Judges chapter 10

The sixth judge is Tola. The seventh judge is Jair. The nation falls into idolatry again.

 


 

THE SIXTH JUDGE IS TOLA

 

VERSE 1. After Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

Tola the son of Puah. He is the sixth judge.

He and Jair (see verse 3 below) are sometimes referred to as “minor” judges.

 

VERSE 2. He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

 

THE SEVENTH JUDGE IS JAIR

 

VERSE 3. After him Jair, the Gileadite, arose. He judged Israel twenty-two years.

Jair, the Gileadite. He is the seventh judge.

He and Tola (see verse 1 above) are sometimes referred to as “minor” judges.

 

VERSE 4. He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts. They had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

 

VERSE 5. Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

 

THE NATION FALLS INTO IDOLATRY AGAIN

 

VERSE 6. The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD, and didn’t serve him.

This verse lists seven gods of the surrounding nations.

Amazingly, the Israelites forsook the LORD God and worshiped these forbidden gods:

the Baals. They were the gods of the Canaanites.

the Ashtaroth. They were the gods of the Canaanites.

the gods of Syria. These included Hadad or Rimmon.

the gods of Sidon. These included the Phoenician Baal and Asherah.

the gods of Moab. Their chief god was Chemosh.

the gods of the children of Ammon. Their chief god was Milcom or Molech.

the gods of the Philistines. Their chief god was Dagon.

 

VERSE 7. The LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

 

VERSE 8. They troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

they oppressed all the children of Israel. The LORD God again needed to chasten Israel by means of foreign oppressors.

 

VERSE 9. The children 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.

 

VERSE 10. The 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.”

 

VERSE 11. The LORD said to the children of Israel, “Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

The LORD said. In this era, there seems to be no prophet. So how was this message delivered?

Didn’t I save you. This verse (and the next) lists seven nations that oppressed them:

  1. the Egyptians (verse 11)
  2. the Amorites (verse 11)
  3. the children of Ammon (verse 11)
  4. the Philistines (verse 11)
  5. The Sidonians (verse 12)
  6. the Amalekites (verse 12)
  7. the Maonites (verse 12)

 

VERSE 12. The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.

I saved you out of their hand. This verse (and the previous) lists seven nations that oppressed them:

  1. the Egyptians (verse 11)
  2. the Amorites (verse 11)
  3. the children of Ammon (verse 11)
  4. the Philistines (verse 11)
  5. The Sidonians (verse 12)
  6. the Amalekites (verse 12)
  7. the Maonites (verse 12)

 

VERSE 13. Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more.

 

VERSE 14. Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”

 

VERSE 15. The children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”

We have sinned. First, they admit their sin.

 

VERSE 16. They put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

They put away the foreign gods. Second, they forsake their idolatry.

and served the LORD. Third, they serve the LORD God.

 

VERSE 17. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.

 

VERSE 18. The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

 


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JUDGES

CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.