1 A fter 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.

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, and 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 Jair, the Gileadite arose, and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

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

4 H e had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which 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 J air died, and was buried in Kamon.

Jair died and was buried in Kamon. Jephthah

6 T he children of Israel again did that which was evil in Yahweh’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 Yahweh, and didn’t 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 Y ahweh’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon.

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

8 T hey 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.

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 T he 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.

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

10 T he children of Israel cried to Yahweh, saying, “We have sinned against you, even 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 Y ahweh 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?

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 T he Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.

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 save 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 and cry to the gods which you have chosen. Let them save you in the time of your distress!”

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

15 T he children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”

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 T hey put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Yahweh; and his soul was grieved for 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 children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in 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 T he 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 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.”