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Judges 10:1-5

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

1. 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. 2. And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3. And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4. And 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. 5. And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

Judges 10:1-5 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Judges 10:1

Theological / Devotional

After Abimelech. The verse provides no clue as to whether there was an interval between Abimelech’s death and Tola’s judgeship.

To defend. These words suggest that as evil as Abimelech’s reign was, he did something also to defend Israel against foreign enemies, or at least to keep them in check.

Tola. Tola and his father, Puah, were of the tribe of Issachar and were named after two of the sons of Issachar (Gen. 46:13; Num. 26:23). In the days of David the Tola clan was noted for producing men of valor (1 Chron. 7:1,2). Tola seems to have been the only judge furnished by this tribe.

In mount Ephraim. Ordinarily the tribe of Issachar dwelt north of Mt. Ephraim, beyond the plain of Esdraelon. Evidently part of the tribe had settled in the territory usually regarded as belonging to Manasseh and Ephraim.

By SdaBc