| New King James Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. | 1After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. |
| 2He judged Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir. | 2Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir. |
| 3After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years. | 3Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. |
| 4Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. | 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair. |
| 5And Jair died and was buried in Camon. | 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. |
| 6Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. | 6And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. |
| 7So 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 people of Ammon. | 7So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites, |
| 8From that year they harassed and oppressed the children of Israel for eighteen years—all the children of Israel who were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, in Gilead. | 8who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. |
| 9Moreover the people of Ammon crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah also, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed. | 9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress. |
| 10And the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!” | 10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.” |
| 11So the LORD said to the children of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines? | 11The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, |
| 12Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you; and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand. | 12Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands? |
| 13Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more. | 13But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. |
| 14“Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.” | 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.” |
| 15And the children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.” | 15“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” |
| 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel. | 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel. |
| 17Then the people of Ammon gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled together and encamped in Mizpah. | 17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. |
| 18And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” | 18And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.” |
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