[1] After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the
son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill-country
of Ephraim. [2] He judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir. [3] After him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged
Israel twenty-two years. [4] He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey
colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair to this
day, which are in the land of Gilead. [5] Jair died, and was buried in
Kamon. [6] The children of Israel again did that which was evil in the
sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of
Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the
children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook
Yahweh, and didn`t serve him. [7] The anger of Yahweh was kindled against
Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the
hand of the children of Ammon. [8] They vexed and oppressed the children of
Israel that year: eighteen years [oppressed they] all the children of
Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in
Gilead. [9] The children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also
against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so
that Israel was sore distressed. [10] The children of Israel cried to
Yahweh, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken
our God, and have served the Baals. [11] Yahweh said to the children of
Israel, Didn`t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from
the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? [12] The Sidonians also,
and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and you cried to me,
and I saved you out of their hand. [13] Yet you have forsaken me, and
served other gods: why I will save you no more. [14] Go and cry to the gods
which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress. [15]
The children of Israel said to Yahweh, We have sinned: do you to us
whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, we pray you, this day. [16]
They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his
soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. [17] Then the children of Ammon
were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel
assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. [18] The people, the
princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to
fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the
inhabitants of Gilead.
