IRA

(Iʹra) [Full-Grown Ass].

1. A Jairite listed among King David’s leading officers as “a priest of David.” (2Sa 20:26) Ira perhaps was a descendant of the Jair mentioned at Numbers 32:41, and therefore, in this case the designation “priest” may signify “chief minister,” “prince.” There is no Biblical evidence that the Jairites were Levites. However, if the reading of the Syriac Peshitta is correct, Ira may have been a priest from the Levite city of Jattir (Jathir).​—Compare 2Sa 8:18; 1Ch 6:57; 18:17.

2. Son of Ikkesh the Tekoite; one of the mighty men of King David’s military forces.​—2Sa 23:24, 26; 1Ch 11:26, 28.

3. An Ithrite; another of King David’s mighty men.​—2Sa 23:38; 1Ch 11:40.