Judges 10:3-5 – Jair
Today we come to another of the “minor” judges, Jair. Jair judged Israel following Tola’s twenty-three year judgeship. Jair was a Gileadite, meaning he was from the half of the tribe of Manasseh who lived on the east side of the Jordan River. The twenty-two years of his judgeship must have been a prosperous time. That Jair had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys indicates that he had a great deal of wealth. Furthermore, that each of these sons controlled a city indicates great political power.
The cities controlled by Jair’s sons came to be known as Havvoth-Jair, that is “towns of Jair.” In Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 3, and Joshua 13, we find that there already were “towns of Jair” named for a man of Manasseh in the time of Moses who captured several villages in Bashan. To these were added in the same region thirty more towns that came to be known as Havvoth-Jair because they were controlled by Jair’s sons. One of these towns was likely Kamon, where Jair was buried when he died. Some Bible scholars believe it was during the judgeship of Jair that the events recorded in the Book of Ruth took place.
Though we know little of Jair, we know that the LORD was pleased to use him to maintain peace in the land for twenty-two years. May God continue to use many people of whom we may never hear, this side of heaven, to bring peace and prosperity to His Church.
Questions
- Why do we think Jair was wealthy?
- How do we know he had great power in society?
- How did God use Jair?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the preaching and hearing of God’s Word tomorrow.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters