And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was David’s personal priest.
Parallel translations
- WEB and Ira the Jairite was chief minister to David.
- KJV And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.
- BSB and Ira the Jairite was David’s priest.
- NKJV and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David.
- NASB Ira the Jairite also was a priest to David.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Ira the Jairite served as David's chief minister or priest. It matters because it completes the list of David's restored officials.
Overview
Ira's role, described as chief minister to David, closes the summary of the king's administration. The exact nature of his office is debated, possibly a personal priest or royal advisor. The verse concludes the chapter by affirming that David's reign had been fully reestablished after the turmoil.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- 2 Sam 23:38Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
- Exod 2:14He said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you plan to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian?” Moses was afraid, and said, “Surely this thing is known.”
- Judg 10:4–5He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
- 2 Sam 8:18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, David’s sons were chief ministers.
- 1 Chr 11:40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
- 2 Chr 35:15The singers the sons of Asaph were in their place, according to the commandment of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer; and the porters were at every gate. They didn’t need to depart from their service, because their brothers the Levites prepared for them.
- Gen 41:45Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
- Exod 24:11He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw God, and ate and drank.
- Gen 41:43and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt.
- Exod 2:16Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father’s flock.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 20:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.