Judges 10:1-6

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.

After Abimelech had died, there arose another judge of Israel named Tola.  Abimelech was not considered one of the judges because those who were legitimate judges were appointed by God.  Abimelech had committed murder to usurp the throne of king and was not called by God as any type of deliverer.  They name “Tola” means “scarlet.”  Tola was mentioned in Genesis 46:13.  Genesis 46:13 (KJV)   And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron.  The judge Tola is identified with this man and his family line.  The place where he lived was “Shamir” which has been identified as “Samaria.”  It was about 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Shechem.

Judges 10:2

And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

He had judged Israel for a total of twenty three years but nothing is told about those years of judging nor the offenses that Israel committed which caused them to need another deliverer.  He apparently did his job well with honor and as a result was buried in his home town of Shamir.

Judges 10:3

And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years.

Then after the death of Tola another judge had arisen named “Jair.”  The name means “my light or that which diffuses light.”  He had judged Israel a total of twenty two years.  As with Tola, nothing is known about the time of his ruling nor any offenses which Israel committed requiring a judge to deliver them.  He hailed from Gilead which was on the east side of the Jordan River about 35 miles (56 km) east of “Shamir.”

Judges 10:4

And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

Apparently Jair had thirty sons who were able to make wise decisions because it was an honor for someone to ride on the back of a colt of an ass.  Judges 5:10 (KJV)   Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.  Each son was responsible to rule one city on behalf of Jair.  The name “Havoth-jair” means “the villages of Jair.”  Jair was a son of Manasseh and took small towns.  Numbers 32:41 (KJV)   And Jair the son of Manasseh went and took the small towns thereof, and called them Havoth-jair.  Those towns must have prospered since they grew into a total of thirty towns which now were called cities.  The Jair of Numbers 32 would not have been the same Jair mentioned here but would be a descendant because if it was the same one, it would mean he was a couple hundred years old which was not happening in this time period.

Judges 10:5

And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

Jair had died and was buried in Camon.  Camon was a city in Gilead but the exact whereabouts is unknown.  It may have been a small village which went out of existence.

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.