Judges 10:4

Translations

Modern

He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.

Traditional

And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth–jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

Literal

And there were unto him thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and thirty towns unto him, which are called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

Latin

…habens triginta filios sedentes super triginta pullos asinarum, et principes triginta civitatum, quæ ex nomine ejus sunt appellatæ Havoth Jair, id est, oppida Jair, usque in præsentem diem, in terra Galaad.

Original

Hebrew

English

He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.

Notes

Judges 10:3–4

Jair was likely a descendant of an earlier Jair from the tribe of Manasseh (see Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; compare 1 Kings 4:13). The Towns of Jair, which Jair and his sons controlled, were conquered by the earlier Jair.

Judges 10:1–5

Each of the five minor judges (see also Isaiah 12:8–15) led Israel for a set number of years. During this time after Gideon, the phrase the land had rest for forty years (Judges 3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28) does not appear again. The details about these mysterious figures include their birthplaces and burial sites, and sometimes a brief family history or notable family traits. Four of the five names are found in other family records:

Tola and Puah are clans of Issachar (Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23)
Elon is a descendant of Zebulun (Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26)
Jair is mentioned in several places (see Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; Joshua 13:30; 1 Kings 4:13)

The absence of specific military achievements and the frequent mention of “judging” suggest they had administrative or judicial roles.

Theme notes and profiles

Moab and Ammon

Events

Judgeship of Jair

Related verses

Numbers 32:41
Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair.
Judges 12:14
He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.
Judges 5:10
You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder
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.

Places

Gilead: Mountainous region east of Jordan; tribal territory and personal name Havvoth-jair: Villages in Gilead captured by Jair

Glossary

Gilead (Place) Havoth-Jair, Havvoth-Jair Jair Judges, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Mizpah

Topics

Havoth-Jair: Certain Villages East of the Jordan River Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Jair for Twenty-Two Years Jair: A Judge of Israel Judge: Jair the Domestic Donkey: Persons of Rank Rode On

Judges 10:4

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