1Tola rose up to save Israel. That happened after the time of Abimelek. Tola was from the tribe of Issachar. He was the son of Puah, who was the son of Dodo. Tola lived in Shamir. It’s in the hill country of Ephraim.2Tola led Israel for 23 years. After he died, he was buried in Shamir.
Jair
3Jair became the leader after Tola. Jair was from the land of Gilead. He led Israel for 22 years.4He had 30 sons. They rode on 30 donkeys. His sons controlled 30 towns in Gilead. Those towns are called Havvoth Jair to this day.5After Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.
Jephthah
6Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They served gods that were named Baal. They served female gods that were named Ashtoreth. They worshipped the gods of Aram and Sidon. They served the gods of Moab and Ammon. They also worshipped the gods of the Philistines. The Israelites deserted the LORD. They didn’t serve him anymore.7So the LORD became very angry with them. He handed them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites.8That year they broke Israel’s power completely. They treated the Israelites badly for 18 years. The people who did this lived east of the River Jordan. They lived in Gilead. That was the land of the Amorites.9The Ammonites also went across the Jordan. They crossed over to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. Israel was suffering terribly.10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said, ‘We have sinned against you. We have deserted our God. We have served gods that are named Baal.’11The LORD replied, ‘The Egyptians and Amorites treated you badly. So did the Ammonites and Philistines.12And so did the Amalekites and the people of Sidon and Maon. Each time you cried out to me for help. And I saved you from their power.13But you have deserted me. You have served other gods. So I will not save you anymore.14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you get into trouble!’15But the Israelites replied to the LORD, ‘We have sinned. Do to us what you think is best. But please save us now.’16Then they got rid of the false gods that were among them. They served the LORD. And he couldn’t stand to see Israel suffer anymore.17The Ammonites were called together to fight. They camped in the land of Gilead. Then the Israelites gathered together. They camped at the city of Mizpah.18The leaders of Gilead spoke to one another. They said, ‘Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That person will be the ruler of all the people who live in Gilead.’
Judges 10
English Standard Version
Tola and Jair
1After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. (Jos 24:33; Jud 2:16; Jud 10:12)2And he judged Israel twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried at Shamir.3After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.4And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, called Havvoth-jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. (De 3:14; Jud 5:10; Jud 12:14)5And Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
Further Disobedience and Oppression
6The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him. (De 31:16; Jud 2:11; Jud 2:13; Jud 10:10; Jud 10:13; 1Ki 11:5; 1Ki 11:7; 1Ki 11:33; 2Ki 23:13)7So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites, (Jud 2:14)8and they crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.9And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.10And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.” (Jud 3:9; Jud 10:6; Jud 10:13)11And the Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines? (Ex 14:30; Nu 21:21; Jud 3:13; Jud 3:31)12The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to me, and I saved you out of their hand. (Jud 2:16; Jud 3:13; Jud 6:3)13Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more. (De 32:15; Jud 10:6; Jud 10:10; Jer 2:13)14Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.” (De 32:37)15And the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day.”16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (Jud 2:18; Isa 63:9)17Then the Ammonites were called to arms, and they encamped in Gilead. And the people of Israel came together, and they encamped at Mizpah. (Jud 11:11; Jud 11:29)18And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” (Jud 11:5; Jud 11:8; Jud 11:11)