Judges 10:4 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

Rode on ass colts, because horses were scarce there, and were not to be multiplied by the king himself, Deuteronomy 17:16. Hence their kings and kings children used to ride upon mules, 2 Samuel 13:29, 2 Samuel 18:9 1 Kings 1:33,38,39. Compare Judges 5:10, Judges 12:14. Havoth-jair. Object. These villages were called so before this time from another Jair, Numbers 32:41 Deuteronomy 3:14. Answ. They are not said to be now first called by that name, but to be still so called, because the old name was revived and confirmed upon this occasion; as Sheba is said to be called Beer-sheba, upon an occasion mentioned Genesis 26:33, though it was so called before upon a more ancient occasion, Genesis 21:31. Possibly this Jair had enlarged or fortified these towns, and so they were justly denominated from him, no less than from the former.

Judges 10:4

4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjairb unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.