JUDGES LESSON 12
We will begin this lesson in Judges 10:1 "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."
Very little is known of Tola and his ancestors, except what we
read right here. We know there was a need for a leader, who would
stand against the enemies of Israel, and he seemed to do that. We are
not familiar with Puah or Dodo, either. We are familiar with the tribe
of Issachar. Really, the only thing we know about this Shamir, is that
it is in mount Ephraim.
Judges 10:2 "And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and
died, and was buried in Shamir."
There is very little known about the judgeship of Tola, except
that it lasted 23 years. We read of no wars during this time, so we
know the LORD was with them. Tola lived and died in Shamir.
Judges 10:3 "And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged
Israel twenty and two years."
Jair was believed to be of the half tribe of Manasseh on the
eastern side of the Jordan, because that is where Gilead is. He was
the son of Segub. I Chronicles 2:22 "And Segub begat Jair, who had
three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead." His inheritance was
from his mother's side. She was of Manasseh. His 22 year reign shows
he was a brave powerful judge.
Judges 10:4 "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."
It seems from this, that each of his sons had a city. It seems,
each of these cities was called Havothjair. "Havothjair" means
villages of Jair. Perhaps, Jair had them to ride these ass colts to
keep them humble.
Judges 10:5 "And Jair died, and was buried in Camon."
The only thing we really know about Camon, is that it was the
city of Gilead where Jair was buried.
Judges 10:6 "And the children of Israel did evil again in the
sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of
Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of
the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook
the LORD, and served not him."
The children of Israel are the most ungrateful, unfaithful people
I have ever heard of. They were so intent on worshipping false gods it
seemed not to matter who the false gods were, they worshipped them. Of
course, the most infamous of the false gods and goddesses were Baal
and Asteroth. This is spiritual adultery. God counted Israel His wife.
Judges 10:7 "And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel,
and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands
of the children of Ammon."
The only reason Israel had ever been blessed was, because they
were worshipping the LORD. When they went to false gods, God took his
blessings off of them, and empowered their enemies. Over and over, God
used their enemies to chastise Israel. This time, he empowers the
Philistines and the Ammonites to punish Israel for Him.
Judges 10:8 "And that year they vexed and oppressed the children
of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that [were] on
the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which [is] in
Gilead."
The very year the children of Israel started the worship of false
gods, they were vexed by the Philistines and the Ammonites. It
appears, this lasted 18 years in Gilead, on the east side of the
Jordan River.
Judges 10:9 "Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to
fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house
of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed."
They had such good success on the eastern side of Jordan, that
the Ammonites crossed over Jordan into the land of Judah, Benjamin,
and Ephraim and vexed them.
Judges 10:10 "And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD,
saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our
God, and also served Baalim."
You can easily see, they knew exactly why they were having these
problems. The Israelites all knew better than to worship these false
gods, but they did it anyway. They were a rebellious house from the
very beginning. Every time they got in serious trouble, they cried out
to the LORD.
Judges 10:11 "And the LORD said unto the children of Israel,
[Did] not [I deliver you] from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites,
from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?"
He, indeed, had delivered them over and over. He defeated Pharaoh
with the ten plagues He brought on Egypt. He brought them out of Egypt
with a mighty hand. He had already defeated The Amorites, the
Ammonites, and the Philistines for them. All they had to do, was
remain faithful to God. They did not, and God let these people rise up
against them, again.
Judges 10:12 "The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the
Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out
of their hand."
This had been the story over and over. They were punished for
their idolatry by countries attacking them. They would repent, cry out
to God, and He would forgive them. When they were in right standing
with God, they could not be defeated by their enemies. God fought for
them.
Judges 10:13 "Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods:
wherefore I will deliver you no more."
The LORD is about to give up on them. He has forgiven them over
and over, and they never seem to learn. Every time they are free from
trouble, they become unfaithful to Him. He has become very tired of
their unfaithfulness.
Judges 10:14 "Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let
them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."
They are so set on worshipping these false gods, that God tells
them to turn to the ones they have put their faith in. If these false
gods are who they worship, why are they coming to Him for help?
Judges 10:15 "And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We
have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee;
deliver us only, we pray thee, this day."
They know they deserve to be punished. They are willing for God
to chastise them. They just do not want it to be by these Philistines,
Ammonites, and Amorites. They are begging God to save them this day.
Judges 10:16 "And they put away the strange gods from among them,
and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of
Israel."
To show their loyalty to God, they put away these false gods.
They began, again, to worship the LORD, and Him alone. As always, God
feels sorry for their misery. He forgives them.
Judges 10:17 "Then the children of Ammon were gathered together,
and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled
themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh."
They did not attack them right now. They encamped where they
could attack at any time. It appears that, the children of Israel
gathered in Mizpeh to make a stand, if necessary.
Judges 10:18 "And the people [and] princes of Gilead said one to
another, What man [is he] that will begin to fight against the
children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of
Gilead."
The men of Israel are asking for a strong judge, to come and be
their leader. Someone who God will be with, and will keep them safe
from their enemies.
Judges 12 Questions
1. Who was the next judge, after Abimelech?
2. Who was his father?
3. What tribe was he from?
4. Where did he live?
5. How long did he judge Israel?
6. Where was he buried?
7. Who was the next judge, after Tola?
8. How many years did he judge Israel?
9. Jair was a ___________.
10. What tribe was he believed to be from?
11. Who was his father?
12. How many cities did he have in Gilead?
13. How many sons did Jair have?
14. What was peculiar about them?
15. What was the name of their cities?
16. What does the name of their cities mean?
17. After the death of Jair, what did the children of Israel do?
18. What were the names of the false gods?
19. What sin is the worship of false gods?
20. How did the LORD feel about this?
21. What did He do about it?
22. How many years did they oppress Israel?
23. Who did the children of Ammon fight on the other side of Jordan?
24. What did the children of Israel cry out to the LORD?
25. How did the LORD answer them?
26. What does the LORD threaten in verse 13?
27. Who does the LORD tell them to ask for help?
28. What does Israel say in verse 15?
29. When they put away their false gods, what effect did it have on
the LORD?
30. Who do the princes and the people of Gilead ask for?
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