1After Abimelech, Tola, who was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. Tola was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2He judged Israel for 23 years. Tola died and was buried in Shamir.

3After Tola, Jair from Gilead became a judge. He judged Israel for 22 years. 4Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. He also had 30 towns that are still called Havvoth Jair to this day. They are in the region of Gilead. 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

6The people of Israel again did what the LORD considered evil. They began to serve other gods and goddesses-the Baals and the Astartes-and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not serve him. 7The LORD became angry with the people of Israel. So he used the Philistines and Ammonites to defeat them. 8They oppressed and crushed the people of Israel that year. For 18 years they oppressed all who lived east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. 9Ammon also crossed the Jordan River to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. So Israel suffered a great deal.

10Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. They said, "We have sinned against you. We have abandoned our God and served other gods-the Baals." 11The LORD said to the people of Israel, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to me for help. Didn't I rescue you from them? 13But you still abandoned me and served other gods. That's why I won't rescue you again. 14Cry out for help to the gods you chose. Let them rescue you when you're in trouble." 15The people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is right. But please rescue us today!" 16Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. So the LORD could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer.

17The troops of Ammon were summoned to fight, and they camped at Gilead. The people of Israel also gathered together and camped at Mizpah. 18The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, "Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead."