| New Living Translation | NET Bible |
| 1After Abimelech died, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. | 1After Abimelech's death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. |
| 2He judged Israel for twenty-three years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir. Jair Becomes Israel’s Judge | 2He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. |
| 3After Tola died, Jair from Gilead judged Israel for twenty-two years. | 3Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. |
| 4His thirty sons rode around on thirty donkeys, and they owned thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are still called the Towns of Jair. | 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair--they are in the land of Gilead. |
| 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. The Ammonites Oppress Israel | 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. |
| 6Again the Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight. They served the images of Baal and Ashtoreth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the LORD and no longer served him at all. | 6The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him. |
| 7So the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites, | 7The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. |
| 8who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites (that is, in Gilead). | 8They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year--that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. |
| 9The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress. | 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. |
| 10Finally, they cried out to the LORD for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.” | 10The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." |
| 11The LORD replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, | 11The LORD said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, |
| 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. | 12the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. |
| 13Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. | 13But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. |
| 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!” | 14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" |
| 15But the Israelites pleaded with the LORD and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.” | 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" |
| 16Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the LORD. And he was grieved by their misery. | 16They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. |
| 17At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah. | 17The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. |
| 18The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.” | 18The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!" |
|
