Judges 10:1-2 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 10:1-5

Quiet and peaceable reigns, though the best to live in, are the worst to write of, as yielding least variety of matter for the historian to entertain his reader with; such were the reigns of these two judges, Tola and Jair, who make but a small figure and take up but a very little room in this history. But no doubt they were both raised up of God to serve their country in the quality of judges, not pretending, as Abimelech had done, to the grandeur of kings, nor, like him, taking the honour... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 10:1

And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel ,.... To save, deliver, and protect Israel; which does not necessarily imply that Abimelech did; for he was no judge of God's raising up, or the people's choosing, but usurped a kingly power over them; and was so far from saving and defending them, that he involved them in trouble and distress, and ruled over them in a tyrannical manner, and left them in the practice of idolatry: it only signifies that after his death arose a person next... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 10:2

And he judged Israel twenty three years, and died ,.... He did not take upon him to be king, as Abimelech did, but acted as a judge, in which office he continued twenty three years, and faithfully discharged it, and died in honour: and was buried in Shamir ; the place where he executed his office. It is said F20 Juchasin, fol. 136. 1. , that in the first year of Tola, the son of Puah, Priamus reigned in Troy. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 10:1

Tola the son of Puah - As this Tola continued twenty-three years a judge of Israel after the troubles of Abimelech's reign, it is likely that the land had rest, and that the enemies of the Israelites had made no hostile incursions into the land during his presidency and that of Jair; which, together continued forty-five years. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 10:1

Defend - The marginal reading “to deliver,” is far preferable. The word is the same as in Judges 2:16, Judges 2:18; Judges 3:9, Judges 3:15, Judges 3:31, etc., and is the technical word applied to the judges. Compare Nehemiah 9:27 (“saviours who saved them,” the King James Version).The term “there arose,” also marks Tola as one of the Judges, properly so called, raised by divine providence.Tola and Puah - Both names of heads of houses in the tribe of Issachar 1 Chronicles 7:1; Genesis... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 10:2

Jair the Gileadite was probably the same person as is named in Numbers 32:41; Deuteronomy 3:14, as having given the name of “Havoth-jair” to certain villages in Bashan. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 10:1

Judges 10:1. There arose Not of himself, but raised by God, as the other judges were. To defend Or, to save, which he did, not by fighting against and overthrowing their enemies, but by a prudent and pious government of them, whereby he kept them from sedition, oppression, and idolatry. He dwelt in Shamir Which was in the very midst of the land. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 10:1-18

Jephthah and five other judges (10:1-12:15)Little is known of the political or military activities of the judges Tola and Jair. They both exercised power for lengthy periods, and Jair’s family certainly enjoyed considerable power and prestige among the East Jordan tribes (10:1-5).Again the Israelites turned away from Yahweh and worshipped false gods, and again they were punished. The Ammonites conquered the eastern tribes, crossed Jordan, and seized large portions of Israelite territory in... read more

E.W. Bullinger