Judges 10:1-5
Tola and Jair
1After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.
2Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.
3Tola was followed by Jair the Gileadite, who judged Israel twenty-two years.
4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.
5When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.
Berean Standard Bible
Tola and Jair judge Israel after Abimelech, and the account gives each a short notice of service and burial.
Tola rises to save Israel and lives in Shamir. Jair has thirty sons who ride thirty donkeys and control thirty towns called Havvoth-jair, details that show the reach of his household without telling us everything about his leadership.
After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.
Tola and Jair are named without a dramatic battle story. Tola rises to save Israel and judges for twenty-three years; Jair judges for twenty-two and has sons who ride thirty donkeys. The quiet years count too. A book filled with crisis still records the ordinary length of leadership, reminding us that preservation is not only visible in spectacular victories.
These quiet notices sit between wars and judgment. Scripture gives room for ordinary years, named places, children, and burial without forcing every leader into a dramatic story.
When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.
Thank God for faithful work that may not become famous. Ask what service in your household deserves gratitude even when nobody outside the family notices it.
Questions
1 What is happening in this reading?
AnswerTola and Jair judge Israel after Abimelech, and the account gives each a short notice of service and burial. Tola rises to save Israel and lives in Shamir.
2 Where do we see responsibility or failure?
AnswerThese quiet notices sit between wars and judgment. Scripture gives room for ordinary years, named places, children, and burial without forcing every leader into a dramatic story.
3 What does this passage make clear?
AnswerTola and Jair are named without a dramatic battle story. Tola rises to save Israel and judges for twenty-three years; Jair judges for twenty-two and has sons who ride thirty donkeys. The quiet years count too. A book filled with crisis still records the ordinary length of leadership, reminding us that preservation is not only visible in spectacular victories.
4 What should our household remember?
AnswerThank God for faithful work that may not become famous. Ask what service in your household deserves gratitude even when nobody outside the family notices it.
What This Means for Us
Tola and Jair receive no grand speeches, yet their years of judging belong in Israel's memory. Give thanks for faithful work that may never become famous, especially the work that keeps a household steady.
Steady service is part of God's care even when the record gives few details. Notice the people who keep promises, maintain order, and show up again, and make gratitude specific enough to encourage them.
Prayer
Lord, we thank You for faithful work that may not become famous. Help us remember Your faithfulness when the next step is costly. Amen.