 1 After Abimelech there arose to defend Israel, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar. He lived in Shamir in Mount Ephraim. 2 He judged Israel 23 years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 After him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel 22 years. 4 He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkey colts, and they had 30 cities that are called Havothjair to this day in the land of Gilead. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon. 6 The children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord, and served the Baals and Ashtoreths, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They left the Lord, and did not serve Him. 7 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 That year they troubled and oppressed the children of Israel. All the children of Israel on the other side of Jordan, in the land of the Amorites that is in Gilead, for eighteen years. 9 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 very distressed. 10 The children of Israel cried out to the Lord saying, We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our God and also have served the Baals. 11 The Lord said to the children of Israel, Did I not deliver you from Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Sidonians and the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you. You cried out to me and I delivered you out of their hand. 13 Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods. Therefore I will rescue+ you no more. 14 Go and cry to the gods that you have chosen. Let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. 15 The children of Israel said to the Lord, We have sinned. Do to us whatever is good in your eyes, though we beseech+ you to deliver us. 16 They put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord. And His soul was moved by the misery of Israel. 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered and camped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and camped in Mizpeh. 18 The people and rulers of Gilead said to one another, What man is there who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
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