Ira

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

IRA. 1. The Jairite who was kôhen or priest to David (  2 Samuel 20:26 ). His name is omitted from the original (?) passage in   2 Samuel 8:18 , and from the passage in   1 Chronicles 18:17 . ‘The Jairite’ denotes that he was of the Gileadite clan of the Jairites. The name probably means ‘the watchful.’ 2. The lthrite, one of David’s heroes (  2 Samuel 23:38 , where perhaps Ithrite should be Jattirite) . 3. The son of Ikkesh the Tekoite (  2 Samuel 23:26 ), another of David’s heroes.

W. F. Cobb.

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A Jairite and priest, a royal chaplain ( 2 Samuel 20:26 ) or confidential adviser (Compare  2 Samuel 8:18;  1 Chronicles 18:17 ).

Copyright Statement These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., DD Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

Bibliography Information Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Ira'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/i/ira.html. 1897.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

I'ra. (Watchful Of A City).

1. "The Jairite," named in the catalogue of David's great officers.  2 Samuel 20:26.

2. One of the heroes of David's guard.  2 Samuel 23:38;  1 Chronicles 11:40.

3. Another of David's guard, a Tekoite, son of Ikkesh.  2 Samuel 23:26;  1 Chronicles 11:28. (B.C. 1046-1014).

Morrish Bible Dictionary

1. A Jairite, one of David's chief officers.  2 Samuel 20:26 .

2. Son of Ikkesh a Tekoite, and one of David's mighty men.  2 Samuel 23:26;  1 Chronicles 11:28;  1 Chronicles 27:9 .

3. An Ithrite, one of David's mighty men.  2 Samuel 23:38 .  1 Chronicles 11:40 .

Holman Bible Dictionary

 2 Samuel 20:26 Numbers 32:41 1 Samuel 7:1 2 Samuel 8:18  2 Samuel 23:38 1 Chronicles 27:9

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ı̄´ra ( עירא , ‛ı̄rā ); Εἲρας , Eı́ras ):

(1) A person referred to in  2 Samuel 20:26 as "priest" (so the Revised Version (British and American) correctly; the King James Version "a chief ruler," the American Standard Revised Version "chief minister") unto David. The translation of the Revised Version (British and American) is the only possible one; but, according to the text, Ira was "a Jairite," and thus of the tribe of Manasseh (  Numbers 32:41 ) and not eligible to the priesthood. On the basis of the Peshitta some would correct "Jairite" of  2 Samuel 20:26 into "Jattirite," referring to Jattir, a priestly city within the territory of Judah (  Joshua 21:14 ). Others point to  2 Samuel 8:18 margin, "David's sons were priests," as an indication that in David's time some non-Levites were permitted to serve - in some sense - as priests.

(2) An "Ithrite," or (with a different pointing of the text) a "Jattirite," one of David's "thirty" ( 2 Samuel 23:38 parallel   1 Chronicles 11:40 ); possibly identical with (1).

(3) Another of David's "thirty," son of Ikkesh of Tekoa ( 2 Samuel 23:26;  1 Chronicles 11:28 ) and a captain of the temple guard ( 1 Chronicles 27:9 ).

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Ira', עַירָא , Citizen, otherwise Watchful; Sept Ι᾿Ράς , Ι᾿Ρά , ᾿Ωραί , Εἰρά ), the name of three of David's favorite officers.

1. Son of Ikkesh, a Tekoite, and one of David's thirty famous warriors ( 2 Samuel 23:26;  1 Chronicles 11:28). He was afterwards placed in command of the sixth regiment of his troops ( 1 Chronicles 27:9). B.C. 1046-1014.

2. A Jethrite, another of David's thirty chief heroes ( 2 Samuel 23:38;  1 Chronicles 11:40). B.C. 1046.

3. A Jairite and priest ( כֹּהֵן , A.V. "chief ruler"), i.e. royal chaplain ( 2 Samuel 20:26). B.C. cir. 1022. As he was not of the sacerdotal family, the Rabbins hold that he was only one of David's cabinet. See JAIR.