King James Version
What Does Judges 10:4 Mean?
“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. Havothjair: or, the villages of Jair”
Context
2
And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3
And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
4
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. Havothjair: or, the villages of Jair
5
And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
6
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(4) **Had thirty sons.**—An indication of his rank and position, which assumed an ostentatious polygamy. (Comp. Judges 8:30.)
**That rode on thirty ass colts.**—Comp. Judges 5:10; see on Judges 12:14. Implying that Jair was able to bring up his numerous household in wealth. The horse was little used in Palestine—for which, indeed, it is little suited—till the days of Solomon (1Kings 4:26), and its introduction was always discouraged by the prophets (Deuteronomy 17:16; Joshua 11:6-9; Psalm 33:17, &c). There is a curious play of words on Jair (*yair*)*, *“ass-colts” (*ayārîm*)*, *and “cities,” which ought to be *arîm, *but is purposely altered for the sake of the paronomasia. (See on Judges 15:16.) Such plays on words in serious narratives point to a very early form of literature—but probably they then rose from some popular proverb. The LXX., like Josephus, writing for Gentiles, who did not understand the value attached to asses in Palestine, almost always euphemise the word into “colts,” or “foals” (*pōlous*)*, *which here enables them happily to keep up the play of words with “cities” (*poleis*)*.*
**Thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair.**—Havoth means villages (LXX., *epauleis*)*, *and since they are here called “cities,” and *thirty *are named, we must suppose that this Jair (if he was a different person from the other) had increased the number of the villages originally wrested from Og from twenty-three to thirty (Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; 1Chronicles 2:22. In the latter passage the Jair there mentioned is spoken of as a son of Segub, and a *great-grandson *of Manasseh).
**Unto this day.**—Judges 1:26.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Judges 10:4 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Judges 10:4
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge