JudgesChapter 10

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¹After the time of Abimelech, a man named Tola came to save Israel. He was the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. ²Tola led Israel as judge for 23 years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir. ³After Tola came Jair from Gilead. He led Israel as judge for 22 years. ⁴Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. They had 30 towns in the land of Gilead. To this day those towns are called Havvoth-jair. ⁵When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. ⁶Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight. They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. They served the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab. They served the gods of the Ammonites and the Philistines. They left the LORD and did not serve him. ⁷So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. He sold them into the power of the Philistines and the Ammonites. ⁸That same year these enemies began to crush and mistreat the Israelites. They did this for 18 years. They did it to all the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. ⁹The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the family of Ephraim. Israel was in terrible trouble. ¹⁰Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD. They said, "We have sinned against you! We have left our God and served the Baals." ¹¹The LORD answered, "There were times when the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, ¹²Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites crushed you. Then you cried out to me. Didn't I save you from their power? ¹³But you have left me and served other gods. So I will not save you anymore. ¹⁴Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!" ¹⁵But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is best. But please rescue us today!" ¹⁶So they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. And the LORD could not stand to see Israel suffer any longer. ¹⁷Then the Ammonites were called to war, and they camped in Gilead. The Israelites gathered together and camped at Mizpah. ¹⁸The leaders of the people of Gilead said to one another, "Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That man will be the head of everyone who lives in Gilead."