Etymology and Meaning:
The name "Havvoth-jair" translates to "villages of Jair" in Hebrew. It is derived from the personal name Jair, which means "he enlightens" or "he shines." The term "Havvoth" refers to a group of villages or settlements.

Biblical References:
Havvoth-jair is mentioned in several passages in the Old Testament, primarily in the context of the territorial conquests and settlements of the Israelites. The primary references are found in the books of Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Judges.

1. Numbers 32:41 : "Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair."
2. Deuteronomy 3:14 : "Jair the son of Manasseh took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites. It was named after him, that is, Havvoth-jair, to this day."
3. Joshua 13:30 : "The territory from Mahanaim through all Bashan—all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, including all the towns of Jair in Bashan, sixty cities."
4. Judges 10:3-4 : "After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are called Havvoth-jair to this day."

Historical and Geographical Context:
Havvoth-jair was a group of villages located in the region of Gilead, east of the Jordan River. This area was part of the territory allotted to the half-tribe of Manasseh. The region is characterized by its fertile land and strategic location, which made it a valuable possession for the Israelites.

The conquest of these villages by Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, is significant in the narrative of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land. Jair's capture and naming of these villages reflect the broader theme of the Israelites establishing their presence and identity in the land given to them by God.

Cultural and Theological Significance:
The account of Havvoth-jair highlights the fulfillment of God's promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It underscores the importance of land inheritance in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The naming of the villages after Jair serves as a testament to his leadership and the legacy of the tribe of Manasseh in the region.

The mention of Jair's thirty sons and their governance over thirty towns in Judges 10:3-4 also illustrates the prosperity and stability that characterized this period of Israel's history. It reflects the blessings of God upon the people when they followed His commandments and the leadership He established.

Legacy and Later References:
The legacy of Havvoth-jair continued to be recognized in the biblical narrative, as the name persisted "to this day" in the time of the writing of these texts. The enduring name serves as a historical marker of the Israelite settlement and the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His promises to His people.HAVVOTH-JAIR

hav-oth-ja'-ir (chawwoth ya'ir "the encampments" or "tent villages of Jair"; the King James Version Havoth-Jair, ha-voth-ja'ir): The word chawwoth occurs only in this combination (Numbers 32:41 Deuteronomy 3:14 Judges 10:4), and is a legacy from the nomadic stage of Hebrew life. Jair had thirty sons who possessed thirty "cities," and these are identified with Havvoth-jair in Judges 10:3. The district was in Gilead (10:5; Numbers 32:41). In Deuteronomy 3:13, it is identified with Bashan and Argob; but in 1 Kings 4:13, "the towns of Jair" are said to be in Gilead; while to him also "pertained the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, threescore great cities with walls and brazen bars." There is evident confusion here. If we follow Judges 10:3, we may find a useful clue in 10:5. Kamon is named as the burial place of Jair. This probably corresponds to Kamun taken by Antiochus III, on his march from Pella to Gephrun (Polyb. v.70, 12). Schumacher (Northern `Ajlun, 137) found two places to the West of Irbid with the names Qamm and Qumeim (the latter a diminutive of the former) with ancient ruins. Qamm probably represents the Hebrew Qamon, so that Havvoth-jair should most likely be sought in this district, i.e. in North Gilead, between the Jordan Valley and Jebel ez-Zumleh.

W. Ewing

2334. Chavvoth Yair -- "tent villages of Jair," an area East of ...
... "tent villages of Jair," an area East of the Jordan. Transliteration: Chavvoth Yair
Phonetic Spelling: (khav-vothe' yaw-eer') Short Definition: Havvoth-jair. ...
/hebrew/2334.htm - 6kBashan-havvoth-jair
Bashan-havvoth-jair. Bashanhavvothjair, Bashan-havvoth-jair. Bashan's . Int. ...
BASHAN-HAVVOTH-JAIR. ba'-shan-hav'-oth-ja'-ir (bashan chawwoth ya'ir). ...
/b/bashan-havvoth-jair.htm - 6k

Havvothjair
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia HAVVOTH-JAIR. hav-oth-ja'-ir (chawwoth
ya'ir "the encampments" or "tent villages of Jair"; the King ...
/h/havvothjair.htm - 8k

Havvoth-jair (5 Occurrences)
Havvoth-jair. Havvothjair, Havvoth-jair. Havvoth-ja'ir . Int. ... (See JPS).
Havvothjair, Havvoth-jair. Havvoth-ja'ir . Reference Bible.
/h/havvoth-jair.htm - 9k

Jair (14 Occurrences)
... He was thus descended both from Judah and Manasseh. At the time of the conquest
he distinguished himself by taking the tent-villages HAVVOTH-JAIR (which see). ...
/j/jair.htm - 14k

Havvoth (4 Occurrences)
... Havvoth (4 Occurrences). Numbers 32:41 Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its
towns, and called them HavvothJair. (WEB JPS ASV BBE NAS NIV). ...
/h/havvoth.htm - 7k

Naming (21 Occurrences)
... brother. (BBE). Numbers 32:41 And Jair, the son of Manasseh, went and took
the towns of Gilead, naming them Havvoth-Jair. (BBE). Numbers ...
/n/naming.htm - 12k

Ja'ir (8 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ja'ir (8 Occurrences). Numbers 32:41 Jair the son of Manasseh
went and took its towns, and called them HavvothJair. (See RSV). ...
/j/ja'ir.htm - 8k

Descendant (32 Occurrences)
... sister. (See NIV). Numbers 32:41 Jair the son of Manasseh went and took its
towns, and called them HavvothJair. (See NIV). Deuteronomy ...
/d/descendant.htm - 15k

Bashanhavvothjair
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia BASHAN-HAVVOTH-JAIR. ba'-shan-hav'-
oth-ja'-ir (bashan chawwoth ya'ir). See HAVVOTH-JAIR. ...
/b/bashanhavvothjair.htm - 6k

Villages (106 Occurrences)
... (KJV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV). Numbers 32:41 And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took
the towns thereof, and called them Havvoth-jair. (See JPS RSV). ...
/v/villages.htm - 38k

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