Judges 10

1 After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

After Abimelech's time, Tola, son of Puah, son of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, came on the scene to save Israel. He lived in the town of Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

2 Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.

He led Israel as a judge for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.

3 Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

After Tola came Jair from Gilead, who led Israel as a judge for twenty-two years.

4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.

He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. They had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called the Towns of Jair.

5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

Jair died and he was buried in Kamon.

6 And again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. They served the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. Thus they forsook the LORD and did not serve Him.

Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, as well as the gods of Aram, Sidon, and Moab, and the gods of the Ammonites and Philistines. They rejected the Lord and did not worship him.

7 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,

So the Lord became angry with Israel, and he sold them to the Philistines and the Ammonites.

8 who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.

That year and for eighteen more years they harassed and oppressed the Israelites, all the Israelites that lived on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.

9 The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.

The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to attack Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, causing terrible trouble for Israel.

10 Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against You, for we have indeed forsaken our God and served the Baals.”

The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against you, rejecting our God and worshiping the Baals.”

11 The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,

The Lord replied to the Israelites, “Didn't I save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,

12 Sidonians, Amalekites, and Maonites oppressed you and you cried out to Me, did I not save you from their hands?

the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they attacked you, and you cried out to me for help, didn't I save you from them?

13 But you have forsaken Me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you.

But you have rejected me and worshiped other gods, so I won't save you again.

14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

Go and cry out for help to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you in your time of trouble.”

15 “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”

The Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned! Treat us in whatever way you think you should, only please save us now!”

16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.

So they got rid of the foreign gods they had and worshiped the Lord. And the Lord couldn't stand Israel's misery any longer.

17 Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

The Ammonite armies had been called up and were camped in Gilead. The Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.

18 And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

The commanders of the people of Gilead agreed among themselves, “Whoever leads the attack on the Ammonites will become ruler over everyone who lives in Gilead.”