Jair | |
|---|---|
יָאיר | |
| Predecessor | Tola |
| Successor | Jephthah |
In the Biblical Book of Judges, Yair (Hebrew: יָאִיר Yā’îr, "he enlightens") was a man from Gilead of the Tribe of Manasseh, east of the River Jordan, who judged Israel for 22 years, after the death of Tola, who had ruled of 23 years. His inheritance was in Gilead through the line of Machir, the son of Manasseh. Yair was the son of Segub, the son of Hezron through the daughter of Machir (1 Chronicles 2).
According to Judges 10:3–5, Yair had thirty sons, who rode thirty ass colts, and controlled 30 cities in Gilead which came to be known as Havoth-Yair (Judges 10:4; cf. 23 towns in 1 Chronicles 2:22). The word chawwoth ('tent encampments') occurs only in this context (Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; Judges 10:4).
Yair died and was buried in Camon (or Kamon). W. Ewing suggests that Kamon probably corresponds to Kamun taken by the Seleucid king Antiochus III, on his march from Pella to Gephrun (Polybius Book V.70:12). After his death there were 18 years of infidelity to the God of the Israelites and oppression at the hands of their Philistine and Ammonite neighbours.[1]
King David appointed a Yairite named Ira as his chief ruler or priest after Sheba's rebellion.[2]
See also
References
External links
- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
- "Book of Judges" article (Jewish Encyclopedia)
Jair | ||
| Preceded by Tola | Judge of Israel | Succeeded by Jephthah |