1 After Abimelech, Tola, who was the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo, came to rescue Israel. Tola was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel for 23 years. Tola died and was buried in Shamir. 3 After Tola, Jair from Gilead became a judge. He judged Israel for 22 years. 4 Jair had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys. He also had 30 towns that are still called Havvoth Jair to this day. They are in the region of Gilead. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon. 6 The people of Israel again did what the LORD considered evil. They began to serve other gods and goddesses-the Baals and the Astartes-and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not serve him. 7 The LORD became angry with the people of Israel. So he used the Philistines and Ammonites to defeat them. 8 They oppressed and crushed the people of Israel that year. For 18 years they oppressed all who lived east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites in Gilead. 9 Ammon also crossed the Jordan River to fight the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. So Israel suffered a great deal. 10 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. They said, "We have sinned against you. We have abandoned our God and served other gods-the Baals." 11 The LORD said to the people of Israel, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12 the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed you, you cried out to me for help. Didn't I rescue you from them? 13 But you still abandoned me and served other gods. That's why I won't rescue you again. 14 Cry out for help to the gods you chose. Let them rescue you when you're in trouble." 15 The people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever you think is right. But please rescue us today!" 16 Then they got rid of the foreign gods they had and served the LORD. So the LORD could not bear to have Israel suffer any longer. 17 The troops of Ammon were summoned to fight, and they camped at Gilead. The people of Israel also gathered together and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, "Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead." GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. | |