Judges 10

1 post Abimelech surrexit dux in Israhel Thola filius Phoa patrui Abimelech vir de Isachar qui habitavit in Sanir montis Ephraim

2 et iudicavit Israhel viginti et tribus annis mortuusque ac sepultus est in Sanir

3 huic successit Iair Galaadites qui iudicavit Israhel per viginti et duos annos

4 habens triginta filios sedentes super triginta pullos asinarum et principes triginta civitatum quae ex nomine eius appellatae sunt Avothiair id est oppida Iair usque in praesentem diem in terra Galaad

5 mortuusque est Iair ac sepultus in loco cui est vocabulum Camon

6 filii autem Israhel peccatis veteribus iungentes nova fecerunt malum in conspectu Domini et servierunt idolis Baalim et Astharoth et diis Syriae ac Sidonis et Moab et filiorum Ammon et Philisthim dimiseruntque Dominum et non colebant eum

7 contra quos iratus tradidit eos in manu Philisthim et filiorum Ammon

8 adflictique sunt et vehementer oppressi per annos decem et octo omnes qui habitabant trans Iordanem in terra Amorrei quae est in Galaad

9 in tantum ut filii Ammon Iordane transmisso vastarent Iudam et Beniamin et Ephraim adflictusque est Israhel nimis

10 et clamantes ad Dominum dixerunt peccavimus tibi quia dereliquimus Deum nostrum et servivimus Baalim

11 quibus locutus est Dominus numquid non Aegyptii et Amorrei filiique Ammon et Philisthim

12 Sidonii quoque et Amalech et Chanaan oppresserunt vos et clamastis ad me et erui vos de manu eorum

13 et tamen reliquistis me et coluistis deos alienos idcirco non addam ut ultra vos liberem

14 ite et invocate deos quos elegistis ipsi vos liberent in tempore angustiae

15 dixeruntque filii Israhel ad Dominum peccavimus redde tu nobis quicquid tibi placet tantum nunc libera nos

16 quae dicentes omnia de finibus suis alienorum deorum idola proiecerunt et servierunt Deo qui doluit super miseriis eorum

17 itaque filii Ammon conclamantes in Galaad fixere tentoria contra quos congregati filii Israhel in Maspha castrametati sunt

18 dixeruntque principes Galaad singuli ad proximos suos qui primus e nobis contra filios Ammon coeperit dimicare erit dux populi Galaad

Judges 10 Commentary

Chapter 10

Tola and Jair judge Israel. (1-5) The Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel. (6-9) Israel's repentance. (10-18)

Verses 1-5 Quiet and peaceable reigns, though the best to live in, yield least variety of matter to be spoken of. Such were the days of Tola and Jair. They were humble, active, and useful men, rulers appointed of God.

Verses 6-9 Now the threatening was fulfilled, that the Israelites should have no power to stand before their enemies, Le. 26:17, Le. 26:37 . By their evil ways and their evil doings they procured this to themselves.

Verses 10-18 God is able to multiply men's punishments according to the numbers of their sins and idols. But there is hope when sinners cry to the Lord for help, and lament their ungodliness as well as their more open transgressions. It is necessary, in true repentance, that there be a full conviction that those things cannot help us which we have set in competition with God. They acknowledged what they deserved, yet prayed to God not to deal with them according to their deserts. We must submit to God's justice, with a hope in his mercy. True repentance is not only for sin, but from sin. As the disobedience and misery of a child are a grief to a tender father, so the provocations of God's people are a grief to him. From him mercy never can be sought in vain. Let then the trembling sinner, and the almost despairing backslider, cease from debating about God's secret purposes, or from expecting to find hope from former experiences. Let them cast themselves on the mercy of God our Saviour, humble themselves under his hand, seek deliverance from the powers of darkness, separate themselves from sin, and from occasions of it, use the means of grace diligently, and wait the Lord's time, and so they shall certainly rejoice in his mercy.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 10

This chapter gives an account of two judges of Israel, in whose days they enjoyed peace, Jud 10:1-5, after which they sinning against God, came into trouble, and were oppressed by their enemies eighteen years, and were also invaded by an army of the Ammonites, Jud 10:6-9, when they cried unto the Lord for deliverance, confessing their sin; but he had first refused to grant them any, though upon their importunity and reformation he had compassion on them, Jud 10:10-16 and the chapter is concluded with the preparation made by both armies for a battle, Jud 10:17,18.