1 And after Abimelech (Avimelekh) there arose to defend Yisrael Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Yissaskhar; and he dwelt in Shamir in Mount Efrayim.
2 And he judged Yisrael twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
3 And after him arose Yair, a Giladite, and judged Yisrael twenty and two years.
4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Chawwot Yair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilad.
5 And Yair died, and was buried in Camon.
6 And the children of Yisrael did evil again in the sight of יהוה, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods (elohim) of Syria (Aram), and the gods (elohim) of Zidon, and the gods (elohim) of Moav, and the gods (elohim) of the children of Ammon, and the gods (elohim) of the Philistines, and forsook יהוה, and served not Him.
7 And the anger of יהוה was hot against Yisrael, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8 And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Yisrael; eighteen years, all the children of Yisrael that were on the other side Jordan (Yarden) in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilad.
9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan (Yarden) to fight also against Judah (Yehudah), and against Binyamin, and against the house of Efrayim; so that Yisrael was sore distressed.
10 And the children of Yisrael cried unto יהוה, saying, “We have sinned against you, both because we have forsaken our God (Elohim), and also served Baals (Baalim)!”
11 And יהוה said unto the children of Yisrael, “Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians (Mitsrayim), and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and you cried to Me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13 Yet you have forsaken Me, and served other gods (elohim); wherefore I will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry unto the gods (elohim) which you have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”
15 And the children of Yisrael said unto יהוה, “We have sinned; do You unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto You; only please deliver us this day.”
16 And they put away the strange gods (elohim) from among them, and served יהוה; and His soul was grieved for the misery of Yisrael.
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilad. And the children of Yisrael assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
18 And the people and princes of Gilad 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 Gilad.”