1 Chronicles 2:23
New International Version
(But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements—sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.

New Living Translation
(But Geshur and Aram captured the Towns of Jair and also took Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.

English Standard Version
But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, Kenath, and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, the father of Gilead.

Berean Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead.

King James Bible
And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

New King James Version
(Geshur and Syria took from them the towns of Jair, with Kenath and its towns—sixty towns.) All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

New American Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram took the villages of Jair from them, with Kenath and its villages, sixty settlements. All of these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

NASB 1995
But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

NASB 1977
But Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram took Havvoth-jair from them, with Kenath and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

Amplified Bible
But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, with Kenath and its villages, sixty towns in all. All these were the sons (descendants) of Machir, the father of Gilead.

Christian Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram captured Jair’s Villages along with Kenath and its surrounding villages—sixty towns. All these were the descendants of Machir father of Gilead.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram captured Jair’s Villages along with Kenath and its villages—60 towns. All these were the sons of Machir father of Gilead.

American Standard Version
And Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages thereof, even threescore cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

Contemporary English Version
Some time later the nations of Geshur and Aram captured 60 towns in that region, including the villages that belonged to Jair, as well as the town of Kenath and the nearby villages. Everyone from the region of Gilead was a descendant of Machir.

English Revised Version
And Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages thereof, even threescore cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair with Kenath and its villages

Good News Translation
But the kingdoms of Geshur and Aram conquered sixty towns there, including the villages of Jair and Kenath, and the towns nearby. All the people who lived there were descendants of Machir, the father of Gilead.

International Standard Version
But Geshur and Aram took 60 towns from Gilead, including Havvoth-jair and Kenath, along with their villages. All these were descendants of Machir, who fathered Gilead.

Majority Standard Bible
But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead.

NET Bible
(Geshur and Aram captured the towns of Jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding towns.) All these were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.

New Heart English Bible
Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Makir the father of Gilead.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath and its towns, even sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

World English Bible
Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he takes Geshur and Aram, the small villages of Jair, from them, with Kenath and its small towns, sixty cities—all these [belonged to] the sons of Machir father of Gilead.

Young's Literal Translation
and he taketh Geshur and Aram, the small villages of Jair, from them, with Kenath and its small towns, sixty cities -- all these belonged to the sons of Machir father of Gilead.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will take Geshur and Aram, with the villages of Jair from them, with Kenath and its daughters sixty cities. All these the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he took Gessur, and Aram the towns of Jair, and Canath, and the villages thereof, threescore cities. All these, the sons of Machir father of Galaad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he seized Geshur and Aram, towns of Jair, and Kenath and its villages, sixty cities. All these were sons of Machir, father of Gilead.

New American Bible
Geshur and Aram took from them the villages of Jair, that is, Kenath and its towns, sixty cities in all, which had belonged to the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead.

New Revised Standard Version
But Geshur and Aram took from them Havvoth-jair, Kenath and its villages, sixty towns. All these were descendants of Machir, father of Gilead.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb's land, Ephrath, then his wife, bore him Eshtawir the father of Tekoa.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Geshur and Aram took Havvoth-jair from them, with Kenath, and the villages thereof, even threescore cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he took Gedsur and Aram, the towns of Jair from them; with Canath and its towns, sixty cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Galaad.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Sons of Israel
22Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead. 24After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore to him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.…

Cross References
Numbers 32:39-42
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there. / So Moses gave Gilead to the clan of Machir son of Manasseh, and they settled there. / Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured their villages and called them Havvoth-jair. ...

Deuteronomy 3:14
Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites. He renamed Bashan after himself, Havvoth-jair, by which it is called to this day.

Joshua 13:13
but the Israelites did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites. So Geshur and Maacath dwell among the Israelites to this day.

Judges 10:3-5
Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who 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 to this day are called Havvoth-jair. / When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

2 Samuel 8:2
David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute.

2 Samuel 8:12
from Edom and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

2 Kings 10:33
from the Jordan eastward through all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh), and from Aroer by the Arnon Valley through Gilead to Bashan.

2 Kings 15:29
In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came and captured Ijon, Abel-beth-maacah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali, and he took the people as captives to Assyria.

1 Chronicles 5:18-22
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 warriors—valiant men who carried the shield and sword, drew the bow, and were trained for battle. / They waged war against the Hagrites, as well as Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. / And because they cried out to God in battle, they were helped against their enemies, and the Hagrites and all their allies were delivered into their hands. Because they put their trust in God, He answered their prayers. ...

1 Chronicles 6:71-76
The Gershomites received the following: From the clan of the half-tribe of Manasseh they were given Golan in Bashan and also Ashtaroth, together with their pasturelands. / From the tribe of Issachar they were given Kedesh, Daberath, / Ramoth, and Anem, together with their pasturelands. ...

1 Chronicles 7:14
The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel through his Aramean concubine. She also gave birth to Machir the father of Gilead.

1 Chronicles 7:29
And along the borders of Manasseh were Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

1 Chronicles 18:2
David also defeated the Moabites, and they became subject to David and brought him tribute.

Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:

Matthew 4:13-16
Leaving Nazareth, He went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the sea in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, / to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: / “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles— ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even three score cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

Geshur.

Joshua 13:13
Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.

2 Samuel 13:38
So Absalom fled, and went to Geshur, and was there three years.

Kenath.

1 Chronicles 8:11
And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.

Jump to Previous
Aram Belonged Captured Cities Dependent Descendants Geshur Gilead Havvoth Havvoth-Jair Jair Kenath Machir Makir Places Settlements Sixty Small Surrounding Thereof Threescore Towns Villages
Jump to Next
Aram Belonged Captured Cities Dependent Descendants Geshur Gilead Havvoth Havvoth-Jair Jair Kenath Machir Makir Places Settlements Sixty Small Surrounding Thereof Threescore Towns Villages
1 Chronicles 2
1. The sons of Israel.
3. The posterity of Judah by Tamar.
13. The children of Jesse.
18. The posterity of Caleb the son of Hezron.
21. Hezron's posterity by the daughter of Machir.
25. Jerahmeel's posterity.
34. Sheshan's posterity.
42. Another branch of Caleb's posterity.
50. The posterity of Caleb the son of Hur.














But Geshur and Aram
The mention of "Geshur and Aram" refers to two distinct regions or peoples. Geshur was a small Aramean kingdom located in the region of Bashan, northeast of the Sea of Galilee. Aram, often associated with the Arameans, was a larger region that included parts of modern-day Syria. Historically, these regions were known for their interactions and conflicts with Israel. The capture by Geshur and Aram signifies a period of territorial loss for the Israelites, highlighting the constant struggle for land and dominance in the ancient Near East.

captured Havvoth-jair
"Havvoth-jair" translates to "villages of Jair." Jair was a descendant of Manasseh, and he had previously captured these towns, naming them after himself (Numbers 32:41). The capture of these villages by Geshur and Aram indicates a reversal of fortune and serves as a reminder of the transient nature of human achievements. It underscores the biblical theme that earthly possessions and victories are temporary and subject to change.

from them
This phrase indicates that the territories were taken from the Israelites, specifically from the descendants of Machir. It reflects the ongoing conflict and the shifting control of land in the biblical narrative. The loss serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the importance of faithfulness to God's covenant.

along with Kenath and its surrounding villages
"Kenath" was another city in the region of Bashan. The inclusion of Kenath and its surrounding villages in the capture highlights the extent of the loss. Historically, Kenath was a significant city, and its capture would have been a considerable blow to the Israelites. This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the defeat and the strategic importance of these locations.

sixty towns in all
The number "sixty" signifies the totality of the loss. In biblical numerology, numbers often carry symbolic meaning. Sixty, being a multiple of six, can represent completeness in terms of human effort or achievement. The mention of sixty towns underscores the magnitude of the loss and serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of turning away from God.

All these were descendants of Machir
Machir was the firstborn son of Manasseh, Joseph's son. The descendants of Machir were known as warriors and were given the land of Gilead (Numbers 32:39-40). This phrase highlights the heritage and legacy of Machir's lineage, emphasizing the loss of land that was once a divine inheritance. It serves as a call to remember the faithfulness of previous generations and the importance of maintaining that legacy.

the father of Gilead
"Gilead" refers to both a person and a region east of the Jordan River. As the "father of Gilead," Machir is recognized as the progenitor of a significant clan within the tribe of Manasseh. The mention of Gilead ties the narrative to the broader history of Israel's settlement in the Promised Land. It serves as a reminder of God's promises and the responsibility of each generation to uphold their covenant relationship with Him.

(23) And he took . . . of Gilead.--Rather, And Geshur and Aram took the Havoth-jair from them--Kenath and her daughters, sixty cities: all these (were) sons of Machir, chief of Gilead.

Geshur, and Aram.--That is, the Aramean state of Geshur, north-west of Bashan, near Hermon and the Jordan, which was an independent kingdom in the age of David (2Samuel 3:3). The Geshurites "took the tent-villages of Jair from them"--i.e., from the sons of Jair, or the Jairites, at what date is unknown. Comp. Deuteronomy 3:14-15, above cited.

With Kenath.--The Hebrew particle before "Kenath" may be either the sign of the object of the verb, or the preposition "with." In the latter case, the statement of the verse will be that the twenty-three villages of Jair, together with the (thirty-seven) places called Kenath and her daughters, amounting in all to sixty towns, were taken by the Geshurites. See Numbers 32:41-42, where it is said that Jair occupied the Havoth-jair, and "Nobah went and took Kenath and her daughters, and called it Nobah after his own name." Kenath is the modern Kanwat, on the western slope of Jebel Hauran.

It is difficult to reconcile all the different statements about the Havoth-jair. Judges 10:3-4, for example, speaks of Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty -two years, and "had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts," and, moreover, possessed "thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day." Joshua 13:30 seems to make the Havoth-jair sixty towns. Comp. 1Kings 4:13; also 1Chronicles 2:21, where Hezron is sixty when he marries the Gileadite daughter of Machir. . . .

Verse 23. - Geshur was a small district between Argob and Bashan; and Aram, commonly translated Syria, i.e. the ancient Syria, viz. the territory of Damascus. Kenath, rechristened by its subduer Nobah (Numbers 32:42), and retaining this name at the time of Gideon, and Zeba and Sahnunnah subsequently vindicated the life of its old name, and regained it, replaced in the present day by Kenawat. And the towns thereof; Hebrew literally, her daughters; i.e. the small, subordinate groups of people (Numbers 21:25, "All the villages thereof," literally, daughters). All these belonged to the sons of Machir, the father of Gilead, might perhaps be open to the translation, "All these were the possessions of Machir, the possessor of Gilead."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Geshur
גְּשֽׁוּר־ (gə·šūr-)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1650: Geshur -- a territory East of the upper Jordan, also inhabitants of Geshur

and Aram
וַ֠אֲרָם (wa·’ă·rām)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 758: Aram -- Syria

captured
וַיִּקַּ֣ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

Havvoth-Jair,
יָאִ֧יר (yā·’îr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 2971: Jair -- 'he enlightens', three Israelites

along with
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

Kenath
קְנָ֥ת (qə·nāṯ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7079: Kenath -- a city East of the Jordan

and its sixty
שִׁשִּׁ֣ים (šiš·šîm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 8346: Sixty

surrounding villages.
בְּנֹתֶ֖יהָ (bə·nō·ṯe·hā)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

All
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

these [were]
אֵ֕לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

descendants
בְּנֵ֖י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Machir
מָכִ֥יר (mā·ḵîr)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4353: Machir -- two Israelites

the father
אֲבִי־ (’ă·ḇî-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1: Father

of Gilead.
גִלְעָֽד׃ (ḡil·‘āḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites


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OT History: 1 Chronicles 2:23 Geshur and Aram took the towns (1 Chron. 1Ch iCh i Ch 1 chr 1chr)
1 Chronicles 2:22
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