Who is…
Jair

Meaning: enlightener

This is the name of 4 biblical men.

  1. Jair, the son of Segub

    He is of the Tribe of Manasseh.

    He was raised 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).

  2. Jair, a judge

    This man is the 8th judge of Israel, which he ruled for 22 years.

    His opulence is described in Judges 10:3-5. He had 30 sons, each riding on “ass colts.”

    They had possession of 30 of the 60 cities which formed the ancient Havoth-jair (1 Kings 4:13; 1 Chronicles 2:23).

    He was buried in Kamon (aka Camon or Camoun).

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  3. Jair, father of Mordecai

    Jair is a Benjamite and the father Esther's uncle Mordecai (Esther 2:5).

  4. Jair, father of Elhanan

    He is also called Jaare-Oregim the Bethlehemite (aka Beth-lehemite or Bethlehemit). This term simply means that he is an inhabitant or native of Bethlehem, the town in the territory of Judah (southern Israel).

    He is the father of Elhanan who slew a giant named Lahmi/Goliath.

Article Version: March 26, 2026