דברי הימים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק כ״ג

The changing borders and struggles for control over the eastern side of the Jordan River are deeply embedded within the family records of the tribe of Manasseh. Large stretches of land that once belonged to the Israelites were lost to neighboring nations, highlighting the close connection between land ownership and the complex family lines of the region's inhabitants. The neighboring nations of Geshur and Aram, located to the east and northeast of the land of Israel, invaded the area and captured its cities [רש"י, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This conquest took place during the era of the Judges. Because of the Israelites' sins, God handed them over to their Aramean enemies, cutting short their rule over the region. These lands would only return to Israelite control much later, during the reign of King David [רש"י, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The conquered territories included unwalled towns and rural villages [מצודת ציון]. These settlements were named after Jair, following the pattern of an earlier Jair from the tribe of Manasseh, who also captured numerous cities and named them after himself [מצודת דוד]. These specific towns were seized from Jair's sons and grandsons after his death [רד"ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם]. In addition to these towns, the invaders captured Kenath and its surrounding communities, which together formed a larger district of sixty cities [מצודת דוד, מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. While earlier records indicate that Jair held only twenty-three cities, this smaller number refers strictly to the large, central cities. The total count of sixty encompasses all the smaller, surrounding unwalled towns and farming villages [רד"ק].

The historical record concludes by connecting these regional shifts to Machir, the father of Gilead. The primary approach among commentators is that this final summary refers to the sixty cities, noting that they belonged to the descendants of Machir's daughter [רד"ק, מצודת דוד]. Others, however, explain that it refers directly to the people—specifically individuals like Segub, Jair, and their descendants. According to this view, they traced their lineage back to Machir through their mother, and it was through his standing that they received their land in the region of Gilead [מלבי"ם, רלב"ג]. Ultimately, this specific branch of the family is highlighted to emphasize the relationship of Machir, who was the father-in-law of Hezron [ביאור שטיינזלץ].