Jair יָאִיר
Manassite leader who captured Gilead
Who is Jair in the Bible?
Jair was a Manassite leader who conquered and settled the region of Gilead east of the Jordan River during Israel's conquest period. According to Numbers 32:41 and Deuteronomy 3:14, he captured various settlements in Gilead and named them Havvoth-jair, meaning "the towns of Jair." First Chronicles 2:22 indicates that Jair controlled twenty-three cities in this region. The towns bearing his name remained significant enough to be referenced in Solomon's administrative districts centuries later (1 Kings 4:13), demonstrating that Jair's legacy as a territorial founder endured throughout Israel's history and served as a lasting marker of Manassite settlement east of the Jordan.
Biography
Jair was a descendant of Manasseh, the son of Joseph, who played a significant role in the conquest and settlement of the region east of the Jordan River. According to Num.32.41 and Deu.3.14, Jair captured the settlements in Gilead and named them Havvoth-jair, which means "the towns of Jair." 1Ch.2.22 states that Jair controlled twenty-three cities in Gilead. In 2Sa.20.26, a person named Ira the Jairite is mentioned as one of David's officials, possibly indicating that Jair's descendants continued to hold influential positions. 1Ki.4.13 refers to the towns of Jair in the context of Solomon's administrative districts, suggesting that the region remained associated with Jair's name long after his lifetime.
Family
In Scripture
5 biblical books ; 1 with study contentNumbers 1 verse
- Numbers 32:41
"Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair."
Deuteronomy 1 verse
- Deuteronomy 3:14
"Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He renamed Bashan after himself, Havvoth-jair, by which it is called to this day."
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1 Kings 1 verse
- 1 Kings 4:13
"Ben-geber in Ramoth-gilead (the villages of Jair son of Manasseh in Gilead belonged to him, as well as the region of Argob in Bashan with its sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars);"
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 2:22
"Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead."
2 Samuel 1 verse
- 2 Samuel 20:26
"and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יָאִיר | Jair , the name of four Israelites |
| Group | Hebrew | יָאִרִי | — |