- JAHDAI grasper, a descendant of Caleb, of the family of Hezron (1
Chronicles 2:47). - JAHZEEL allotted by God, the first of the sons of Naphtali (Genesis
46:24). - JAHZERAH returner, the son of Meshullam, and father of Adiel (1
Chronicles 9:12). - JAILER (of Philippi), Acts 16:23. The conversion of the Roman jailer, a
man belonging to a class “insensible as a rule and hardened by habit, and
also disposed to despise the Jews, who were the bearers of the message of
the gospel,” is one of those cases which illustrate its universality and
power. - JAIR enlightener. (1.) The son of Segub. He was brought up with his
mother in Gilead, where he had possessions (1 Chronicles 2:22). He
distinguished himself in an expedition against Bashan, and settled in the
part of Argob on the borders of Gilead. The small towns taken by him
there are called Havoth-jair, i.e., “Jair’s villages” (Numbers 32:41;
Deuteronomy 3:14; Joshua 13:30).
(2.) The eighth judge of Israel, which he ruled for twenty-two years. His
opulence is described in Judges 10:3-5. He had thirty sons, each riding on
“ass colts.” They had possession of thirty of the sixty cities (1 Kings
4:13; 1 Chronicles 2:23) which formed the ancient Havoth-jair.
(3.) A Benjamite, the father of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle (Esther 2:5).
(4.) The father of Elhanan, who slew Lahmi, the brother of Goliath (1
Chronicles 20:5).