Judges 10:1-18
Q.1. How did Israel fare under the reigns of Tola and Jair? How did they forfeit their peace? Whom did God raise to oppress the tribes of Israel? – (Jdgs.10:1-9)
God seemed to use leaders from various tribes – Tola from Issachar saved Israel and judged for twenty-three years (Jdgs.10:1-2). He was followed by Jair from Gilead beyond the Jordan who judged for twenty-two years and – he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities in the land of Gilead (Jdgs.10:4 c.f. Jdgs.10:3-5). They were more intent upon ‘empire building’, than ruling Israel with equity. Not surprisingly, Israel drifted – the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the sons of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; thus they forsook the Lord and did not serve Him (Jdgs.10:6). God, angry with their unfaithfulness and rejection, raised up various nations against them – 7 … He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and into the hands of the sons of Ammon. 8 They afflicted and crushed the sons of Israel that year; for eighteen years they afflicted all the sons of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in Gilead in the land of the Amorites. 9 The sons of Ammon crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed (Jdgs.10:7-9).
Q.2. What was Israel’s response to their oppression? What did God suggest that Israel should do? How did Israel show that they understood God’s rebuke? What did the tribes offer? – (Jdgs.10:10-18)
After 18 years of oppression, the people of Israel listened to God, and turned back to Him for deliverance (Jdgs.10:10). Before God intervened, He reminded them of His actions on their behalf, against countless powerful enemies. Then He pointed out – Yet you have forsaken Me and served other gods; therefore, I will no longer deliver you (Jdgs.10:13). He suggested that they should turn to the gods they had chosen for deliverance (Jdgs.10:14). This brought a heart response. Israel agreed – 15 … “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please deliver us this day.” 16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the Lord (Jdgs.10:15-16). God, in compassion, – could bear the misery of Israel no longer (Jdgs.10:16). It is likely that this interchange between God and Israel came through a prophet (c.f. Jdgs.6:7-10). Soon the enemies camped against Israel at Mizpah (Jdgs.10:17). The Gileadites then deliberated on a course of action, and promised – … Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead (Jdgs.10:18). Once their prayers touched the heart of God, deliverance was not far away.