The Meaning of 2 Samuel 20:26 Explained

2 Samuel 20:26

KJV: And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.

YLT: and also, Ira the Jairite hath been minister to David.

Darby: and Ira also, the Jairite, was David's chief ruler.

ASV: and also Ira the Jairite was chief minister unto David.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Ira  also the Jairite  was a chief ruler  about David. 

What does 2 Samuel 20:26 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Samuel 20:14-26 - One Head Saves Many
This wise woman, by her intervention, saved many lives, and reminds us of the value of presence of mind in a great crisis. She gave Joab to understand, first, that he ought to have given the inhabitants of Abel the opportunity of saying whether or not they intended to fight for Sheba, Deuteronomy 20:10, etc.; and, secondly, that he ought to have taken into account the peaceableness and fidelity of the citizens of that city. A great deal of misunderstanding and bloodshed would be prevented if contending parties would only confer with each other. There is crying and universal need for boards of compulsory arbitration.
Sheba's head saved the city. Bishop Hall says: "Spiritually the case is ours; every man's breast is a city enclosed; every sin is a traitor that lurks within the walls. If we love the head of one traitor above the life of our soul, we shall justly perish. We cannot be more willing to part with our sin than our merciful God is to withdraw His judgments." Oh, that every reader of these lines would heed the command of the Savior, Matthew 5:29-30, so as to enter into everlasting life! [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Samuel 20

1  By occasion of the quarrel, Sheba rebels in Israel
3  David's ten concubines are put in confinement for life
4  Amasa, made captain over Judah, is slain by Joab
14  Joab pursues Sheba to Abel
16  A wise woman saves the city by Sheba's head
23  David's officers

What do the individual words in 2 Samuel 20:26 mean?

and Ira the Jairite was a chief minister under David -
וְגַ֗ם עִירָא֙ הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י הָיָ֥ה כֹהֵ֖ן לְדָוִֽד ס

עִירָא֙  Ira 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עִירָא  
Sense: the Jairite, one of David’s great officers.
הַיָּ֣אִרִ֔י  the  Jairite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָאִרִי  
Sense: a descendant of Jair.
כֹהֵ֖ן  a  chief  minister 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
לְדָוִֽד  under  David 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation