Judg 10 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 10:1-5: 10:1-5 Each of the five minor judges (see also 12:8-15 ) judged Israel for a specific number of years; in this period of decline after Gideon, the formula “there was peace in the land” (3:11 , 30 ; 5:31 ; 8:28 ) never recurs. The details given for these enigmatic figures include their places of origin and burial, and perhaps a brief genealogy or something notable about their families. Four of the five names appear in other genealogical records: Tola and Puah as clans of Issachar (Gen 46:13 ; Num 26:23 ), Elon as a descendant of Zebulun (Gen 46:14 ; Num 26:26 ), and Jair at various points (see Num 32:41 ; Deut 3:14 ; Josh 13:30 ; 1 Kgs 4:13 ). The lack of specific military exploits and the common reference to “judging” suggests that they had some kind of administrative or judicial function. 10:1 Tola was the first of five minor judges; little is known about him. Of the five, only Tola was said to rescue Israel . He came after Abimelech died , when Israel was in need of rescue, though not from a foreign enemy.

Summary for Judg 10:1-5: 10:1-5 ^a Each of the five minor judges (see also 12:8-15 ^b) judged Israel for a specific number of years; in this period of decline after Gideon, the formula “there was peace in the land” (3:11 ^c, 30 ^d; 5:31 ^e; 8:28 ^f) never recurs. The details given for these enigmatic figures include their places of origin and burial, and perhaps a brief genealogy or something notable about their families. Four of the five names appear in other genealogical records: Tola and Puah as clans of Issachar (Gen 46:13 ^g; Num 26:23 ^h), Elon as a descendant of Zebulun (Gen 46:14 ⁱ; Num 26:26 ^j), and Jair at various points (see Num 32:41 ^k; Deut 3:14 ^l; Josh 13:30 ^m; 1 Kgs 4:13 ⁿ). The lack of specific military exploits and the common reference to “judging” suggests that they had some kind of administrative or judicial function. 10:1 ^o Tola was the first of five minor judges; little is known about him. Of the five, only Tola was said to rescue Israel. He came after Abimelech died, when Israel was in need of rescue, though not from a foreign enemy.
Summary for Judg 10:3-4: 10:3-4 ^p Jair was apparently a descendant of an earlier Jair of the tribe of Manasseh (see Num 32:41 ^q; Deut 3:14 ^r; cp. 1 Kgs 4:13 ^s). The Towns of Jair that Jair and his sons controlled had been conquered by the earlier Jair.
Summary for Judg 10:6-16: 10:6-16 ^t The Lord responded to his people’s total apostasy by allowing crushing oppression (10:8 ^u). As usual, Israel cried out to the Lord for help (10:10 ^v) only after experiencing great distress (10:9 ^w). Normally, Israel’s cry led to divine intervention, but God’s decision to leave them to their chosen gods marks a shift in the cycle described in 2:10-19 ^x. Only when the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord did he again act to redeem them (10:17–11:33 ^y). 10:6 ^z Again the Israelites did evil. ... They abandoned the Lord: This period of apostasy was more complete than any described earlier—it included the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth along with other local gods.
Summary for Judg 10:7-8: 10:7-8 ^aa The Philistines: See study notes on 3:3; 13:1.

• The Ammonites lived east of the Jordan (see study note on 3:12-13), and they began by oppressing the Israelite tribes of Transjordan; then they attacked the tribes west of the Jordan as well.
Summary for Judg 10:17-18: 10:17-18 ^ab The narrative returns to the Ammonite oppression, which sets the stage for Jephthah’s story.
10:18 ^ac The leaders of Gilead, in their desperation for leadership, did not consult the Lord (cp. 1:1 ^ad; 20:18 ^ae) but said that whoever stepped up to lead would become ruler over Gilead.