Chapter 10
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.
2 He judged Israel twenty-three years , and died , and was buried in Shamir .
3 After him Jair , the Gileadite , arose . He judged Israel twenty-two years .
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 .
5 Jair died , and was buried in Kamon .
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 .
7 The LORD ’s anger burnt against Israel , and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the children of Ammon .
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 .
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 .
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 ."
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 ?
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 .
13 Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more .
14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress !"
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 ."
16 They put away the foreign gods from amongst them and served the LORD ; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel .
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead . The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah .
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 ."