Judges 10

Judges 10 introduces two minor judges, Tola and Jair, who bring brief periods of stability to Israel. However, after their leadership, the Israelites once again fall into sin, leading to oppression by the Ammonites and Philistines. The chapter highlights the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance in the book of Judges. Israel cries out to God, but He initially refuses to help them because of their continuous rebellion.

Judges 10:1-2 (NKJV)
1 After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir, in the mountains of Ephraim.
2 He judged Israel twenty-three years; and he died and was buried in Shamir.

Tola, from the tribe of Issachar, became a judge after Abimelech’s disastrous reign. He is described as a savior of Israel, though no specific acts are mentioned. His leadership likely provided stability for the nation, and his time as judge spanned twenty-three years. His burial in Shamir emphasizes the peaceful end to his leadership, which contrasts with the chaos caused by Abimelech.

Judges 10:3-5 (NKJV)
3 After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years.
4 Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called “Havoth Jair” to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5 And Jair died and was buried in Camon.

Jair, a Gileadite, succeeded Tola and judged Israel for twenty-two years. His rule is marked by prosperity, seen in his thirty sons who each had their own donkey and town, symbolizing wealth and influence. The towns were known as “Havoth Jair,” reflecting Jair's legacy in the region of Gilead. Like Tola, Jair’s leadership ended peacefully with his burial in Camon.

Judges 10:6 (NKJV)
6 Then the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals and the Ashtoreths, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.

After the deaths of Tola and Jair, the Israelites returned to their sinful ways, abandoning God and serving various pagan deities from neighboring nations. Their idolatry, which included worshiping the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia, demonstrated their complete forsaking of the Lord. This sinfulness set the stage for their next period of oppression.

Judges 10:7-9 (NKJV)
7 So the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the people of Ammon.
8 From that year they harassed and oppressed the children of Israel for eighteen years—all the children of Israel who were on the other side of the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, in Gilead.
9 Moreover the people of Ammon crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah also, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.

Because of Israel’s idolatry, God allowed the Philistines and Ammonites to oppress them. The oppression was particularly harsh in Gilead, east of the Jordan, where the Israelites had settled in the land of the Amorites. After eighteen years of suffering, the Ammonites expanded their attacks across the Jordan, bringing distress to the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. This oppression was severe, highlighting the consequences of Israel's repeated rebellion.

Judges 10:10-14 (NKJV)
10 And the children of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You, because we have both forsaken our God and served the Baals!”
11 So the Lord said to the children of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, from the Amorites, from the people of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12 Also the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites oppressed you, and you cried out to Me, and I delivered you from their hand.
13 Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods. Therefore I will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry out to the gods which you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.”

In their desperation, the Israelites confessed their sin and cried out to God for help. God reminded them of the numerous times He had delivered them in the past from various enemies, yet they continued to forsake Him for other gods. God’s response is one of anger and frustration, telling Israel to seek deliverance from the very gods they had chosen to serve, refusing to intervene this time.

Judges 10:15-16 (NKJV)
15 And the children of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.”
16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord. And His soul could no longer endure the misery of Israel.

Despite God's harsh response, the Israelites sincerely repented, asking God to do whatever He deemed best but pleading for deliverance. This time, they demonstrated genuine repentance by removing the foreign gods from their midst and recommitting themselves to serving the Lord. Seeing their sincerity and the depth of their suffering, God was moved with compassion and began to prepare for their deliverance.

Judges 10:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Then the people of Ammon gathered together and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled together and encamped in Mizpah.
18 And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

As the Ammonites gathered their forces in Gilead, Israel also prepared for battle by assembling in Mizpah. However, Israel lacked a leader to lead them in the fight against their oppressors. The leaders of Gilead offered the position of leadership to whoever would step forward to initiate the battle, setting the stage for the next judge, Jephthah, to rise and deliver Israel from the Ammonites in the following chapter.