Judges 10:3 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After him arose Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

NIV: He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years.

NASB: After him, Jair the Gileadite rose up and judged Israel for twenty-two years.

CSB: After him came Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.

NLT: After Tola died, Jair from Gilead judged Israel for twenty-two years.

KJV: And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

NKJV: After him arose Jair, a Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty-two years.

The first five verses of this chapter introduce two "secondary" judges. Along with examples such as Shamgar (Judges 3:31) and Elon (Judges 12:11), they are referred to as "minor" judges since so little is known about them. Even so, both held the position of "judge" over Israel. Since the writer gives them that title without dispute, it is implied God was ultimately responsible for bringing them into power during their time.

After Tola ruled and then died, Jair the Gileadite became the next judge over Israel. He ruled another twenty-two years after Tola's twenty-three-year term. Jair was closely associated with his home region. Gilead was east of the Jordan River between the Jabbok River to the south and the Yarmuk River to the north. The Israelites in Gilead were part of the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Judges 10:1–5 describes a period between Abimelech's atrocities and Israel's return to serving false gods. Little information is given about the two judges who arise during this time. Tola, from Issachar, saves Israel in some way and rules for twenty-three years. Jair rules from Gilead for twenty-two years, along with his thirty sons, who rule over thirty different towns. That area of Gilead is known by a name meaning "the settlements of Jair."

Two more judges, Tola and Jair, rescue Israel for a time. Little detail is given about either. Once again, the people return to idolatry and depraved sins (Deuteronomy 12:29–31). In response, God submits His people to the Ammonites and Philistines. After eighteen years, they confess and beg for mercy. God bluntly refuses, this time. And yet, Israel shows humble repentance, getting rid of their idols. As God prepares to save the people, an army of Israelites in Gilead gathers to face an army of Ammonites. But the Israelite army lacks a leader.

After Gideon rescued Israel (Judges 6—8), his son, Abimelech, murdered his siblings and became a despotic ruler (Judges 9). That ended with further tragedy and bloodshed. Judges 10 begins with a brief description of two judges who ruled after the time of Abimelech. Then Israel falls further than ever into the worship of false gods. Nearly two decades after God turns the people over to their enemies, they confess their sinfulness. The Ammonites encamp against Israel in Gilead. The leaders of Gilead search for someone to lead them in battle. Chapter 11 details the call and success of the next judge, Jephthah.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).

Accessed 12/21/2024 9:44:08 PM