1And 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 hill-country of Ephraim. 2And he judged Israel twenty and three years , and died , and was buried in Shamir . 3And after him arose Jair , the Gileadite ; and he 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 Havvoth-jair unto this day , which are in the land of Gilead . 5And Jair died , and was buried in Kamon . 6And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah , and served the Baalim , and the Ashtaroth , and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon , and the gods of Moab , and the gods of the children of Ammon , and the gods of the Philistines ; and they forsook Jehovah , and served him not . 7And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel , and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines , and into the hand of the children of Ammon . 8And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year : eighteen years oppressed they all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead . 9And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah , and against Benjamin , and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed .
God's Anger and Israel's Cry for Help
10And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah , saying, We have sinned against thee , even because we have forsaken our God , and have served the Baalim . 11And Jehovah said unto the children of Israel , Did not I save you from the Egyptians , and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon , and from the Philistines ? 12The Sidonians also , and the Amalekites , and the Maonites , did oppress you ; and ye cried unto me , and I saved you out of their hand . 13Yet ye have forsaken me , and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more . 14Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress .
God's Response to Israel's Repentance
15And the children of Israel said unto Jehovah , We have sinned : do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee ; only deliver us , we pray thee , this day . 16And they put away the foreign gods from among them , and served Jehovah ; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel .
The Gathering of the Warriors
17Then the children of Ammon were gathered together , and encamped in Gilead . And the children of Israel assembled themselves together , and encamped in Mizpah . 18And the people , the 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 .