Jair [N] [H] [S]

enlightener. 

• The son of Segub. He was brought up with his mother in Gilead, where he had possessions ( 1 Chronicles 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" ( Numbers 32:41 ;  Deuteronomy 3:14 ;  Joshua 13:30 ). 

   

• The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His opulence is described in Judges 10:3-5 . He had thirty sons, each riding on "ass colts." They had possession of thirty of the sixty cities ( 1 Kings 4:13 ;  1 Chronicles 2:23 ) which formed the ancient Havoth-jair. 

   

• A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther's uncle ( Esther 2:5 ). 

   

• The father of Elhanan, who slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath ( 1 Chronicles 20:5 ). 

   

  These dictionary topics are from
  M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
  published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.