1 Depois de Abimeleque, um homem de Issacar chamado Tolá, filho de Puá, filho de Dodô, levantou-se para libertar Israel. Ele morava em Samir, nos montes de Efraim,

2 e liderou Israel durante vinte e três anos; então morreu e foi sepultado em Samir.

3 Depois dele veio Jair, de Gileade, que liderou Israel durante vinte e dois anos.

4 Teve trinta filhos, que montavam trinta jumentos. Eles tinham autoridade sobre trinta cidades, as quais até hoje são chamadas povoados de Jair e ficam em Gileade.

5 Quando Jair morreu, foi sepultado em Camom.

6 Mais uma vez os israelitas fizeram o que o Senhor reprova. Serviram aos baalins e aos postes sagrados, e aos deuses de Arã, aos deuses de Sidom, aos deuses de Moabe, aos deuses dos amonitas e aos deuses dos filisteus. E como os israelitas abandonaram o Senhor e não mais lhe prestaram culto,

7 a ira do Senhor se acendeu contra eles. Ele os entregou nas mãos dos filisteus e dos amonitas,

8 que naquele ano os humilharam e os oprimiram. Durante dezoito anos oprimiram a todos os israelitas do lado leste do Jordão, em Gileade, terra dos amorreus.

9 Os amonitas também atravessaram o Jordão para lutar contra Judá, contra Benjamim e contra a tribo de Efraim; e grande angústia dominou Israel.

10 Então os israelitas clamaram ao Senhor, dizendo: "Temos pecado contra ti, pois abandonamos o nosso Deus e prestamos culto aos baalins! "

11 O Senhor respondeu: "Quando os egípcios, os amorreus, os amonitas, os filisteus,

12 os sidônios, os amalequitas e os maonitas os oprimiram, e vocês clamaram a mim, e eu os libertei das mãos deles.

13 Mas vocês me abandonaram e prestaram culto a outros deuses. Por isso não os livrarei mais.

14 Clamem aos deuses que vocês escolheram. Que eles os livrem na hora do aperto! "

15 Os israelitas, porém, disseram ao Senhor: "Nós pecamos. Faze conosco o que achares melhor, mas te rogamos, livra-nos agora".

16 Então eles se desfizeram dos deuses estrangeiros que havia entre eles e prestaram culto ao Senhor. E ele não pôde mais suportar o sofrimento de Israel.

17 Quando os amonitas foram convocados e acamparam em Gileade, os israelitas reuniram-se e acamparam em Mispá.

18 Os líderes do povo de Gileade disseram uns aos outros: "Quem iniciar o ataque contra os amonitas será chefe dos que vivem em Gileade".

1 And after Abimelech there arose to save Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in the hill-country of Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.

3 And after him arose Jair, the Gileadite; and he judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Kamon.

6 And the children of Israel again did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and served the Baalim, and the Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Sidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines; and they forsook Jehovah, and served him not. 7 And the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the children of Ammon. 8 And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years oppressed they all the children of Israel that were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

10 And the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, saying, We have sinned against thee, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim. 11 And Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Did not I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines? 12 The Sidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried unto me, and I saved you out of their hand. 13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more. 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress. 15 And the children of Israel said unto Jehovah, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served Jehovah; and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah. 18 And the people, the princes of Gilead, 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 Gilead.