| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1A man from the tribe of Issachar, Puah's son Tola, grandson of Dodo, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the mountainous region of Ephraim. | 1After 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. |
| 2He governed Israel for 23 years and then died. He was buried in Shamir. | 2He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. |
| 3After him, Jair the Gileadite arose and governed Israel for 22 years. | 3Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. |
| 4His 30 sons rode on 30 donkeys, controlling 30 cities in the territory of Gilead named Havvoth-jair to this day. | 4He 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. |
| 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. | 5Jair died and was buried in Kamon. |
| 6Later on, the Israelis again practiced what the LORD considered to be evil by serving the Baals, the stars, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the descendants of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. In doing so, they ignored the LORD and wouldn't serve him. | 6The Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the LORD and did not worship him. |
| 7In his burning anger against Israel, he sold them into domination by the Philistines and the Ammonites, | 7The LORD was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. |
| 8who trampled and troubled the Israelis during that year—eighteen years for the Israelis who lived east of the Jordan River in Gilead, the land occupied by the Amorites. | 8They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year--that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead. |
| 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim. As a result, Israel was deeply distressed. | 9The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. Israel suffered greatly. |
| 10Then the Israelis cried out to the LORD and told him, "We have sinned against you because we have abandoned our God to serve the Baals." | 10The Israelites cried out for help to the LORD: "We have sinned against you. We abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." |
| 11The LORD replied to the Israelis, "Aren't you away from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines? | 11The LORD said to the Israelites, "Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, |
| 12And when the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites harassed you, you cried out to me, and I delivered you from under their domination. | 12the Sidonians, Amalek, and Midian when they oppressed you? You cried out for help to me, and I delivered you from their power. |
| 13But you have abandoned me and served other gods. Therefore I will no longer be delivering you. | 13But since you abandoned me and worshiped other gods, I will not deliver you again. |
| 14Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen for yourselves. Let them deliver you in your time of trouble." | 14Go and cry for help to the gods you have chosen! Let them deliver you from trouble!" |
| 15The Israelis replied to the LORD, "We have sinned, so do to us anything that's right to do in your opinion, just please deliver us right now." | 15But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. You do to us as you see fit, but deliver us today!" |
| 16When they put away their foreign gods and served the LORD, he brought Israel's misery to an end. | 16They threw away the foreign gods they owned and worshiped the LORD. Finally the LORD grew tired of seeing Israel suffer so much. |
| 17The Ammonites were summoned and they encamped in Gilead. The Israelis assembled together and encamped in Mizpah. | 17The Ammonites assembled and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah. |
| 18The people and Gilead's officials inquired among themselves, "Who will begin our attack against the Ammonites? He'll become head over everyone who lives in Gilead." | 18The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!" |
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