Tola

1After the time of Abimelech (my father is king), a man of Issachar (there is recompense), Tola (worm) son of Puah (splendid), the son of Dodo (his beloved), rose up to save Israel (he wrestles with God). He lived in Shamir (a point), in the hill country of Ephraim (doubly fruitful).

2Tola judged (governed)a Israel (he wrestles with God) twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir (a point).

Jair

3Tola was followed by Jair (he enlightens) the Gileadite (rocky region), who judged Israel (he wrestles with God) twenty-two years. 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead (rocky region), which to this day are called Havvoth-jair (villages of Jair).b

5When Jair (he enlightens) died, he was buried in Kamon (raised).

Oppression by the Philistines and Ammonites

6And again the Israelites (God prevails) did evil in the sight of the LORD {YHWH}. They served the Baals (lord), the Ashtoreths (star), the gods of Aram (exalted), Sidon (hunting), and Moab (of his father), and the gods of the Ammonites (tribal) and Philistines (immigrants). Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

7So the anger of the LORD {YHWH} burned against Israel (he wrestles with God), and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines (immigrants) and Ammonites (tribal), 8who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, (God prevails) and they did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan (flowing down) in Gilead (rocky region), the land of the Amorites (sayers).

9The Ammonites (tribal) also crossed the Jordan (flowing down) to fight against Judah (praised), Benjamin (son of the right hand), and the house of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), and Israel (he wrestles with God) was in deep distress.

10Then the Israelites (God prevails) cried out to the LORD {YHWH}, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God {Elohenu} and served the Baals (lord).”

11The LORD {YHWH} replied (he wrestles with God), “When the Egyptians (land of bondage), Amorites (sayers), Ammonites (tribal), Philistines (immigrants), 12Sidonians, Amalekites (dwellers in a valley), and Maonites [Midianites]c oppressed you⁺ and you⁺ cried out to Me, did I not save you⁺ from their hands? 13But you⁺ have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you⁺. 14Go and cry out to the gods you⁺ have chosen. Let them save you⁺ in your⁺ time of trouble.”

15“We have sinned,” the Israelites (God prevails) said to the LORD {YHWH}. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD {YHWH}, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel (he wrestles with God).

17Then the Ammonites (tribal) were called to arms and camped in Gilead (rocky region), and the Israelites (God prevails) assembled and camped at Mizpah (watchtower). 18And the rulers of Gilead (rocky region) said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites (tribal) will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”