Shoftim - Chapter 10

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

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

3. And after him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

4. And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty white colts, and they had thirty cities; they called them "The Villages of Jair" until this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

5. And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

6. And the children of Israel continued to do that which displeased the Lord, and they served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Aram, 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 they forsook the Lord, and did not serve Him.

7. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He delivered them over into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

8. And they crushed and broke the children of Israel that year, (for) eighteen years, (to) all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites which is in Gilead.

9. And the children of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; and Israel was greatly distressed.

10. And the children of Israel cried to the Lord, saying, "We have sinned against You, for we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim."

11. And the Lord said to the children of Israel, "Did (I) not (save you) from the Egyptains, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

12. The Zidonians, and Amalek, and Maon oppressed you; and you cried to Me, and I saved you from their hand.

13. And you have forsaken Me, and have served other gods; therefore I will not continue to save you.

14. Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress."

15. And the children of Israel said to the Lord, "We have sinned, do You to us whatsoever pleases you, only deliver us now, this day."

16. And they removed the strange gods from among them, and they served the Lord: and His soul was grieved by the toil of Israel.

17. And the children of Ammon were gathered, and they encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled, and encamped in Mizpah.

18. And the people, the princes of Gilead, said each to his friend, "Whosoever shall be the man that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon, (he) shall be the head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."