The Minor Judges: Tola and Jair
Study note
After Abimelech's violent reign, God raised up Tola from the tribe of Issachar, who judged Israel for twenty-three years. After him came Jair from Gilead, who judged for twenty-two years. Jair was wealthy and had thirty sons who each rode a donkey and controlled a town in Gilead. These 'minor judges' are described briefly, suggesting a relatively peaceful period in Israel's history.
1 After Abimelech's death, a man named Tola stepped up to lead and protect Israel. He was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar. He made his home in Shamir, in Ephraim's hill country. And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.
2 Tola served as Israel's judge for twenty-three years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3 The next judge was Jair, from the region of Gilead. He led Israel for twenty-two years. And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.
4 Jair had thirty sons, each of whom rode his own donkey. They governed thirty towns in Gilead, still known as the Towns of Jair today. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
Israel's Deep Idolatry and God's Response
Study note
Israel fell into the worst idolatry yet, worshipping the gods of seven different nations: Baal, Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. God allowed the Philistines from the west and the Ammonites from the east to crush Israel for eighteen years. When Israel cried out and confessed their sin, God initially refused to help, telling them to ask their false gods for rescue. But when the people genuinely repented and threw away their idols, God could no longer stand to see their misery.
6 Once again, the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight. They worshipped the Baals, the images of Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. They completely turned their backs on the Lord and refused to serve him anymore. And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
7 This made the Lord very angry with Israel. He handed them over to both the Philistines and the Ammonites. And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8 Starting that year, these nations crushed the Israelites badly. For eighteen years they beat down every Israelite living east of the Jordan in the old Amorite land of Gilead. And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9 The Ammonites even crossed the Jordan to attack the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was in terrible shape. Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
10 The Israelites cried out to the Lord, confessing, "We have sinned against you! We turned our backs on our God and worshipped the Baals." And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
11 The Lord answered, "Did I not save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines?" And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12 "The Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites all oppressed you too. You begged me for help, and I rescued you every time." The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13 "Yet you turned right around and abandoned me to serve other gods. Because of that, I am done rescuing you." Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.
14 "Go ahead, go crying to the gods you picked for yourselves! Let them save you when you are in trouble." Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15 But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord, "We admit we have sinned. Punish us however you see fit. Please save us today." And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
16 Then the Israelites threw away their foreign idols and began serving the Lord again. And the Lord's heart broke over Israel's suffering, and he could not stand to watch it any longer. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17 The Ammonites mobilized for war and set up camp in Gilead. The Israelites assembled and made their camp at Mizpah. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
18 Gilead's leaders said to each other, "Who is brave enough to lead our fight? That man will rule Gilead." And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.