Judges 10
Tola and Jair
1After Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
2He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3After him Jair, the Gileadite, arose. He judged Israel twenty-two years.
4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts. They had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.
Israel's Oppression by the Ammonites
6The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD, and didn’t serve him.
7The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
8They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very distressed.
10The children of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.”
11The LORD said to the children of Israel, “Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
13Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more.
14Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”
15The children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
16They put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.
18The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
Judges 10 presents two minor judges, Tola and Jair, who provided stable leadership for forty-five combined years after Abimelech's destructive reign. However, Israel again falls into idolatry, serving the gods of seven different nations, prompting God's anger and oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites for eighteen years. When Israel cries out for deliverance, God initially refuses due to their repeated unfaithfulness, but His compassion is stirred when they genuinely repent and remove their foreign gods, setting the stage for the next deliverer.
Context
This chapter transitions from Abimelech's chaotic rule to the cyclical pattern of apostasy and oppression, preparing for Jephthah's judgeship in chapter 11.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-2Tola's LeadershipTola of Issachar judges Israel peacefully for twenty-three years from Shamir.
- 3-5Jair's ProsperityJair the Gileadite judges for twenty-two years, notable for his thirty sons and their cities.
- 6-9Israel's Extensive IdolatryIsrael serves the gods of seven nations, leading to eighteen years of Philistine and Ammonite oppression.
- 10-14God's Initial RejectionWhen Israel cries out, God refuses to deliver them due to their repeated unfaithfulness.
- 15-16Israel's Genuine RepentanceIsrael confesses sin, removes foreign gods, and God's compassion is stirred by their misery.
- 17-18Preparation for WarBoth armies gather for battle while Gilead's leaders seek a commander to fight the Ammonites.
Tola and Jair
10:1–10:5Brief account of two minor judges, Tola and Jair, who led Israel for 23 and 22 years respectively. The passage emphasizes their peaceful leadership and prosperity during their tenure.
person_contrast
Jair's genealogical name, typically associated with tribal inheritance and family lineage, appears unusually in a deliverance context, marking him as both heir and deliverer.
Israel's Oppression by the Ammonites
10:6–10:18Israel falls into idolatry and is oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines for eighteen years. After crying out to God and repenting, they prepare for battle despite God's initial refusal to deliver them.
theme_rarity
God's unprecedented rejection of Israel's plea in verse 13-14 ("Go and cry to the gods you have chosen") marks the only instance where divine refusal precedes eventual deliverance in Judges.
Judges 10:1
Numbers 26:23lexicalThe sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
1 Chronicles 7:1lexicalOf the sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
Genesis 46:13lexicalThe sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron.
Judges 10:6
1 Samuel 12:10lexicalThey cried to the LORD, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the A…
Judges 2:13lexicalThey abandoned the LORD, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
2 Samuel 8:12lexicalof Syria, of Moab, of the children of Ammon, of the Philistines, of Amalek, and of the plunder of Hadadezer, son of Reho…
1 Samuel 7:4lexicalThen the children of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.
Jeremiah 27:3lexicalThen send them to the king of Edom, to the king of Moab, to the king of the children of Ammon, to the king of Tyre, and…
Judges 10:7
Judges 2:14lexicalThe LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of raiders who plundered them. He sold them…
Judges 3:8lexicalTherefore the LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan Rishathaim king of Mesopotami…
Judges 10:8
Joshua 9:10lexicaland all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king…
Joshua 24:8lexical“‘I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into…
Joshua 2:10lexicalFor we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you di…
Joshua 5:1lexicalWhen all the kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were b…
Deuteronomy 3:8lexicalWe took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the vall…
Judges 10:10
1 Samuel 12:10lexicalThey cried to the LORD, and said, ‘We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the A…
Judges 2:13lexicalThey abandoned the LORD, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.
2 Kings 17:16lexicalThey abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made molten images for themselves, even two calves, and m…
Judges 10:13
Jeremiah 22:9lexicalThen they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD their God, worshiped other gods, and served them…
1 Samuel 8:8lexicalAccording to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, in t…
2 Chronicles 7:19lexicalBut if you turn away and forsake my statutes and my commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other god…
Jeremiah 16:11lexicalthen you shall tell them, ‘Because your fathers have forsaken me,’ says the LORD, ‘and have walked after other gods, hav…
1 Kings 9:9lexicaland they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the LORD their God, who brought their fathers out of the land of Egypt, an…
Judges 10:14
2 Chronicles 20:9lexical‘If evil comes on us—the sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for you…
Nehemiah 9:27lexicalTherefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when…
Jeremiah 30:7lexicalAlas, for that day is great, so that none is like it! It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he will be saved out o…
Jeremiah 14:8lexicalYou hope of Israel, its Savior in the time of trouble, why should you be as a foreigner in the land, and as a wayfaring…
Jeremiah 11:12lexicalThen the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but t…
Judges 10:16
Joshua 24:23lexical“Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
1 Samuel 7:3lexicalSamuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, then put away th…
Judges 10:18
Judges 11:9lexicalJephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and the LORD del…
Judges 11:8lexicalThe elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight wit…
Judges 11:5lexicalWhen the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob.
Interlinear
Word-by-word original language
Historical Context
Places and events in this chapter