Ira

IRA i'-ra (`ira'; Eiras):

(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).

F. K. Farr

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Bibliography Information

Orr, James, M.A., D.D. General Editor. "Entry for 'IRA'".  "International Standard Bible Encyclopedia".  1915.