Judges 10
Judges 10 can be divided into two parts. The first half (verses 1–5) briefly introduces the short records of the judgeship of Tola and Jair. The second half (verses 6–18) describes how Israel falls into idolatry again and again, leading to God’s anger, invasions by foreign nations (the Ammonites and the Philistines), and Israel’s process of crying out to God in the midst of that suffering.
1verseAfter Abimelech, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.
2verseHe judged Israel twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3verseAfter him Jair, the Gileadite, arose. He judged Israel twenty-two years.
4verseHe had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts. They had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
5verseJair died, and was buried in Kamon.
6verseThe children of Israel again did that which was evil in the LORD’s sight, and served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD, and didn’t serve him.
7verseThe LORD’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the children of Ammon.
8verseThey troubled and oppressed the children of Israel that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9verseThe children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was very distressed.
10verseThe children of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, “We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baals.”
11verseThe LORD said to the children of Israel, “Didn’t I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12verseThe Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.
13verseYet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will save you no more.
14verseGo and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”
15verseThe children of Israel said to the LORD, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
16verseThey put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17verseThen the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah.
18verseThe people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
The Ministry of Tola and Jair (Verses 1–5)
- Tola: As a man of the tribe of Issachar, he was active in the Ephraim region as well, ruling Israel for 23 years and contributing to a period of stability.
- Jair: a Gileadite who ruled Israel for 22 years. It is recorded that his 30 sons lived in the towns of Jair, showing that he had regional influence.
- Both judges, with no specific accomplishments or records of war, emphasize that Israel experienced a calm period.
Israel’s Repeated Cycle of Evil (Verses 6–16)
The people of Israel again abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods such as Baal and the Ashtoreths. Because of this, God becomes angry and they are oppressed by the Philistines and the Ammonites (verses 7–9). In response to their cries, God at first turns away, but after genuine repentance and the removal of idols, He shows compassion.
Repeated Sin and God’s Grace in the Period of the Judges
- We can see that the overall pattern of Judges—Israel’s downfall, hardship, repentance, and deliverance—repeats itself in this chapter as well.
- God’s judgment is based on justice, yet His character is revealed in the way He has compassion on the people when they return.
- When Israel truly turns away from idols, God again extends compassion to them.
Meditation Points
- I reflect on whether there is a pattern of sin repeating in my life, just as in Israel.
- Not simply repentance aimed at escaping hardship, but whether I have the courage to rely only on God and to cast aside idols in a real way.
- I think about whether I can trust that God delights in sincere repentance and opens the way to restoration again.
Try Applying It to Yourself
- I learn that I need to take a look at what my other “idols” are and make the decision to cut them off.
- I remember that God’s patience and compassion are continuing in my life as well, and I develop a humble heart to turn back to the Lord even amid repeated mistakes.
