1After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and 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 arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty towns, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

6The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD, and did not serve him. 7The anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the people of Ammon. 8And they shattered and oppressed the children of Israel that year. 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 people 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, "Did I not save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the people of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12Also the Sidonians, and Amalek, and Midian 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, this day." 16They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved with the misery of Israel.

17Then the people of Ammon were gathered together, and camped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together, and camped at Mizpah. 18And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to each other, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."