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Bible Encyclopedias
Jaare-Oregim
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Hebrew Yaarey' Oregim', אֹרְגַים יִעֲרֵי; Sept. Ἀριωργίμ , Vulg. Saltus polymitariuss), according to the present text of 2 Samuel 21:19, a Bethlehemite, and the father of Elhanan, who slew Goliath (the words "the brother of" are added in the A.Vers.). In the parallel passage (1 Chronicles 20:5), besides other differences. JAIR is found instead of Jaä re, and Oregin is omitted. Oregin is not elsewhere found as a proper name, nor is it a common word; and occurring as it does without doubt at the end of the verse (Auth.Vers. "weavers"), in a sentence exactly parallel to that in 1 Samuel 17:7, it is not probable that it should also occur in the middle of the same. The conclusion of Kennicott (Dissertation, p. 80) appears to be a just one-that in the latter place it has been interpolated from the former, and that Jair or Jaä r is the correct reading instead of Jaare. (See ELHANAN).
Still the agreement of the ancient versions with the present Hebrew text affords a certain corroboration to that text, and should not be overlooked. (See JAIR).
The Peshito, followed by the Arabic, substitutes for Jaä re-Oregim the name "Malaph the weaver," to the meaning of which we have no clew. The Targum, on the other hand, doubtless anxious to avoid any apparent contradiction of the narrative in 1 Samuel 17, substitutes David for Elhanan, Jesse for Jaä re, and is led by the word Oregin to relate or possibly to "invent a statement as to Jesse's calling" And David, son of Jesse, weaver of the veils of the house of the sanctuary. who was of Bethlehem, slew Goliath the Gittite." By Jerome Jaä re is literally translated "damask-weavers' grove" (compare Quaestionis Hebraica on both passages). In Josephus's account (Ant. 7, 12, 2) the Israelit-ish champion is said to have been "Nephan, the kinsman of David" (Νεφάνος ὁ συγγενὴς αὐτοῦ ); the word kinsman perhaps referring to the Jewish tradition of the identity of Jair and Jesse, or simply arising from the mention of Bethlehem. In the received Hebrew text Jaare is written with a small or suspended R, showing that in the opinion of the Masoretes that letter is uncertain. — Smith. The Jewish Midrashim generally identify David with Elhanan, and interpret Jaare-Oregim fancifully; e.g.
(1) as David's own name, "because he was great among the forest [of the] Oregim or Weavers [of the Law]; i.e. the Sanhedrim, who brought the Halachah (legal decisions) before him that he might weave it," as it were (Jalkut on 2 Samuel 21:19 sq.); or
(2) it is David's name as the son of a mother who "— wove veils for the sanctuary;" or
(3) as an epithet of Jesse. (See OREGIM).
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Jaare-Oregim'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/j/jaare-oregim.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
