Meaning
Jair enlightener. (1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1Chr 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" (Num 32:41; Deut 3:14; Josh 13:30).
(2.) The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His opulence is described in Judg 10:3-5. He had thirty sons, each riding on "ass colts." They had possession of thirty of the sixty cities (1Kings 4:13; 1Chr 2:23) which formed the ancient Havoth-jair.
(3.) A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther's uncle (Esther 2:5).
(4.) The father of Elhanan, who slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath (1Chr 20:5).
