Judges 10

10:1 After Abimelech’s death,1 Tola son of Puah, grandson2 of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar,3 rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. 10:2 He led4 Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir.

10:3 Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. 10:4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair5—they are in the land of Gilead.6 10:5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

The Lord’s Patience Runs Short

10:6 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight.7 They worshiped8 the Baals and the Ashtars,9 as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon,10 Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.11 They abandoned the Lord and did not worship12 him. 10:7 The Lord was furious with Israel13 and turned them over to14 the Philistines and Ammonites. 10:8 They ruthlessly oppressed15 the Israelites that eighteenth year16—that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. 10:9 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.17 Israel suffered greatly.18

10:10 The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord: “We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped19 the Baals.” 10:11 The Lord said to the Israelites, “Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 10:12 the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian20 when they oppressed you?21 You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power.22 10:13 But since you abandoned me and worshiped23 other gods, I will not deliver you again. 10:14 Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!”24 10:15 But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit,25 but deliver us today!”26 10:16 They threw away the foreign gods they owned27 and worshiped28 the Lord. Finally the Lord became tired of seeing Israel suffer so much.29

An Outcast Becomes a General

10:17 The Ammonites assembled30 and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. 10:18 The leaders31 of Gilead said to one another, “Who is willing to lead the charge32 against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!”

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