Tola, Israel’s Sixth Judge

1A man from the tribe of Issachar, Puah’s son Tola, grandson of Dodo, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the mountainous regiona of Ephraim. 2He governed Israel for 23 years and then died. He was buried in Shamir.

Jair, Israel’s Seventh Judge

3After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and governed Israel for 22 years. 4His 30 sons rode on 30 donkeys, controlling 30 cities in the territory of Gilead named Havvoth-jairb to this day. 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Israel Descends into Apostasy

6Later on, the Israelis again practiced what the LORD considered to be evil by serving the Baals, the stars, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the descendants of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. In doing so, they ignoredc the LORD and wouldn’t serve him. 7In his burning anger against Israel, he sold them into domination by the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8who trampled and troubled the Israelis during that year—eighteen years for the Israelis who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land occupied byd the Amorites. 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. As a result, Israel was deeply distressed. 10Then the Israelis cried out to the LORD and told him,e “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned our God to serve the Baals.”

11The LORD replied to the Israelis, “Aren’t you away from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? 12And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites harassed you, you cried out to me, and I delivered you from under their domination. 13But you have abandoned me and served other gods. Therefore I will no longer be delivering you. 14Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen for yourselves. Let them deliver you in your time of trouble.”

15The Israelis replied to the LORD, “We have sinned, so do to us anything that’s right to do in your opinion, just please deliver us right now.” 16When they put away their foreign gods and served the LORD, he brought Israel’s misery to an end. 17The Ammonites were summoned and they encamped in Gilead. The Israelis assembled together and encamped in Mizpah. 18The people and Gilead’s officials inquired among themselves, “Who will begin our attack against the Ammonites? He’ll become head over everyone who lives in Gilead.”