Judges 10

1 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.

And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

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

And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

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

And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

4 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.

And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth–jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

5 Jair died and he was buried in Kamon.

And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

6 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.

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of Yhwh, and served Baalim, and 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 forsook Yhwh, and served not him.

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

And the anger of Yhwh was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

8 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.

And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

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

Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

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

And the children of Israel cried unto Yhwh, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.

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

And Yhwh said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

12 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?

The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

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

Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

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

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.

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

And the children of Israel said unto Yhwh, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.

16 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.

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served Yhwh: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

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

Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.

18 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.”

And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.