1 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 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was
buried in Shamir.
3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel
twenty and two years.
4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they
had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day,
which are in the land of Gilead.
5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.
6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the
LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria,
and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of
the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and
forsook the LORD, and served not him.
7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold
them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of
the children of Ammon.
8 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 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 And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We
have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our
God, and also served Baalim.
11 And the LORD 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 Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did
oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of
their hand.
13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I
will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them
deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15 And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned:
do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us
only, we pray thee, this day.
16 And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served
the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17 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 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.
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