Judges 10 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Judges 10 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Most scholars place the period of the Judges between 1450 B.C. and 1000 B.C.

• The precise dates are still debated.

• Judges 10 covers at least 63 years of Israelite history (Tola judged 23 years, Jair judged 22 years, and the Philistines and Ammonites oppressed Israel 18 years).

CHARACTERS:

• Tola – The 7th Judge of Israel. He was the son of Puah, son of Dodo.

• Jair – The 8th Judge of Israel. He was a man from Gilead on the east side of the Jordan River.  

• The Philistines and Ammonites – They “crushed and oppressed the people of Israel” for 18 years.

WHERE:

• Most of Judges 10 centers around the land of Gilead. Gilead was on the east side of the Jordan River (see map). Gad’s land and the southern part of Manasseh’s territory were in Gilead.

OUTLINE:

• TOLA, THE 7TH JUDGE OF ISRAEL (10:1-2):

  • After Abimelech died, Tola judged Israel for 23 years.

  • Tola was from the tribe of Issachar.

• JAIR, THE 8TH JUDGE OF ISRAEL (10:3-5):

  • After Tola, Jair judged Israel for 22 years.

  • He had 30 sons who rode on 30 donkeys and had 30 cities.

• THE ISRAELITES TURN AWAY FROM GOD AGAIN (10:6-18):

  • The Israelites stopped worshipping God and devoted themselves to the idols of the pagan nations around them.

  • God was angry with them and allowed the Philistines and Ammonites to oppress the people of Gilead.

  • The Ammonites also made war with the Israelites in Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.

  • The Israelites cried out to God, confessing their sins, and asking for help, but the Lord wouldn’t listen.

  • He told them to direct their pleas to their idols and see if they would help.

  • In penance, the people got rid of all their idols and started worshipping God according to the laws Moses had given them.

  • God’s heart softened towards them until “He could no longer endure the misery of Israel” (10:16, NASB).

  • The chapter ends with Israel’s enemies preparing for battle in Gilead and the people of Israel searching for a man to lead their army against Ammonites.

APPLICATION:

• The decisions you make today and your commitment to God today, will affect the lives of your posterity.

• Israel was surrounded by and tempted by pagan nations because their parents and grandparents failed to obey God and throw them out of the land.

• Yes, the current generation was responsible for their own sins, but their circumstances were negatively impacted by their parents.

• When it comes to serving God, set your children up for success.

• Do the best you can to serve God today so you don’t create hazards your children will trip on later.