And Ira the Jairite was David's priest. – 2 Samuel 20:26

Today's Scripture Reading (November 11, 2025): 2 Samuel 20

I ran into a former Pastor of mine at a recent funeral. He was an associate Pastor at a church I attended when I was a kid, and while I didn't interact with him much as a child, I know my parents did, and I remember being at his house for a barbecue at least once. I had seen him occasionally over the years, with some good memories and some not-so-good. As I walked toward him after the funeral, I wondered which of those times he might choose to remember. I smiled and introduced myself. He smiled and said, "Noooo." And we talked for a few minutes. It was a contact that I placed in the good column. I admit that I sometimes wonder if the people who served as Pastors over my independent spirit have any good memories of their time with me. I may never know the answer to that question, but it probably depends on the pastor you ask.

Ira was a Jairite, which indicated he was of the Tribe of Manasseh. The text says that he was David's priest. It seems likely that he was the successor to Ahitophel, David's advisor. In English, part of the struggle is with the NIV's use of the word "priest." The Hebrew word here is "kohen," which does mean "priest," so the NIV is not completely wrong, but legally, the priesthood of Israel was from the tribe of Levi, not the Tribe of Manasseh.

So, what do we do with Ira the Jairite? The King James Version uses the words "chief ruler" in the place of "priest," which is also appropriate. But maybe there's an even better solution.

There were men in Israel who were called "kohen" as an honorary title. These men were often wise, and although not legally priests, they were given the title as recognition of their role in people's spiritual lives. I need to be clear; they were not priests, they did not minister in the Tabernacle or, later, in the Temple, but they were essential to the religious life of the people around them. They were wise advisors who could shape the spiritual lives of the people in their circle of influence.

I believe that this was who Ira the Jairite was to David. He was an important advisor, maybe especially when it came to issues of spirituality. As a result, he had earned the title of "kohen."

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 21