Jair". "Easton's Bible Dictionary". .