Judg 10:0-11 | NET2full | STEP | After 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 .

‏ Judges 10:1-11

Stability Restored

1 After Abimelech’s death, ^{▼▼tn The word “death” has been supplied in the translation for clarification.} Tola son of Puah, grandson ^{▼▼tn Heb “son.”} of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, ^{▼▼tn Heb “a man of Issachar.”} rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. 2 He led ^{▼▼tn Traditionally, “judged.”} Israel for 23 years, then died and was buried in Shamir.

3 Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for 22 years. 4 He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys and possessed 30 cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair ^{▼▼sn The name Habboth Jair means “tent villages of Jair” in Hebrew.} —they are in the land of Gilead. ^{▼▼tn Heb “they call them Havvoth Jair to this day—which are in the land of Gilead.”} 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

The Lord’s Patience Runs Short

6 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. ^{▼▼tn Heb “in the eyes of the Lord.”} They worshiped ^{▼▼tn Or “served;” or “followed.”} the Baals and the Ashtoreths, ^{▼▼sn The Ashtoreths were local manifestations of the goddess Astarte.} as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. ^{▼▼tn Heb “the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines.”} They abandoned the Lord and did not worship ^{▼▼tn Or “serve”; or “follow.”} him. 7 The Lord was furious with Israel ^{▼▼tn Or “the Lord’s anger burned [or “raged”] against Israel.”} and turned them over to ^{▼▼tn Heb “sold them into the hands of.”} the Philistines and Ammonites. 8 They ruthlessly oppressed ^{▼▼tn Heb “shattered and crushed.” The repetition of similar sounding synonyms (רָעַץ [raʿats] and רָצַץ [ratsats]) is for emphasis; רָצַץ appears in the Polel, adding further emphasis to the affirmation.} the Israelites that eighteenth year ^{▼▼tn The phrase שְׁמֹנֶה עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה (shemoneh ʿesreh shanah) could be translated “eighteen years,” but this would be difficult after the reference to “that year.” It is possible that v. 8b is parenthetical, referring to an eighteen year long period of oppression east of the Jordan which culminated in hostilities against all Israel (including Judah, see v. 9) in the eighteenth year. It is simpler to translate the phrase as an ordinal number, though the context does not provide the point of reference. (See Gen 14:4-5 and R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 191-92.) In this case, the following statement specifies which “Israelites” are in view.} —that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. 9 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. ^{▼▼tn Heb “the house of Ephraim.”} Israel suffered greatly. ^{▼▼tn Or “Israel experienced great distress.” Perhaps here the verb has the nuance “hemmed in.”}

10 The Israelites cried out for help to the Lord: “We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped ^{▼▼tn Or “served”; or “followed.”} the Baals.” 11 The Lord said to the Israelites, “Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,