Bible Dictionaries
Jair

Holman Bible Dictionary

(jay' ir) Abbreviated place name meaning, “Jah shines forth.” 1. Son of Manasseh who took possession of a number of villages in Gilead (Numbers 32:41 ). See Judges 10:3-5 ). He was one of the so-called minor judges. His function probably was primarily judicial rather than military. He is described as having had thirty sons and thirty cities. At his death, he was buried in Camon. See Judges 3 . Father of Elhanan (1 Chronicles 20:5 ), whose name comes from a different Hebrew word possibly meaning, “Jah protects.” His name is Jaare-oregim in 2 Samuel 21:19 , though some translators would read the text “Jair of Bethlehem” (REB). 4. A Benjamite who was the ancestor of Mordecai, Esther's guardian (Esther 2:5 ).