Servitude Under the Philistines and Ammonites
May 1, 2019
Commentary
After Abimelech, Tola arose to rescue Israel (vv. 1-2). We know little about this sixth judge. He was a member of the tribe of Issachar and his regime lasted 23 years. Apparently, nothing outstanding occurred during his reign. Jair was the seventh judge who apparently was wealthy (vv. 3-5). He was noted for his sizable family as he had thirty sons and it seems that he built thirty cities. These may not have been permanently built towns but tent villages.
It says, “Then the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord” (v. 6). The failure in previous years to drive out the various nations who worshiped various gods now brought serious results. These pagan deities now claimed the Hebrews’ devotion and they once more abandoned the one true God of their fathers. The LORD was angry at Israel and decided to let Philistia and Ammon conquer them (v. 7). So, the same year that Jair died, Israel’s army was crushed by these two nations. With the Israelites trying to honor all the false idols of their neighbors it is no wonder that the true God of the heavens was angry with them. For eighteen years, Ammon was cruel to the Israelites who lived in Gilead, the region east of the Jordan River that had once belonged to the Amorites (v. 8). He turned them over to their enemies for a time of affliction to teach them a lesson. For eighteen years the merciless Philistines oppressed them, and despair gripped the nation.
Application
What are some of the gods of today that I may be tempted to follow instead of following the Lord? Do you think God might become angry at me for not allowing Him to have full control of my life? What are some of the potential results if I continue to serve the god of materialism, etc.?
Judges 10:1– 9 (NET)
1 After Abimelech’s death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. 2 He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir.
3 Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. 4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair —they are in the land of Gilead. 5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.
6 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtoreths, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not worship him. 7 The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. 8 They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year —that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. 9 The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly.