Tola (Hebrew: תּוֹלָע, means “Crimson worm” or “scarlet stuff” ) was the seventh Judge of Israel. He judged Israel for 23 years after Abimelech died. He lived at Shamir in Mount Ephraim, where he was also buried. He was succeeded by Jair.
Of all the biblical judges, the least is written about Tola. None of his deeds are recorded. The entire account from Judges 10:1-2 (NIV) follows:
1 After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. 2 He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.
Tola, together with Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, sometimes considered “minor judges,” since their accounts are shorter than some of the other judges’ (such as Gideon or Samson), yet each of their accounts includes important information and lessons for the book’s original readers and for readers today.[gotquestions.org]
