| Berean Study Bible | NET Bible |
| 1After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. | 1After Abimelech's death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. |
| 2Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir. | 2He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. |
| 3Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. | 3Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. |
| 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair. | 4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair--they are in the land of Gilead. |
| 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. | 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. |
| 6And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him. | 6The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him. |
| 7So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites, | 7The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. |
| 8who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites. | 8They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year--that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. |
| 9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress. | 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. |
| 10Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.” | 10The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." |
| 11The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, | 11The LORD said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, |
| 12Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands? | 12the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. |
| 13But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. | 13But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. |
| 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.” | 14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" |
| 15“We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!” | 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" |
| 16So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel. | 16They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. |
| 17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. | 17The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. |
| 18And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.” | 18The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!" |
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