Judges 10:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, and he lived at Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

NIV: After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

NASB: Now after Abimelech died, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, rose up to save Israel; and he lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

CSB: After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo became judge and began to deliver Israel. He was from Issachar and lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

NLT: After Abimelech died, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, was the next person to rescue Israel. He was from the tribe of Issachar but lived in the town of Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim.

KJV: And 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.

NKJV: After Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim.

Abimelech's reign as king of the region around the city of Shechem ended with his violent death (Judges 9:52–54). This brought a sad end to the story of his father Gideon, whom God had raised up as a judge and deliverer over Israel (Judges 8:28).

The book of Judges uses the Hebrew term sōpetim', from the root word shaphat, which is translated into English as "judge." The Hebrew word means much more than a legal authority, including concepts of vindication, vengeance, defense, rescue, and advocacy. So far, Scripture has described Israel's rescue by people like Gideon and Ehud with extended narratives. The first verses of chapter 10 mention two men who served as judges, though little information is provided about them. Some scholars refer to these as "minor" or "secondary" judges.

The first new judge mentioned is a man named Tola. He arose to save Israel after the time of Abimelech. It's possible his rescue involved resolving the chaos brought about by Abimelech's viciousness in and around Shechem.

Nothing is known of Tola's father Puah or his grandfather Dodo. He was from the tribe of Issachar and given the same name as one of the original Issachar's four sons (Genesis 46:13). However, Tola operated from a town called Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim. Some scholars suggest Shamir later became Samaria, but this is uncertain. Shamir was likely not far from Shechem.

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).