Tyndale Open Study NotesJudges 10

Each of the five minor judges (see also Isaiah 12:8–15) led Israel for a set number of years. During this time after Gideon, the phrase the land had rest for forty years (Judges 3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28) does not appear again. The details about these mysterious figures include their birthplaces and burial sites, and sometimes a brief family history or notable family traits. Four of the five names are found in other family records:

• Tola and Puah are clans of Issachar (Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23)

• Elon is a descendant of Zebulun (Genesis 46:14; Numbers 26:26)

• Jair is mentioned in several places (see Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; Joshua 13:30; 1 Kings 4:13)

The absence of specific military achievements and the frequent mention of “judging” suggest they had administrative or judicial roles.

Tola was the first of five minor judges, but little is known about him. Among the five, only Tola was said to save Israel. He came after Abimelech died, when Israel needed help, though not from a foreign enemy.

Jair was likely a descendant of an earlier Jair from the tribe of Manasseh (see Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14; compare 1 Kings 4:13). The Towns of Jair, which Jair and his sons controlled, were conquered by the earlier Jair.

The Lord responded to his people's complete abandonment by allowing severe oppression (Judges 10:8). As usual, Israel called out to the Lord for help (Judges 10:10) only after facing great hardship (10:9). Normally, Israel's cry led to divine help, but God's choice to leave them to their chosen gods marks a change in the cycle described in Judges 2:10–19. Only when the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord did he act to save them again (Judges 10:17–11:33).

And again the Israelites did evil...they forsook the LORD: This time, their turning away was more complete than before. They worshiped Baal, Ashtoreth, and other local gods.

• the Philistines: See study notes on Judges 3:3 and 13:1.

• The Ammonites lived east of the Jordan River (see study note on Judges 3:12–13). They started by oppressing the Israelite tribes in Transjordan and then attacked the tribes west of the Jordan River as well.

The story goes back to the Ammonite oppression, setting the stage for Jephthah's tale.

The leaders of Gilead, desperate for guidance, did not ask the Lord (compare Judges 1:1; 20:18). They decided that whoever volunteered to lead would become the ruler of Gilead.