Judges 10:4 - Printer Friendly

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.

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

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

CSB: He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. They had thirty towns in Gilead, which are still called Jair's Villages today.

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.

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.

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.

The most striking detail provided about the judge known as Jair the Gileadite is that he had thirty sons. Each rode on a donkey and ruled over a city of his own. Some scholars suggest these were not literal biological sons, but younger men described that way because of the leadership role Jair played in their lives. In any case, all thirty men answered closely to Jair, since their towns were part of a network known as "Havvoth-Jair" or "The Settlements of Jair."

Jair was apparently a wealthy man, and perhaps blessed abundantly by God with many offspring. His time may have been marked by peacefulness and order since his sons all rode on donkeys—animals unsuited to war (Matthew 21:1–5)—instead of being described as participating in conflict or battle.

Judges 10:1–5 describes a period between Abimelech's atrocities and Israel's return to serving false gods. Little information is given about the two judges who arise during this time. Tola, from Issachar, saves Israel in some way and rules for twenty-three years. Jair rules from Gilead for twenty-two years, along with his thirty sons, who rule over thirty different towns. That area of Gilead is known by a name meaning "the settlements of Jair."

Two more judges, Tola and Jair, rescue Israel for a time. Little detail is given about either. Once again, the people return to idolatry and depraved sins (Deuteronomy 12:29–31). In response, God submits His people to the Ammonites and Philistines. After eighteen years, they confess and beg for mercy. God bluntly refuses, this time. And yet, Israel shows humble repentance, getting rid of their idols. As God prepares to save the people, an army of Israelites in Gilead gathers to face an army of Ammonites. But the Israelite army lacks a leader.

After Gideon rescued Israel (Judges 6—8), his son, Abimelech, murdered his siblings and became a despotic ruler (Judges 9). That ended with further tragedy and bloodshed. Judges 10 begins with a brief description of two judges who ruled after the time of Abimelech. Then Israel falls further than ever into the worship of false gods. Nearly two decades after God turns the people over to their enemies, they confess their sinfulness. The Ammonites encamp against Israel in Gilead. The leaders of Gilead search for someone to lead them in battle. Chapter 11 details the call and success of the next judge, Jephthah.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).

Accessed 4/28/2024 10:07:39 AM