Judges 10

1 After Avimelekh there arose to save Yisra'el Tola the son of Pu`ah, the son of Dodo, a man of Yissakhar; and he lived in Shamir in the hill-country of Efrayim.

2 He judged Yisra'el twenty-three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

3 After him arose Ya'ir, the Gil`adite; and he judged Yisra'el twenty-two years.

4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkey colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvot-Ya'ir to this day, which are in the land of Gil`ad.

5 Ya'ir died, and was buried in Kamon.

6 The children of Yisra'el again did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, and served the Ba`alim, and the `Ashtarot, and the gods of Aram, and the gods of Tzidon, and the gods of Mo'av, and the gods of the children of `Ammon, and the gods of the Pelishtim; and they forsook the LORD, and didn't serve him.

7 The anger of the LORD was kindled against Yisra'el, and he sold them into the hand of the Pelishtim, and into the hand of the children of `Ammon.

8 They vexed and oppressed the children of Yisra'el that year: eighteen years [oppressed they] all the children of Yisra'el that were beyond the Yarden in the land of the Amori, which is in Gil`ad.

9 The children of `Ammon passed over the Yarden to fight also against Yehudah, and against Binyamin, and against the house of Efrayim; so that Yisra'el was sore distressed.

10 The children of Yisra'el cried to the LORD, saying, We have sinned against you, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Ba`alim.

11 The LORD said to the children of Yisra'el, Didn't I save you from the Mitzrim, and from the Amori, from the children of `Ammon, and from the Pelishtim?

12 The Tzidonim also, and the `Amaleki, and the Ma`on, did oppress you; and you cried to me, and I saved you out of their hand.

13 Yet you have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will save you no more.

14 Go and cry to the gods which you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.

15 The children of Yisra'el said to the LORD, We have sinned: do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, we pray you, this day.

16 They put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the LORD; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Yisra'el.

17 Then the children of `Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gil`ad. The children of Yisra'el assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mitzpah.

18 The people, the princes of Gil`ad, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of `Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gil`ad.

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.