Judges 10

Tola Becomes Israel’s Judge

1After Abimelech died, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person fo rescue Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. 2He judged Israel for twenty-three years. When he died, he was buried in Shamir.

Jair Becomes Israel's Judge

33After Tola died, Jair from Gilead judged Israel for twenty-two years. 4His thirty sons rode around on thirty donkeys, and they owned thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which are still called the Towns of Jair.* 5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon. 5. Fifth period: Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon

The Ammonites Oppress Israel

66 Again the Israelites did evil in the LORD’s sight. They served the images of Baaland Ashto- 19:6. I reth, and the gods of Aram, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and Philistia. They abandoned the LORD oe and no longer served him at all. 7So the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he turned them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites, 8who began to oppress them that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites east of the Jordan River in the land of the Amorites (that is, in Gilead). 9The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress. 10Finally, they cried out to the LORD for help, saying, 10:10 I 11We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served “99 the images of Baal.”

dom, sin in our lives will still produce powerful, damagingconsequences.9:56, 57 Jotham’s curse is found in 9:16-20.40:1-5 In five verses we read about two men who judged Israelfor a total of 45 years, yet all we know about them besides theength of their rules is that one had 30 sons who rode aroundon 30 donkeys. What are you doing for God that is worth noting?When your life is over, will people remember more than justwhat was in your bank account or the number of years youived?40:6 Baal and Ashtoreth are explained in the notes on 2:11-15and 3:7. The gods of Aram and Sidon were very similar. Thegods of Moab and Ammon were Chemosh and Moiech. ThePhilistine gods were Dagon, Ashtoreth, Asherah, and Baal-zebui.10:9, 10 Once again the Israelites suffered for many yearsbefore they gave up their sinful ways and called out to God forhelp (see 4:1-3; 6:1-6). Notice that when the Israelites were atthe end of their rope they did not look to their pagan gods forhelp, but to the only one who was really able to help.is God your last resort? So much unnecessary sufferingtakes place because we don’t call on God until we've used up allother resources. Rather than waiting until the situation becomesdesperate, turn to God first. He has the necessary resources tomeet every kind of problem.

The LORD replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, 12the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you. 13Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore. 14Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!” 15But the Israelites pleaded with the LORD and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.” 16Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the LORD. And he was grieved by their misery. 17At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”