Judges 10 5

Judges 10:5 kjv

And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

Judges 10:5 nkjv

And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

Judges 10:5 niv

When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Judges 10:5 esv

And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Judges 10:5 nlt

When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Judges 10 verses

Judges 10 5 Meaning

Judges 10:5 records the end of the leadership of Jair, one of the minor judges of Israel. It succinctly states his death and his burial place in Camon. This verse marks the conclusion of a period of leadership, often implying the close of an era of relative peace or stability for Israel, and it characteristically sets the stage for a potential spiritual decline and subsequent divine judgment within the repetitive cycle of the Book of Judges.

Judges 10 5 Context

Judges 10:5 provides the concluding statement for the judgeship of Jair, immediately following the brief account of his life and actions in verses 3-4. Jair, a Gileadite, judged Israel for twenty-three years and was notably prosperous, having thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts and ruled thirty towns in the region of Gilead, which were known as Havvoth-Jair. This verse is presented directly after his leadership period, highlighting the pattern found throughout the Book of Judges: a period of relative peace under a judge's leadership, followed by their death.

In the broader context of Judges chapter 10, the deaths of minor judges Tola (verse 2) and Jair (verse 5) bracket a crucial turning point. Immediately following Jair's death (verse 6), the Israelites are explicitly stated to have once again committed severe apostasy by serving various foreign deities, including the Baals, Ashtaroth, and the gods of several surrounding nations. This fresh wave of idolatry leads to severe oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites, setting the stage for the dramatic rise of Jephthah as the next deliverer. Historically and culturally, the period of the Judges was characterized by a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance due to the absence of centralized kingship ("every man did what was right in his own eyes," Jdg 21:25). The recording of specific burial places like Camon authenticates these accounts as rooted in particular historical landscapes, grounding the divine narrative within a tangible history of God's covenant people.

Judges 10 5 Word analysis

• And he died (וַיָּמָת - wayyāmat):
  • וַיָּמָת (wayyāmat): This is a Waw-consecutive followed by an imperfect Qal verb from the root מות (mut), meaning "to die." It indicates a sequential and completed action, signifying the ultimate cessation of life.
  • Significance: This stark and common phrase emphasizes the universality and finality of human mortality, even for those divinely appointed to lead. In Judges, it is often a pivot point, marking the end of a judge's period of influence and frequently preceding Israel's relapse into disobedience. The simplicity underscores that no human leadership is eternal; only God's sovereignty endures.
• and was buried (וַיִּקָּבֵר - wayyiqqāvēr):
  • וַיִּקָּבֵר (wayyiqqāvēr): This is a Waw-consecutive followed by an imperfect Niphal verb from the root קבר (qavar), meaning "to bury." The Niphal stem denotes a passive voice, indicating that others performed the burial rites for Jair.
  • Significance: Burial was an essential act in ancient Israel, signifying respect for the deceased and providing a sense of closure. Proper burial ensured one's entry into the realm of the dead with dignity. Its mention reinforces the historical reality of the account and reflects societal custom concerning the treatment of the dead.
• in Camon (בְּקָמוֹן - bᵉqāmôn):
  • בְּ (bᵉ): A common Hebrew preposition meaning "in" or "at."
  • קָמוֹן (Qamon): A proper noun identifying the specific geographic location. While its precise modern location is debated, it is believed to be in Gilead, east of the Jordan River, aligning with Jair's identity as a Gileadite.
  • Significance: The naming of a specific burial site grounds the narrative in historical and geographical reality, underscoring the historicity of the events and figures described. It emphasizes the importance of lineage and connection to the tribal land, even in death, reflecting the Israelites' deep-rooted connection to their inheritance promised by God.

• Words-group Analysis:
  • "And he died, and was buried": This standardized phrase serves as a formal closing statement for the lives of many Biblical figures, signifying the culmination of their earthly existence. In the Book of Judges, this phrase takes on a particular weight, consistently serving as a narrative turning point signaling the end of a judge's protective influence and often precipitating Israel's return to apostasy and subsequent cycles of divine judgment. It emphasizes the temporary nature of human deliverance in contrast to God's eternal covenant.
  • "in Camon": The inclusion of this specific geographical detail, typical for the accounts of the minor judges, adds an element of historical verisimilitude. For an ancient audience, knowing the exact place of burial for a prominent figure rooted the narrative in their shared understanding of the land and its historical markers. This detail, alongside information about Jair's lineage and extensive family (mentioned in Jdg 10:3-4), highlights the emphasis the biblical author places on historical fact and identity, even if comprehensive deeds of such judges are omitted.

Judges 10 5 Bonus section

• The meticulous recording of specific burial sites for the judges, even minor ones like Jair and Tola, strengthens the historical authenticity of the Book of Judges narratives, connecting the figures to specific tribal territories and reinforcing their existence as historical personages within the land of Israel.
• The pattern of a judge's prosperity or significant family (as with Jair's 30 sons riding on donkey colts, symbolizing authority and wealth) and their subsequent death without a designated successor from within their own family line underscores that judgeship was not a dynastic position but a charismatic calling directly from the LORD.
• Jair's burial in Camon, located in Gilead, firmly places his activities and sphere of influence east of the Jordan River, affirming the biblical text's detailed understanding of the varied tribal lands within Israel.

Judges 10 5 Commentary

Judges 10:5 is a concise epilogue to the account of Jair, functioning as a definitive mark of the end of his two decades of leadership. His death and burial in Camon conclude his narrative within the sequence of Israel's judges. While the brevity of his account suggests a period less marked by dramatic military victories compared to major judges, his significant prosperity, evidenced by thirty sons and thirty cities, points to an era of stable governance and peace. This verse, by declaring the completion of his life's tenure, adheres to the established literary pattern of the Book of Judges: a judge's death frequently acts as a catalyst for the Israelites' reversion to idolatry and subsequent suffering. Therefore, this seemingly simple statement implicitly foreshadows the renewal of Israel's faithlessness and the looming oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites that directly follows. It subtly highlights the transient nature of human deliverance and points to the enduring need for true devotion to the eternal God, rather than relying solely on human leaders.