1And after Abimelech died, there arose a man of the tribe of Issachar named Tola, son of Puah, son of Dodo (Dodai); and he lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2He judged (led) Israel twenty-three years, died, and was buried in Shamir.

3And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years. 4And he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead, which are called Havvoth-jair until this day. 5And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

6And again, the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD by serving Baalim, Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsaking the LORD, and not serving Him. 7And the LORD was angry with Israel, and He turned them over to the Philistines, and to the Ammonites. 8And for eighteen years, they vexed and oppressed the Israelites that were on the east side of the Jordan, the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim; so that Israel was very much distressed. 10And the children of Israel cried to the LORD: “We have sinned against You, both by forsaking You, our God, and by serving Baalim.” 11And the LORD said to the children of Israel, “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, from the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines? 12The Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites, also oppressed you; and you cried to Me, and I rescued you out of their hand. 13And yet you have forsaken Me, and served other gods; therefore, I will rescue you no more. 14Go and cry to the gods you have chosen to serve; let them deliver you in your time of tribulation.” 15And the children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned: do to us whatever seems good to You; only, please deliver us this day.” 16And they got rid of the foreign gods among them, and served the LORD; and He was grieved by their misery.

17Then when the armies of the Ammonites had gathered, and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled, and camped in Mizpah. 18And leaders of the people of Gilead said to each another, “Whoever will lead us to fight against the Ammonites shall be head over all who live in Gilead.”