Judges 10:1-11:11
International Children’s Bible
Tola, the Judge
10 After Abimelech died, another judge came to save the people of Israel. He was Tola son of Puah. (Puah was the son of Dodo.) Tola was from the people of Issachar. He lived in the city of Shamir in the mountains of Ephraim. 2 Tola was a judge for Israel for 23 years. Then he died and was buried in Shamir.
Jair, the Judge
3 After Tola died, Jair became judge. He lived in the region of Gilead. He was a judge for Israel for 22 years. 4 Jair had 30 sons, who rode 30 donkeys. These 30 sons controlled 30 towns in Gilead. These towns are called the Towns of Jair to this day. 5 Jair died and was buried in the city of Kamon.
The Ammonites Trouble Israel
6 Again the Israelites did what the Lord said was wrong. They worshiped the Baal and Ashtoreth idols. They also worshiped the gods of the peoples of Aram, Sidon, Moab and Ammon. And they worshiped the gods of the Philistines. The Israelites left the Lord and stopped serving him. 7 So the Lord became angry with them. He allowed the Philistines and the Ammonites to defeat them. 8 In the same year those people destroyed the Israelites who lived east of the Jordan River. This is in the region of Gilead, where the Amorites lived. The Israelites suffered for 18 years. 9 The Ammonites then crossed the Jordan River to fight the people of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. The Ammonites caused much trouble to the people of Israel. 10 So the Israelites cried out to the Lord, “We have sinned against you. We left our God and worshiped the Baal idols.”
11 The Lord answered the Israelites, “You cried to me when the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites and the Philistines hurt you. I saved you from these people. 12 You cried to me when the Sidonians, Amalekites and Maonites hurt you. I also saved you from those people. 13 But you have left me. You have worshiped other gods. So I refuse to save you again! 14 You have chosen those gods. So go call to them for help. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”
15 But the people of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do to us whatever you want, but please save us today!” 16 Then the Israelites threw away the foreign gods among them. And they worshiped the Lord again. So he felt sorry for them when he saw their suffering.
17 The Ammonite people gathered for war and camped in Gilead. The Israelites gathered and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said, “Who will lead us to attack the people of Ammon? He will become the head of all those who live in Gilead.”
Jephthah Is Chosen as Leader
11 Jephthah was from the people of Gilead. He was a strong soldier. His father was named Gilead, and his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife had several sons. When they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave his home. They said to him, “You will not get any of our father’s property. You are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He lived in the land of Tob. There some worthless men began to follow Jephthah.
4 After a time the Ammonite people fought against Israel. 5 The Ammonites made war against Israel. At that time the elders of Gilead came to Jephthah. They wanted him to come back to Gilead. 6 They said to him, “Come and lead our army so we can fight the Ammonites.”
7 But Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me? You forced me to leave my father’s house! Why are you coming to me now that you are in trouble?”
8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is the reason we come to you now. Please come with us and fight against the Ammonites! You will be the ruler over everyone who lives in Gilead.”
9 Then Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to Gilead to fight the Ammonites. If the Lord helps me win, I will be your ruler.”
10 The elders of Gilead said to him, “The Lord is listening to everything we are saying. We promise to do all that you tell us to do.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander of their army. Jephthah repeated all of his words in front of the Lord at Mizpah.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
