TG
Everything TrueGospel offers, in one place.

Study

Bible Reader Scripture Search Word Study & Lexicon Bible Study Builder Reading Plans Verse Chains

Reference

The Reference Library Topical Index

Learn

True Gospel Institute

Grow & Share

Blog Q&A Sermon Notes Bible Studies Podcast

Community

Community Student Dashboard

About

About Us Support Us Contact Log In Create Free Account
BSB
← Prev Next →

Judges 10

BSB·18 verses ·Old Testament
✦ Tap any verse to open Scripture Explorer — original Hebrew/Greek, commentary, notes & highlights
1After the timeאַחֲרֵ֨י’a·ḥă·rê — after, behind, followingH310 — Full Word Study → of Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֜לֶךְ’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ — Abimelech, a royal name meaning 'My Father is King'H40 — Full Word Study →, a manאִ֣ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → of Issacharיִשָּׂשכָ֑רyiś·śā·š·ḵār — He hears; God's rewardH3485 — Full Word Study →, Tolaתּוֹלָ֧עtō·w·lā‘ — Worm or scarletH8439 — Full Word Study → sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Puahפּוּאָ֛הpū·’āh — A woman who helpsH6312 — Full Word Study →, the sonבֶּן־ben- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → of Dodoדּוֹד֖וֹdō·w·ḏōw — His belovedH1734 — Full Word Study →, rose upוַיָּקָם֩way·yā·qām — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → to saveלְהוֹשִׁ֣יעַlə·hō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. He livedיֹשֵׁ֥בyō·šêḇ — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in Shamirבְּשָׁמִ֖ירbə·šā·mîr — A hard stone or flintH8069 — Full Word Study →, in the hill countryבְּהַ֥רbə·har — Mountain, hill, or elevated land massH2022 — Full Word Study → of Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃’ep̄·rā·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study →. 2Tola judgedוַיִּשְׁפֹּט֙way·yiš·pōṭ — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study → Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → twenty-threeעֶשְׂרִ֥ים‘eś·rîm — The number twenty; a complete group or scoreH6242 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנָ֑הšā·nāh — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study →, and when he diedוַיָּ֖מָתway·yā·māṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, he was buriedוַיִּקָּבֵ֥רway·yiq·qā·ḇêr — to bury, to entomb the deadH6912 — Full Word Study → in Shamirבְּשָׁמִֽיר׃פbə·šā·mîr — A hard stone or flintH8069 — Full Word Study →. 3Tola was followed byוַיָּ֣קָםway·yā·qām — To rise, stand, or be establishedH6965 — Full Word Study → Jairיָאִ֖ירyā·’îr — God enlightensH2971 — Full Word Study → the Gileaditeהַגִּלְעָדִ֑יhag·gil·‘ā·ḏî — A person from GileadH1569 — Full Word Study →, who judgedוַיִּשְׁפֹּט֙way·yiš·pōṭ — to judge, govern, or execute justiceH8199 — Full Word Study → Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → twenty-twoעֶשְׂרִ֥ים‘eś·rîm — The number twenty; a complete group or scoreH6242 — Full Word Study → yearsשָׁנָֽה׃šā·nāh — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study →. 4He hadוַֽיְהִי־way·hî- — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםšə·lō·šîm — thirty; group of thirtyH7970 — Full Word Study → sonsבָּנִ֗יםbā·nîm — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → who rodeרֹֽכְבִים֙rō·ḵə·ḇîm — to ride, mount, or be carriedH7392 — Full Word Study → onעַל־‘al- — upon, over, against; concerningH5921 — Full Word Study → thirtyשְׁלֹשִׁ֣יםšə·lō·šîm — thirty; group of thirtyH7970 — Full Word Study → donkeysעֲיָרִ֔ים‘ă·yā·rîm — Young donkey, colt, or foalH5895 — Full Word Study →. And they had thirtyוּשְׁלֹשִׁ֥יםū·šə·lō·šîm — thirty; group of thirtyH7970 — Full Word Study → townsעֲיָרִ֖ים‘ă·yā·rîm — City; fortified settlement or townH5892 — Full Word Study → in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbə·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of Gileadהַגִּלְעָֽד׃hag·gil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study →, which toעַ֚ד‘aḏ — until, till, up to (temporal or spatial limit)H5704 — Full Word Study → thisהַזֶּ֔הhaz·zeh — this, that; the one, the otherH2088 — Full Word Study → dayהַיּ֣וֹםhay·yō·wm — day; time; period; ageH3117 — Full Word Study → are calledיִקְרְא֣וּ׀yiq·rə·’ū — To call, summon, or proclaimH7121 — Full Word Study → Havvoth-jairיָאִ֗ירyā·’îr — Havvoth-jair; villages of JairH2334 — Full Word Study →. 5When Jairיָאִ֔ירyā·’îr — God enlightensH2971 — Full Word Study → diedוַיָּ֣מָתway·yā·māṯ — to die; to put to death; to killH4191 — Full Word Study →, he was buriedוַיִּקָּבֵ֖רway·yiq·qā·ḇêr — to bury, to entomb the deadH6912 — Full Word Study → in Kamonבְּקָמֽוֹן׃פbə·qā·mō·wn — A city in GileadH7056 — Full Word Study →. 6And againוַיֹּסִ֣פוּ׀way·yō·si·p̄ū — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → didלַעֲשׂ֣וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯ — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → evilהָרַע֮hā·ra‘ — evil, bad, harm, disasterH7451 — Full Word Study → in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbə·‘ê·nê — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָה֒Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. They servedוַיַּעַבְד֣וּway·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study → the Baalsהַבְּעָלִ֣יםhab·bə·‘ā·lîm — Baal, a pagan deity; false godH1168 — Full Word Study →, the Ashtorethsהָעַשְׁתָּר֡וֹתhā·‘aš·tā·rō·wṯ — Goddess of fertilityH6252 — Full Word Study →, the godsאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of Aramאֲרָם֩’ă·rām — Ancient Mesopotamian regionH758 — Full Word Study →, Sidonצִיד֜וֹןṣî·ḏō·wn — Fishery or huntingH6721 — Full Word Study →, andוְאֵ֣ת׀wə·’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → Moabמוֹאָ֗בmō·w·’āḇ — From his fatherH4124 — Full Word Study →, andוְאֵת֙wə·’êṯ — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → the godsאֱלֹהֵ֣י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → of the Ammonitesבְנֵי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → and Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםp̄ə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study →. Thus they forsookוַיַּעַזְב֥וּway·ya·‘az·ḇū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → and did notוְלֹ֥אwə·lō — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → serve Himעֲבָדֽוּהוּ׃‘ă·ḇā·ḏū·hū — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study →. 7So the angerאַ֥ף’ap̄ — Anger, wrath, face, or noseH639 — Full Word Study → of the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → burnedוַיִּֽחַר־way·yi·ḥar- — to burn with anger, become incensedH2734 — Full Word Study → against Israelבְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לbə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →, and He sold themוַֽיִּמְכְּרֵם֙way·yim·kə·rêm — to sell; to exchange for paymentH4376 — Full Word Study → into the handsבְּיַד־bə·yaḏ- — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study → of the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study → and Ammonitesבְּנֵ֥יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, 8who that veryהַהִ֑יאha·hî — He, she, it; the third person pronounH1931 — Full Word Study → yearבַּשָּׁנָ֖הbaš·šā·nāh — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → harassedוַֽיִּרְעֲצ֤וּway·yir·‘ă·ṣū — to shatter, break in pieces, crushH7492 — Full Word Study → and oppressedוַיְרֹֽצְצוּ֙way·rō·ṣə·ṣū — To crush, break, or oppress with forceH7533 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, and did so for eighteen yearsשָׁנָ֗הšā·nāh — Year; period of time or ageH8141 — Full Word Study → to allכָּל־kāl- — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → the Israelitesבְּנֵ֤יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → on the other sideבְּעֵ֣בֶרbə·‘ê·ḇer — side, border, region beyondH5676 — Full Word Study → of the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןhay·yar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → in Gileadבַּגִּלְעָֽד׃bag·gil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study →, the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbə·’e·reṣ — Land, earth, or countryH776 — Full Word Study → of the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יhā·’ĕ·mō·rî — Canaanite peoplesH567 — Full Word Study →. 9The Ammonitesבְנֵֽי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → alsoגַּם־gam- — also, even, moreover, both...andH1571 — Full Word Study → crossedוַיַּעַבְר֤וּway·ya·‘aḇ·rū — to cross over; to pass through or beyondH5674 — Full Word Study → the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןhay·yar·dên — The flowing riverH3383 — Full Word Study → to fightלְהִלָּחֵ֛םlə·hil·lā·ḥêm — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study → against Judahבִּיהוּדָ֥הbî·hū·ḏāh — The Lord is praisedH3063 — Full Word Study →, Benjaminוּבְבִנְיָמִ֖יןū·ḇə·ḇin·yā·mîn — Son of the right handH1144 — Full Word Study →, and the houseוּבְבֵ֣יתū·ḇə·ḇêṯ — A house; dwelling place; household; familyH1004 — Full Word Study → of Ephraimאֶפְרָ֑יִם’ep̄·rā·yim — Double fruitfulnessH669 — Full Word Study →, and Israelלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לlə·yiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study → was in deepמְאֹֽד׃mə·’ōḏ — Much, greatly, very, exceedinglyH3966 — Full Word Study → distressוַתֵּ֥צֶרwat·tê·ṣer — to be narrow, confined, or distressedH3334 — Full Word Study →. 10Then the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → cried outוַֽיִּזְעֲקוּ֙way·yiz·‘ă·qū — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, sayingלֵאמֹ֑רlê·mōr — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “We have sinnedחָטָ֣אנוּḥā·ṭā·nū — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study → against You, for we have indeedוְכִ֤יwə·ḵî — because, since, that (conjunction/reason marker)H3588 — Full Word Study → forsakenעָזַ֙בְנוּ֙‘ā·zaḇ·nū — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → our Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → and servedוַֽנַּעֲבֹ֖דwan·na·‘ă·ḇōḏ — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study → the Baalsהַבְּעָלִֽים׃פhab·bə·‘ā·lîm — Baal, a pagan deity; false godH1168 — Full Word Study →.” 11The LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study → repliedוַ֥יֹּאמֶרway·yō·mer — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study →, “When the Egyptiansמִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙mim·miṣ·ra·yim — Egypt, the ancient nationH4714 — Full Word Study →, Amoritesהָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔יhā·’ĕ·mō·rî — Canaanite peoplesH567 — Full Word Study →, Ammonitesבְּנֵ֥יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study →, Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃pə·liš·tîm — PhilistineH6430 — Full Word Study →, 12Sidoniansוְצִידוֹנִ֤יםwə·ṣî·ḏō·w·nîm — Sidonians, from SidonH6722 — Full Word Study →, Amalekitesוַֽעֲמָלֵק֙wa·‘ă·mā·lêq — Amalek the EnemyH6002 — Full Word Study →, and Maonitesוּמָע֔וֹןū·mā·‘ō·wn — Dwelling or HabitationH4584 — Full Word Study → oppressed youלָחֲצ֖וּlā·ḥă·ṣū — to press, oppress, or crush with forceH3905 — Full Word Study → and you cried outוַתִּצְעֲק֣וּwat·tiṣ·‘ă·qū — to cry out, call for help, shriekH6817 — Full Word Study → to Meאֵלַ֔י’ê·lay — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study →, did I not saveוָאוֹשִׁ֥יעָהwā·’ō·wō·šî·‘āh — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → youאֶתְכֶ֖ם’eṯ·ḵem — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → from their handsמִיָּדָֽם׃mî·yā·ḏām — hand; power, strength, controlH3027 — Full Word Study →? 13But youוְאַתֶּם֙wə·’at·tem — You; second-person pronoun (singular or plural)H859 — Full Word Study → have forsakenעֲזַבְתֶּ֣ם‘ă·zaḇ·tem — to abandon, forsake, or leave behindH5800 — Full Word Study → Meאוֹתִ֔י’ō·w·ṯî — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study → and servedוַתַּעַבְד֖וּwat·ta·‘aḇ·ḏū — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study → otherאֲחֵרִ֑ים’ă·ḥê·rîm — another, different, or following person or thingH312 — Full Word Study → godsאֱלֹהִ֣ים’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study →, soלָכֵ֥ןlā·ḵên — so, thus, rightly, thereforeH3651 — Full Word Study → I will noלֹֽא־lō- — not; negation; absenceH3808 — Full Word Study → longerאוֹסִ֖יף’ō·w·sîp̄ — to add, increase, or do againH3254 — Full Word Study → saveלְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַlə·hō·wō·šî·a‘ — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → youאֶתְכֶֽם׃’eṯ·ḵem — direct object marker; signs accusative caseH853 — Full Word Study →. 14Goלְכ֗וּlə·ḵū — to go, walk, travel, proceedH1980 — Full Word Study → and cry outוְזַֽעֲקוּ֙wə·za·‘ă·qū — To cry out, call for help, summonH2199 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the godsהָ֣אֱלֹהִ֔יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîm — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → you have chosenבְּחַרְתֶּ֖םbə·ḥar·tem — To choose, select, or preferH977 — Full Word Study →. Let themהֵ֛מָּהhêm·māh — They, them (masculine plural pronoun)H1992 — Full Word Study → saveיוֹשִׁ֥יעוּyō·wō·šî·‘ū — To deliver, rescue, or save from dangerH3467 — Full Word Study → you in your timeבְּעֵ֥תbə·‘êṯ — Time, season, or appointed momentH6256 — Full Word Study → of troubleצָרַתְכֶֽם׃ṣā·raṯ·ḵem — Distress, trouble, adversityH6869 — Full Word Study →.” 15We have sinnedחָטָ֔אנוּḥā·ṭā·nū — To sin; to miss the mark; to commit wrongdoingH2398 — Full Word Study →,” the Israelitesבְנֵי־ḇə·nê- — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּway·yō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →. “Dealעֲשֵׂה־‘ă·śêh- — to do, make, or accomplish; to act or performH6213 — Full Word Study → with us as You seeבְּעֵינֶ֑יךָbə·‘ê·ne·ḵā — Eye; sight; appearance; fountainH5869 — Full Word Study → fitהַטּ֖וֹבhaṭ·ṭō·wḇ — good, beneficial, pleasing, wellH2896 — Full Word Study →; butאַ֛ךְ’aḵ — Surely, certainly, only, neverthelessH389 — Full Word Study → pleaseנָ֖אnā — Please, I beseech, I prayH4994 — Full Word Study → deliver us todayהַצִּילֵ֥נוּhaṣ·ṣî·lê·nū — to rescue, deliver, or snatch awayH5337 — Full Word Study →!” 16So they put awayוַיָּסִ֜ירוּway·yā·sî·rū — to turn aside, depart, removeH5493 — Full Word Study → the foreignהַנֵּכָר֙han·nê·ḵār — foreign, alien, strangerH5236 — Full Word Study → godsאֱלֹהֵ֤י’ĕ·lō·hê — God, the divine beingH430 — Full Word Study → from among themמִקִּרְבָּ֔םmiq·qir·bām — midst, inner part, heart, inward beingH7130 — Full Word Study → and servedוַיַּעַבְד֖וּway·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū — to serve, labor, workH5647 — Full Word Study → the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·weh — The LORD; God's covenant nameH3068 — Full Word Study →, and Heנַפְשׁ֖וֹnap̄·šōw — soul, life, person, selfH5315 — Full Word Study → could no longer bearוַתִּקְצַ֥רwat·tiq·ṣar — to cut short, harvest, or reapH7114 — Full Word Study → the miseryבַּעֲמַ֥לba·‘ă·mal — Labor, toil, trouble, or arduous workH5999 — Full Word Study → of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃פyiś·rā·’êl — God prevailsH3478 — Full Word Study →. 17Then the Ammonitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → were called to armsוַיִּצָּֽעֲקוּ֙way·yiṣ·ṣā·‘ă·qū — to cry out, call for help, shriekH6817 — Full Word Study → and campedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nū — to pitch a tent; to camp; to dwellH2583 — Full Word Study → in Gileadבַּגִּלְעָ֑דbag·gil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study →, and the Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יbə·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → assembledוַיֵּאָֽסְפוּ֙way·yê·’ā·sə·p̄ū — to gather, assemble, collectH622 — Full Word Study → and campedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּway·ya·ḥă·nū — to pitch a tent; to camp; to dwellH2583 — Full Word Study → at Mizpahבַּמִּצְפָּֽה׃bam·miṣ·pāh — Watchtower or LookoutH4709 — Full Word Study →. 18And the rulersשָׂרֵ֤יśā·rê — Ruler, leader, or one in authorityH8269 — Full Word Study → of Gileadגִלְעָד֙ḡil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study → saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּway·yō·mə·rū — to say, speak, declareH559 — Full Word Study → toאֶל־’el- — to, toward, against; directional and relational prepositionH413 — Full Word Study → oneאִ֣ישׁ’îš — man, male person, husbandH376 — Full Word Study → anotherרֵעֵ֔הוּrê·‘ê·hū — neighbor, friend, companion, associateH7453 — Full Word Study →, “Whoeverמִ֣יmî — who? what person?H4310 — Full Word Study → will launchיָחֵ֔לyā·ḥêl — to profane, defile, or beginH2490 — Full Word Study → the attackלְהִלָּחֵ֖םlə·hil·lā·ḥêm — to fight; to consume; to battleH3898 — Full Word Study → against the Ammonitesבִּבְנֵ֣יbiḇ·nê — Son; descendant; member of a groupH1121 — Full Word Study → will beיִֽהְיֶ֣הyih·yeh — to be, become, exist, happenH1961 — Full Word Study → the headלְרֹ֔אשׁlə·rōš — Head; chief; beginning; topH7218 — Full Word Study → of allלְכֹ֖לlə·ḵōl — All, every, whole, totalityH3605 — Full Word Study → who liveיֹשְׁבֵ֥יyō·šə·ḇê — to dwell, inhabit, settle, remainH3427 — Full Word Study → in Gileadגִלְעָֽד׃פḡil·‘āḏ — Rocky, hilly regionH1568 — Full Word Study →.”
Scripture Explorer
Original Language
Notes & Doctrine
Chapter Commentary
Cross-Refs
Highlight
My Note
Original Hebrew / Greek
Loading…
Translation Notes & Doctrine — This Verse
Loading…
Chapter Commentary — Judges 10
Chapter Overview

Chapter Overview

Judges 10 presents a pivotal moment in Israel's spiritual cycle: minor judges maintain peace, the nation relapses into idolatry, God's judgment falls heavy, and the people cry out for deliverance. This chapter sets the stage for Jephthah's rise as deliverer and demonstrates a sobering pattern—God's patience with His people is real, but His justice is inevitable when they persistently turn from Him to false gods. The narrative shows both human stubbornness and divine mercy working in tension.

Verses 1-5: Two Minor Judges

Following Abimelech's tragic reign, Tola and Jair bring stability and relative peace to Israel. Tola judges for 23 years, and Jair for 22 years—long, productive tenures suggesting faithfulness and competent leadership. Jair's 30 sons riding on 30 donkeys and controlling 30 cities indicate his wealth and influence, though the text doesn't portray either judge as a mighty military deliverer like Samson or Deborah. Rather, they are administrators who maintain order. These verses remind us that faithful, consistent leadership matters, even when it doesn't capture headlines. A generation of peace is a blessing worth noting.

Verses 6-9: The Cycle Repeats—Israel's Apostasy

Once these judges die, Israel immediately abandons the LORD and serves a catalog of false gods: Baalim (fertility deities), Ashtaroth (goddesses), and the gods of surrounding nations. Verse 6 is striking in its comprehensiveness—they don't just slip into one false religion; they embrace them all. This reflects the human heart's tendency toward spiritual restlessness: when we drift from the true God, we don't become neutral; we actively pursue substitutes.

God's response is swift (verse 7): His anger burns hot, and He allows both Philistines and Ammonites to oppress Israel for 18 years. Verse 9 emphasizes the severity—the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to attack not just the eastern tribes but Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel was comprehensively defeated because they had comprehensively rejected their God.

Verses 10-14: Israel's Confession and God's Rebuke

In distress, Israel cries out, acknowledging their sin (verse 10). But God's response is unexpectedly harsh (verses 11-13). He reminds them of past deliverances—from Egypt, the Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines, and others (verses 11-12)—yet they continually forget and turn back to idols. His verdict in verse 13 is devastating: "I will deliver you no more." Verse 14 is sarcasm with a sting: "Go cry to the gods you've chosen; let them save you." This shows that persistent disobedience leads to a point where God appears to withdraw His willingness to help. This is not final abandonment but a necessary judgment that strips away false hope.

Verses 15-18: Repentance and Renewed Hope

Crucially, Israel's response deepens from mere confession to genuine repentance (verse 15). They say, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever You think best—just deliver us." They remove the foreign gods (verse 16) and return to serving the LORD. Remarkably, verse 16 states that God's soul was "grieved for the misery of Israel"—His compassion is stirred by authentic repentance. The people assemble at Mizpeh (verse 17), and the leaders ask who will lead the fight against Ammon, promising him headship over all Gilead (verse 18). This sets up Jephthah's emergence as the next judge.

Application for Today

Judges 10 reminds us that spiritual cycles are real. We can enjoy seasons of blessing, yet drift into compromise. The chapter calls us to recognize when we're serving "other gods"—whether success, pleasure, or approval rather than Christ. More importantly, it shows that genuine repentance reopens heaven's doors. God is not finally finished with His wayward people. He waits for authentic turning, and when it comes, His compassion flows fresh. Let us not presume on His patience, nor despair of His mercy.

Cross References
Loading…
Highlight This Verse
My Note