2
Tola led Israel for 23 years. After he died, his body was buried in Shamir.
Jair
3 Jair became the leader after Tola. Jair was from the land of Gilead. He led Israel for 22 years.
4
He had 30 sons. They rode on 30 donkeys. They controlled 30 towns in Gilead. Those towns are called Havvoth Jair to this very day.
5
After Jair died, his body was buried in Kamon.
Jephthah
6 Once again the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They served the gods that were named after Baal. They served the goddesses that were named after Ashtoreth. They worshiped the gods of Aram and Sidon. They served the gods of Moab and Ammon. They also worshiped the gods of the Philistines. The people of Israel deserted the Lord. They didn't serve him anymore.
7
So the LORD's anger burned against them. He handed them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites.
8
That year they broke Israel's power completely. They treated the people of Israel badly for 18 years. Those people lived east of the Jordan River. They lived in Gilead. That was the land of the Amorites.
9
The Ammonites also went across the Jordan. They crossed over to fight against Judah, Benjamin and the people of Ephraim. Israel was suffering terribly.
10
Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said, "We have sinned against you. We have deserted our God. We have served the gods that are named after Baal."
11
The LORD replied, "The Egyptians and Amorites beat you down. So did the Ammonites and Philistines.
12
And so did the Amalekites and the people of Sidon and Maon. Each time you cried out to me for help. And I saved you from their power.