Judges 10

1 After Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo became the leader to rescue the Israeli people [from their enemies]. He belonged to the tribe of Issachar, but he lived in Shamir [city] in the hilly area where the descendants of Ephraim live.

And after Abimelech Thola the son of Phua rose up to save Israel, [being] the son of his father's brother, a man of Issachar; and he lived in Samir in mount Ephraim.

2 He ruled the Israeli people for 23 years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.

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

3 After Tola died, Jair, from [the] Gilead [region], became the Israelis’ leader, and he ruled them for 22 years.

And after him arose Jair of Galaad, and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

4 He had thirty sons, and each of them had his own donkey to ride on. They each controlled a different town in [the] Gilead [region]. That region is still named ‘The Towns of Jair’.

And he had thirty-two sons riding on thirty-two colts, and they had thirty-two cities; and they called them Jair's towns until this day in the land of Galaad.

5 When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon [city].

And Jair died, and was buried in Rhamnon.

6 Again the Israelis did things that Yahweh said were wrong/evil. They worshiped [the idols of their god] Baal and [their goddess] Astarte. They also worshiped the gods of the Aram, Sidon, Moab, and Ammon people-groups, and the gods of the Philistia people-group. They abandoned Yahweh and stopped worshiping him.

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim, and Astaroth, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Phylistines; and they forsook the Lord, and did not serve him.

7 So Yahweh was very angry with them, and he allowed the Philistia and Ammon people-groups to defeat [IDM] the Israelis.

And the Lord was very angry with Israel, and sold them into the hands of the Phylistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

8 In that same year, those people started to oppress the Israelis who lived in [the] Gilead [region] on the east side of the Jordan [River]. That was where the Amor people-group also lived. were They caused the Israelis who lived in that region to suffer for 18 years.

And they afflicted and bruised the children of Israel at that time eighteen years, all the children of Israel beyond Jordan in the land of the Amorite in Galaad.

9 Then the people of the Ammon people-group crossed the Jordan [River] to fight against the people of the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. They caused the Israelis’ lives to be very miserable.

And the children of Ammon went over Jordan to fight with Juda, and Benjamin, and with Ephraim; and the children of Israel were greatly afflicted.

10 So the Israelis cried out to Yahweh, saying “We have sinned against you. We have abandoned you, and we have been worshiping [the idols of their god] Baal.”

And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, saying, We have sinned against you, because we have forsaken God, and served Baalim.

11 Yahweh answered them, saying, “When the people of Egypt, and the Amor and Ammon and Philistia people-groups

And the Lord said to the children of Israel, Did I not [save you] from Egypt and from the Amorite, and from the children of Ammon, and from the Phylistines,

12 and the Sidon and Amalek and Maon people-groups were cruel to you, you cried out to me, and then I rescued you.

and from the Sidonians, and Amalec, and Madiam, who afflicted you? and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand?

13 But now you have abandoned me again, and you have been worshiping other gods. So I will not rescue you again.

Yet you forsook me and served other gods; therefore I will not save you any more.

14 You have chosen those gods [to be the ones that you worship]. So call to them to help you. Allow them to rescue you when you have a lot of trouble!”

Go, and cry to the gods whom you have chosen to yourselves, and let them save you in the time of your affliction.

15 But the Israeli people said to Yahweh, “Truly we have sinned. Punish us in whatever way you wish to, but please rescue us now!”

And the children of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned: do you to us according to all [that is] good in your eyes; only deliver us this day.

16 Then the Israelis threw away the [idols of the] gods that belonged to other people-groups, and they worshiped Yahweh again. He saw that they were suffering very much, and he felt sorry [IDM] for them.

And they put away the strange gods from the midst of them, and served the Lord only, and his soul was pained for the trouble of Israel.

17 The Ammon people-group gathered to fight [against the Israelis], and they set up their tents in [the] Gilead [region]. The Israeli men also gathered and set up their tents at Mizpah, [which was a city in Gilead].

And the children of Ammon went up, and encamped in Galaad; and the children of Israel were gathered together and encamped on the hill.

18 The Israeli leaders said, “Who will lead our soldiers to attack the Ammon people-group? The one who will lead us will become the leader of all us who live in this Gilead [region].”

And the people the princes of Galaad said every man to his neighbor, Who [is] he that shall begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall even be head over all that dwell in Galaad.