1 A fter Abimelech there arose to rescue Israel, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

After Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, came to save Israel. He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

2 H e judged Israel twenty-three years; then he died and was buried in Shamir.

He judged Israel for twenty-three years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir. Jair

3 A fter him arose Jair the Gileadite, and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

Jair the Gileadite came after him. He judged Israel for twenty-two years.

4 A nd he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty towns called Havvoth-jair which to this day are in the land of Gilead.

He had thirty sons who traveled on thirty donkeys. They had thirty cities in the land of Gilead that are called the towns of Jair to this day.

5 A nd Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

Jair died and was buried in Kamon. Jephthah

6 A nd the Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, served the Baals, the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. They forsook the Lord and did not serve Him.

Then the people of Israel sinned in the eyes of the Lord. They served the male and female gods of Canaan, and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites and of the Philistines. They turned away from the Lord and did not serve Him.

7 A nd the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites,

The anger of the Lord was against Israel. So He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the people of Ammon.

8 A nd they oppressed and crushed and broke the Israelites that year. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

They made it very hard for the people of Israel that year. For eighteen years they made it very hard for all the people of Israel in Gilead in the land of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan.

9 A nd the Ammonites passed over the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was sorely distressed.

And the sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the family of Ephraim. So Israel suffered much pain.

10 A nd the Israelites cried to the Lord, saying, We have sinned against You, because we have forsaken our God and have served the Baals.

The people of Israel cried out to the Lord, saying, “We have sinned against You. We have turned away from our God and are serving the Baals.”

11 A nd the Lord said to the Israelites, Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines?

The Lord said to the people of Israel, “Did I not save you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the people of Ammon and the Philistines?

12 A lso when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites oppressed and crushed you, you cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hands.

When the Sidonians and Amalekites and Maonites made it hard for you, you cried out to Me. And I took you away from their hands.

13 Y et you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore I will deliver you no more.

Yet you have turned away from Me and served other gods. So I will not take you away again.

14 G o, cry to the gods you have chosen; let them deliver you in your time of distress.

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

15 A nd the Israelites said to the Lord, We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only deliver us, we pray You, this day.

The people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever You think is good. But we beg of You, take us out of this today.”

16 S o they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord, and His heart became impatient over the misery of Israel.

So they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord. And the Lord cared as He saw the suffering of Israel.

17 T hen the Ammonites were gathered together and they encamped in Gilead. And the Israelites assembled and encamped at Mizpah.

The men of Ammon were gathered together for war. They set up their tents in Gilead. The men of Israel gathered together, and set up their tents in Mizpah.

18 A nd the leaders of Gilead said one to another, Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

The leaders of Gilead said to one another, “Who is the man who will be first to fight against the men of Ammon? He will be the head of all the people of Gilead.”