Jair, a Gileadite

2022-04-11

And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. (Judges 10:3-5)

Jair ruled along with his sons; it seems he delegated his authority to them across these 30 cities. These sons rose 30 ass colts, which is reminiscent of our Lord, of whom it is written, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass” (Zechariah 9:9). These men represented peace in a time that was otherwise quite turbulent. Jair was a Gileadite, just as his successor Jephthah was. Jair’s legacy continued in the name of the cities, Havothjair.

This is a part of the Judges of Israel series. To go back to the table of contents, proceed here.