Judges 10 4

Judges 10:4 kjv

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.

Judges 10:4 nkjv

Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called "Havoth Jair" to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

Judges 10:4 niv

He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair.

Judges 10:4 esv

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

Judges 10:4 nlt

His thirty sons rode around on thirty donkeys, and they owned thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are still called the Towns of Jair.

Judges 10 verses

Judges 10 4 Meaning

Judges 10:4 describes Jair, one of the minor judges of Israel, detailing his significant status, wealth, and widespread influence. He presided over Israel, maintaining a degree of order for 22 years. The verse highlights his prosperity through his thirty sons, each riding on an ass colt and governing one of the thirty cities known as Havoth-jair. This paints a picture of a decentralized yet organized leadership structure under Jair, with his family holding considerable sway across a substantial region in Gilead, confirming the historical longevity of his legacy.

Judges 10 4 Context

Judges 10 begins after the minor judge Tola of Issachar, who judged Israel for 23 years. Following Tola, Jair the Gileadite arises and judges Israel for 22 years. The period of the Judges, often characterized by the cycle of apostasy, oppression, crying out to God, and deliverance by a judge, sees short periods of rest and peace during the terms of these "minor judges." These judges, while perhaps not leading large military campaigns like Deborah or Gideon, provided significant stability and administration in their regions. Verse 4 elaborates on Jair's notable status and influence within the tribe of Manasseh in Gilead. His family's prosperity and control over 30 cities indicate a measure of organized governance during his tenure, before the narrative turns to renewed apostasy and the oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites.

Judges 10 4 Word analysis

• And he had thirty sons: This signifies considerable wealth, influence, and a large, prestigious family. In ancient Israelite culture, having many sons was considered a great blessing and a source of strength. This number (thirty) suggests a significant extension of his authority through his direct lineage.

• that rode on thirty ass colts: "Ass colts" (Hebrew: 'ayarim) were young, unbroken donkeys. While not horses (which became symbols of military power, often associated with kings and foreign armies), riding an ass was a symbol of nobility, peaceful leadership, and affluence in the early biblical period (pre-Solomon's equestrian expansion). The fact that each of his sons had one suggests individual status and independent spheres of influence. Donkeys were crucial for transportation, trade, and even warfare in certain capacities, indicating economic and social prominence.

• and they had thirty cities: These "cities" (Hebrew: 'arim) would have been smaller settlements, likely walled towns or fortified villages, not necessarily large metropolitan areas. This detail highlights that Jair's sons were not just symbolic figures; they each had direct administrative control and responsibility over a territorial unit, implying a decentralized form of governance where his family held significant power bases across Gilead. This suggests Jair had established a family-based political network.

• which are called Havoth-jair: "Havoth-jair" (Hebrew: Hawwoth Ya'ir) literally means "the tent villages of Jair" or "Jair's tent encampments." This name harks back to an earlier historical figure named Jair (Num 32:41; Deut 3:14), who was also from the tribe of Manasseh and had conquered and named towns in the region. This phrase connects the current Judge Jair to a long-standing family legacy and historical claim over this specific region, validating the geographic reference. It indicates a semi-nomadic, rural character of the settlements, reflecting agricultural life.

• to this day: This common biblical phrase ('ad hayyom hazzeh) serves as an authenticator and literary device. It signifies that the name and the historical memory of Jair's influence endured well beyond the immediate time of the judge, extending to the time the Book of Judges was being compiled or written. It validates the longevity and truthfulness of the historical account, indicating that the impact of Jair and his family was still visible generations later.

• which are in the land of Gilead: Gilead was a fertile, mountainous region east of the Jordan River, primarily inhabited by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. This geographic detail situates Jair's influence precisely, connecting his narrative to the specific tribal allotments and historical context of Transjordanian Israel. It suggests a strong regional identity and power base for Jair.

• thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities: This repeated number "thirty" (or a count associated with "thirty") underscores a high level of organizational consistency, vastness of the family's network, and wealth. It speaks to a considerable sphere of influence that extended throughout a wide area, suggesting a robust and relatively stable period of local governance. This also hints at a potentially problematic pattern of dynastic succession, where the judgeship was effectively kept within one family, contrary to the typical non-hereditary nature of judges.

Judges 10 4 Bonus section

The number "thirty" itself carries a connotation of completeness or significant measure in ancient near eastern contexts. In the Bible, it's frequently found in counts related to lineage, years, or strength. Here, it suggests not just a literal count, but a well-established and powerful network. The description of Jair's family structure (sons having specific roles, possessing specific assets like donkeys, and governing specific locations) may be subtly contrasting the Israelite model of a "judge" (a charismatic, temporary, divinely appointed deliverer) with a more quasi-dynastic, regionally based, chieftain-like rule common in surrounding cultures. This highlights the fluidity and variety of leadership types emerging in Israel before the monarchy. The mention of Havoth-jair's previous association with an earlier Jair (from the time of Moses, Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 3) also underscores a unique characteristic of this specific family: a consistent, deep-rooted presence and legacy within that geographic area, unlike many other judges whose origins might not be tied to named places in the same enduring way. This continuity may suggest a form of traditional authority.

Judges 10 4 Commentary

Judges 10:4 concisely details the prosperity and reach of Jair the Gileadite. His leadership was marked by significant personal wealth, evident in his numerous sons, each owning a distinct mark of status—the ass colt. This was a clear sign of high social standing and affluence, predating the widespread use of warhorses by Israelite kings. The thirty cities under their jurisdiction signify a widespread, albeit decentralized, control, hinting at an administrative network sustained by familial influence rather than direct, centralized rule. This verse describes a period of stability, likely marked by local prosperity, under a family that had deep, ancestral roots in the region of Gilead, as confirmed by the enduring name "Havoth-jair." While this appears beneficial, the emphasis on family lineage and distributed control, rather than direct, God-appointed leadership over all Israel, reflects the fragmented nature of leadership during the period of the Judges and potentially foreshadows the challenges Israel faced with localized authority often serving personal gain.