1And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar. And he lived in Shamir in Mount Ephraim. 2And he judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

3And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty-two years. 4And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities which are called Havoth Jair to this day in the land of Gilead. 5And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

6And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baalim and Ashtoroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. And they left the LORD, and did not serve Him. 7And 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. 8And that year they troubled and oppressed the children of Israel; all the children of Israel on the other side of Jordan, in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead, for eighteen years. 9And 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 very distressed.

10And the children of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, "We have sinned against You, both because we have forsaken our God and also have served the Baalim." 11And the LORD said to 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? 12And the Sidonians and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you. And you cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore, I will deliver you no more. 14Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." 15And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do You to us whatever is good in Your eyes; only deliver us, we pray You, today." 16And they put away the strange gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul was moved by the misery of Israel.

17Then the children of Ammon were gathered and camped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together and camped in Mizpeh. 18And the people and rulers of Gilead said to one another, "What man is there who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."