Jude 10

10:1-5 Each of the five minor judges (see also 12:8-15) judged Israel for a specific number of years; in this period of decline after Gideon, the formula “there was peace in the land” (3:11, 30; 5:31; 8:28) never recurs. The details given for these enigmatic figures include their places of origin and burial, and perhaps a brief genealogy or something notable about their families. Four of the five names appear in other genealogical records: Tola and Puah as clans of Issachar (Gen 46:13; Num 26:23), Elon as a descendant of Zebulun (Gen 46:14; Num 26:26), and Jair at various points (see Num 32:41; Deut 3:14; Josh 13:30; 1 Kgs 4:13). The lack of specific military exploits and the common reference to “judging” suggests that they had some kind of administrative or judicial function.10:1 Tola was the first of five minor judges; little is known about him. Of the five, only Tola was said to rescue Israel. He came after Abimelech died, when Israel was in need of rescue, though not from a foreign enemy.

10:3-4 Jair was apparently a descendant of an earlier Jair of the tribe of Manasseh (see Num 32:41; Deut 3:14; cp. 1 Kgs 4:13). The Towns of Jair that Jair and his sons controlled had been conquered by the earlier Jair.

10:6-16 The Lord responded to his people’s total apostasy by allowing crushing oppression (10:8). As usual, Israel cried out to the Lord for help (10:10) only after experiencing great distress (10:9). Normally, Israel’s cry led to divine intervention, but God’s decision to leave them to their chosen gods marks a shift in the cycle described in 2:10-19. Only when the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the Lord did he again act to redeem them (10:17–11:33).10:6 Again the Israelites did evil. . . . They abandoned the Lord: This period of apostasy was more complete than any described earlier—it included the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth along with other local gods.

10:7-8 The Philistines: See study notes on 3:3; 13:1. • The Ammonites lived east of the Jordan (see study note on 3:12-13), and they began by oppressing the Israelite tribes of Transjordan; then they attacked the tribes west of the Jordan as well.

10:17-18 The narrative returns to the Ammonite oppression, which sets the stage for Jephthah’s story.

10:18 The leaders of Gilead, in their desperation for leadership, did not consult the Lord (cp. 1:1; 20:18) but said that whoever stepped up to lead would become ruler over Gilead.