(Hebrew: enlightened)
(1) A contemporary of Moses, son of Segub. He was related to two of the most powerful families of Israel, through his paternal grandfather, Hesron, to the tribe of Juda, and on the maternal side to the tribe of Manasses (1Par. 2). Jair acquired glory in the conquest of the promised land, to the east of the Jordan. Placed at the head of valiant men, he conquered all the district of Argob, even to the borders of Machati (Deuteronomy 3). He took 23 cities in Galaad, and named them, Havoth Jair, or "villages of Jair" (Number 32). Among the pasterity of Jair are mentioned Ira the Jairite, priest of David (2 Kings 20) and Jair, a judge of Israel.
(2) Jair of Galaad, a judge of Israel during 22 years (Judges 10). He was a vigorous and suceessful leader, who kept such an approach to royal state, that, as Scripture says, his 30 sons rode like princes, on as many ass colts. Jair possessed in Galaad 30 cities, called Havoth Jair. These cities took their name from Jair, son of Segub, of whom Jair was probably a descendant. He was buried, in Camon.
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