--- title: "Clarke" description: "Verse Judges 10:1. Tola the son of Puah — As this Tola continued twenty-three years a judge of Israel after the troubles of Abimelech" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/judges/10" --- Verse [Judges 10:1](../../../kjv/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. Verse [Judges 10:4](../../../kjv/judges/10/4). ***He had thirty sons, c.*** — It appears that there was both peace and prosperity during the time that Jair governed Israel he had, it seems, provided for his family, and given a village to each of his thirty sons; which were, in consequence, called *Havoth* *Jair* or the *villages of Jair*. Their *riding on thirty ass colts* seems to intimate that they were persons of consideration, and kept up a certain dignity in their different departments. Verse [Judges 10:6](../../../kjv/judges/10/6). ***And served Baalim*** — They became *universal idolaters*, adopting every god of the surrounding nations. *Baalim* and *Ashtaroth* may signify *gods* and *goddesses* in general. These are enumerated: 1. *The gods of Syria; Bel* and *Saturn, or Jupiter* and *Astarte*. 2. *Gods of Zidon; Ashtaroth, Astarte* or *Venus*. 3. *The* *gods of Moab; Chemosh*. 4. *Gods of the children of Ammon; Milcom*. 5. *Gods of the Philistines; Dagon*. See [1 Kings 11:33](../../../kjv/1-kings/11/33), and [1 Samuel 5:2](../../../kjv/1-samuel/5/2). These are called *gods* because their images and places of worship were multiplied throughout the land. Verse [Judges 10:7](../../../kjv/judges/10/7). ***The anger of the Lord was hot*** — This Divine displeasure was manifested in delivering them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites. The former dwelt on the *western* side of Jordan; the latter, on the *eastern*: and it appears that they joined their forces on this occasion to distress and ruin the Israelites, though the Ammonites were the most active. Verse [Judges 10:11](../../../kjv/judges/10/11). ***And the Lord said*** — By what means these reproofs were conveyed to the Israelites, we know not: it must have been by an *angel*, a *prophet*, or some *holy man* inspired for the occasion. Verse [Judges 10:15](../../../kjv/judges/10/15). ***We have sinned*** — The reprehension of this people was kind, pointed, and solemn; and their repentance deep. And they gave proofs that their repentance was genuine, by putting away all their idols: but they were ever *fickle* and *uncertain*. Verse [Judges 10:16](../../../kjv/judges/10/16). ***And his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.*** — What a proof of the *philanthropy* of God! Here his compassions moved on a *small scale*; but it was the same principle that led him to give his Son Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for the sins of the WHOLE *world*. God *grieves* for the miseries to which his creatures are reduced by their own sins. Be astonished, ye heavens, at this; and shout for joy, all ye inhabitants of the earth! for, through the love whence this compassion flowed, God has visited and redeemed a lost world! Verse [Judges 10:17](../../../kjv/judges/10/17). ***The children of Ammon were gathered together*** — Literally, *they cried against Israel*-they sent out criers in different directions to stir up all the enemies of Israel; and when they had made a mighty collection, they encamped in Gilead. Verse [Judges 10:18](../../../kjv/judges/10/18). ***What man*****is he*****that will begin to fight*** — It appears that, although the spirit of *patriotism* had excited the people at large to come forward against their enemies, yet they had no general, none to lead them forth to battle. God, however, who had accepted their sincere repentance, raised them up an able captain in the person of Jephthah; and in him the suffrages of the people were concentrated, as we shall see in the following chapter. In those ancient times much depended on the onset; a war was generally terminated in one battle, the first impression was therefore of great consequence, and it required a person *skillful,* *valorous*, and *strong*, to head the attack. Jephthah was a person in whom all these qualifications appear to have met. 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