Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871)

Judges 10 Tola and Jair

Classic verse-by-verse commentary on Judges 10 from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown (1871). Covers: Tola judges Israel in shamir; Israel oppressed by the philistines and ammonites; They cry to God; They repent; God pities them.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871)
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Tola judges Israel in shamir

1And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 2And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. Judges 10:1-5 ยท KJV
1
after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel, Tola โ€” that is, "to save." Deliverance was necessary as well from intestine usurpation as from foreign aggression. the son of Puah โ€” He was uncle to Abimelech by the father's side, and consequently brother of Gideon; yet the former was of the tribe of Issachar, while the latter was of Manasseh. They were, most probably, uterine brothers. dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim โ€” As a central place, he made it the seat of government.
3
Jair, a Gileadite โ€” This judge was a different person from the conqueror of that northeastern territory, and founder of Havoth-jair, or "Jair's villages" (Nu 32:41; De 3:14; Jos 13:3; 1Ch 2:22).
4
he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts โ€” This is a characteristic trait of Eastern manners in those early times; and the grant of a village to each of his thirty sons was a striking proof of his extensive possessions. His having thirty sons is no conclusive evidence that he had more than one wife, much less that he had more than one at a time. There are instances, in this country, of men having as many children by two successive wives.

Israel oppressed by the philistines and ammonites

6And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him. 7And 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. 8And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9Moreover 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 sore distressed. Judges 10:6-9 ยท KJV
6
the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord โ€” This apostasy seems to have exceeded every former one in the grossness and universality of the idolatry practised.
7
Philistines, and... the children of Ammon โ€” The predatory incursions of these two hostile neighbors were made naturally on the parts of the land respectively contiguous to them. But the Ammonites, animated with the spirit of conquest, carried their arms across the Jordan; so that the central and southern provinces of Canaan were extensively desolated.

They cry to God

10And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 11And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. 13Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. 15And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. Judges 10:10-15 ยท KJV
10
The children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee โ€” The first step of repentance is confession of sin, and the best proof of its sincerity is given by the transgressor, when he mourns not only over the painful consequences which have resulted from his offenses to himself, but over the heinous evil committed against God.
11
the Lord said... Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians โ€” The circumstances recorded in this and the following verses were not probably made through the high priest, whose duty it was to interpret the will of God.
12
Maonites โ€” that is, "Midianites."

They repent; God pities them

16And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. 17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. 18And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. Judges 10:16-18 ยท KJV
16
they put away the strange gods... and served the Lord; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel โ€” On their abandonment of idolatry and return to purity of worship, God graciously abridged the term of national affliction and restored times of peace.
17,18
the children of Ammon were gathered together โ€” From carrying on guerrilla warfare, the Ammonites proceeded to a continued campaign. Their settled aim was to wrest the whole of the trans-jordanic territory from its actual occupiers. In this great crisis, a general meeting of the Israelitish tribes was held at Mizpeh. This Mizpeh was in eastern Manasseh (Jos 11:3).

Commentary text from Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871), a public-domain work, offered freely for personal study. Scripture quotations are from the public-domain King James Version.