Teks -- Judges 10:1-8 (NET)

Stability Restored

10:1 After Abimelech’s death, Tola son of Puah, grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar, rose up to deliver Israel. He lived in Shamir in the Ephraimite hill country. 10:2 He led Israel for twenty-three years, then died and was buried in Shamir. 10:3 Jair the Gileadite rose up after him; he led Israel for twenty-two years. 10:4 He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys and possessed thirty cities. To this day these towns are called Havvoth Jair– they are in the land of Gilead. 10:5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

The Lord’s Patience Runs Short

10:6 The Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. They worshiped the Baals and the Ashtars, as well as the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. They abandoned the Lord and did not worship him. 10:7 The Lord was furious with Israel and turned them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. 10:8 They ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites that eighteenth year– that is, all the Israelites living east of the Jordan in Amorite country in Gilead.

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per frasa)

Wesley: Jdg 10:1 - There arose

Not of himself, but raised by God, as the other judges were.

Wesley: Jdg 10:1 - To defend

Or, to save, which he did not by fighting against, and overthrowing their enemies, but by a prudent and pious government of them, whereby he kept them from sedition, oppression, and idolatry.

Wesley: Jdg 10:1 - In Shamir

Which was in the very midst of the land.

Wesley: Jdg 10:3 - A Gileadite

Of Gilead beyond Jordan.

Wesley: Jdg 10:4 - And he had thirty sons

They were itinerant judges, who rode from place to place, as their father's deputies to administer justice.

Wesley: Jdg 10:4 - Havoth

jair - These villages were called so before this time from another Jair, but the old name was revived and confirmed upon this occasion.

Wesley: Jdg 10:6 - Forsook the Lord

They grew worse and worse, and so ripened themselves for ruin. Before they worshipped God and idols together, now they forsake God, and wholly cleave to idols.

Wesley: Jdg 10:7 - Philistines, &c.

_The one on the west, the other on the east; so they were molested on both sides.

Wesley: Jdg 10:8 - That year

Or, that year they had vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years - This was the eighteenth year from the beginning of that oppression. And these eighteen years are not to be reckoned from Jair's death, because that would enlarge the time of the judges beyond the just bounds; but from the fourth year of Jair's reign: so that the greatest part of Jair's reign was contemporary with this affliction. The case of Jair and Samson seem to be much alike. For as it is said of Samson, that he judged Israel in the days of the tyranny of the Philistines, twenty years, Jdg 15:20, by which it is evident, that his judicature, and their dominion, were contemporary; the like is to be conceived of Jair, that he began to judge Israel, and endeavoured to reform religion, and purge out all abuses; but being unable to effect this through the backwardness of the, people, God would not enable him to deliver the people, but gave them up to this sad oppression; so that Jair could only determine differences amongst the Israelites, but could not deliver them from their enemies.

JFB: Jdg 10:1 - after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel, Tola

That is, "to save." Deliverance was necessary as well from intestine usurpation as from foreign aggression.

JFB: Jdg 10:1 - the son of Puah

He was uncle to Abimelech by the father's side, and consequently brother of Gideon; yet the former was of the tribe of Issachar, while the latter was of Manasseh. They were, most probably, uterine brothers.

JFB: Jdg 10:1 - dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim

As a central place, he made it the seat of government.

JFB: Jdg 10:3 - Jair, a Gileadite

This judge was a different person from the conqueror of that northeastern territory, and founder of Havoth-jair, or "Jair's villages" (Num 32:41; Deu 3:14; Jos 13:3; 1Ch 2:22).

JFB: Jdg 10:4 - he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts

This is a characteristic trait of Eastern manners in those early times; and the grant of a village to each of his thirty sons was a striking proof of his extensive possessions. His having thirty sons is no conclusive evidence that he had more than one wife, much less that he had more than one at a time. There are instances, in this country, of men having as many children by two successive wives.

JFB: Jdg 10:6 - the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord

This apostasy seems to have exceeded every former one in the grossness and universality of the idolatry practised.

JFB: Jdg 10:7 - Philistines, and . . . the children of Ammon

The predatory incursions of these two hostile neighbors were made naturally on the parts of the land respectively contiguous to them. But the Ammonites, animated with the spirit of conquest, carried their arms across the Jordan; so that the central and southern provinces of Canaan were extensively desolated.

Clarke: Jdg 10:1 - Tola the son of Puah

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.

Clarke: Jdg 10:4 - He had thirty sons, etc.

He had thirty sons, etc. - 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.

Clarke: Jdg 10:6 - And served Baalim

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 1Ki 11:33 (note), and 1Sa 5:2 (note). These are called gods because their images and places of worship were multiplied throughout the land.

Clarke: Jdg 10:7 - The anger of the Lord was hot

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.

TSK: Jdg 10:1 - arose // defend // Shamir

am 2772, bc 1232, An, Ex, Is, 259

arose : Jdg 2:16, Jdg 3:9

defend : or, deliver, Heb. save

Shamir : Jos 15:48

TSK: Jdg 10:3 - a Gileadite

am 2795, bc 1209, An, Ex, Is, 282

a Gileadite : Gen 31:48; Num 32:29

TSK: Jdg 10:4 - rode // called // Havothjair

rode : Jdg 5:10, Jdg 12:14

called : Num 32:41; Deu 3:14

Havothjair : or, the villages of Jair

TSK: Jdg 10:6 - did evil // Baalim // the gods of Zidon // the gods of the Philistines

am 2817, bc 1187, An, Ex, Is, 304

did evil : Jdg 4:1, Jdg 6:1, Jdg 13:1, am 2799, bc 1205, An, Ex, Is, 286

Baalim : Jdg 2:11-14, Jdg 3:7; 2Ch 28:23; Psa 106:36

the gods of Zidon : 1Ki 11:5, 1Ki 11:7, 1Ki 11:33, 1Ki 16:31; 2Ki 17:16, 2Ki 17:29-31, 2Ki 23:13

the gods of the Philistines : Jdg 16:23; 1Sa 5:2; 2Ki 1:2, 2Ki 1:3; Jer 2:13; Eze 16:25, Eze 16:26

TSK: Jdg 10:7 - was hot // he sold

was hot : Jdg 2:14; Deu 29:20-28, Deu 31:16-18, Deu 32:16-22; Jos 23:15, Jos 23:16; Psa 74:1; Nah 1:2, Nah 1:6

he sold : Jdg 4:2; 1Sa 12:9, 1Sa 12:10; Psa 44:12; Isa 50:1

TSK: Jdg 10:8 - that year // oppressed

that year : Jdg 10:5; Isa 30:13; 1Th 5:3

oppressed : Heb. crushed

Tafsiran/Catatan -- Catatan Kata/Frasa (per Ayat)

Poole: Jdg 10:1 - There arose // In Shamir in Mount Ephraim

There arose not of himself, but either chosen by the people; or rather, raised by God, as the other judges were. To defend Israel or, to save , which he did not by fighting against and overthrowing their enemies, but by a prudent and pious government of them, whereby he kept them from sedition, and oppression, and tyranny, as also from idolatry, as may be gathered from Jud 10:6 , which if not restrained and purged out, would have brought certain ruin upon them.

In Shamir in Mount Ephraim

which was in the very heart and midst of the land.

Poole: Jdg 10:3 - A Gileadite

A Gileadite of Gilead beyond Jordan

Poole: Jdg 10:4 - Rode on ass colts // Havoth-jair // Object // Jair // Answ

Rode on ass colts because horses were scarce there, and were not to be multiplied by the king himself, Deu 17:16 . Hence their kings and kings’ children used to ride upon mules, 2Sa 13:29 18:9 1Ki 1:33,38,39 . Compare Jud 5:10 12:14 .

Havoth-jair

Object. These villages were called so before this time from another

Jair Num 32:41 Deu 3:14 .

Answ They are not said to be now first called by that name, but to be still so called, because the old name was revived and confirmed upon this occasion; as Sheba is said to be called Beer-sheba , upon an occasion mentioned Gen 26:33 , though it was so called before upon a more ancient occasion, Gen 21:31 . Possibly this Jair had enlarged or fortified these towns, and so they were justly denominated from him, no less than from the former.

Poole: Jdg 10:6

He shows how they grew worse and worse, and so ripened themselves for the ruin which afterward came upon them. Before they worshipped God and idols together; now they utterly forsake God, and wholly cleave to idols.

Poole: Jdg 10:7

The one on the west, the other on the east; so they were molested on both sides.

Poole: Jdg 10:8

Or, that year they had vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years . Or, they vexed them in that year , that was the eighteenth year, to wit, of that vexation. This was the eighteenth year from the beginning of that oppression. And these eighteen years are not to be reckoned from Jair’ s death, because that would enlarge the time of the judges beyond the just bounds, as may appear from 1Ki 6:1 ; nor from Jephthah’ s beginning to reign, because he reigned but six years, and in the beginning thereof put an end to this persecution; but from the fourth year of Jair’ s reign; so that the greatest part of Jair’ s reign was contemporary with this affliction. And although this oppression of the Ammonites and Philistines, and the cause of it, the idolatry of the Israelites, be not mentioned till after Jair’ s death, because the sacred penman would deliver the whole history of this calamity entirely and together; yet they both happened before it; and Jair’ s death is mentioned before that only by a prolepsis or anticipation than which nothing is more frequent in Scripture. The case of Jair and Samson seem to be much alike. For as it is said of Samson, that he judged Israel in the days of the tyranny of the Philistines twenty years , Jud 15:20 , by which it is evident that his judicature and their dominion were contemporary; the like is to be conceived of Jair, that he began to judge Israel, and endeavoured to reform religion and purge out all abuses; but being unable to effect this, through the backwardness and baseness of the people, God would not enable him to deliver the people, but gave them up to this sad oppression; so that Jair could only perform one half of his office, which was to determine differences amongst the Israelites, but could not deliver them from their enemies.

Haydock: Jdg 10:1 - Uncle of Abimelech // Samir

Uncle of Abimelech, i.e., Half-brother to Gedeon, as being born of the same mother, but by a different father, and of a different tribe. (Challoner) ---

The wife of Joas might have been married to a person of the tribe of Issachar, by whom she had Phua, who was half-brother of Gedeon. (Haydock) ---

Thola was cousin-german of Abimelech. (St. Augustine, q. xlvii., &c.) The Israelites elected Thola for their judge, (Abulensis) out of respect to Gedeon, (Cornelius a Lapide) that he might put an end to the commotions which had been excited by the tyrant. (Menochius) -- Joatham might be passed over on account of his youth. The Septuagint and Chaldean have "Thola, the son of Phua, the son of his uncle by the father's side," which may be true, if the brother of Gedeon adopted him; or this uncle might refer to Abimelech. The uncertainty arises from the Hebrew Dodo, which may be taken as a proper name. "Phua, the son of Dodo;" (Pagnin; Protestants, &c.; Haydock) or as denoting a relation, the paternal uncle of Abimelech, or of Thola, (Bonfrere, &c.; Calmet) or simply "his kinsman." The Hebrew, Septuagint, &c., assert that Thola "arose to defend or to save Israel." He seems to have kept all quiet during the 23 years of his administration. ---

Samir. Septuagint (Alexandrian) reads "Samaria;" but the city was not built till the reign of Amri. There was a city on a mountain, (Haydock) called Samir, in the tribe of Juda, (Josue xv. 48,) different from this. (Menochius) ---

People were at liberty to dwell where they pleased, out of their own tribe. (Calmet) ---

This judge was buried among the Ephraimites. (Haydock) ---

But we know not the exact place where Samir stood. (Calmet) ---

There seems, however, to be no inconvenience in allowing that there was a town in the vicinity of Sichem, long before Amri made Samaria the capital of his kingdom; (see 3 Kings xiii. 22., and xvi. 24,) and here Thola might reside. He was probably the eldest, or of the second branch, of Issachar, (Numbers xxvi. 23, ) of great nobility and virtue, and the 10th judge of Israel.

Haydock: Jdg 10:2 - Years

Years. S. Severus says 22, making the reign of Jair of equal length. Cum æque viginti & duos annos principatum obtinuisset. But this is contrary to all the best chronologers. The fidelity of the Israelites seems to have been of no longer continuance at this period than usual, as we find that they relapsed into idolatry again, at least after the death of Jair, within 45 years after they had been scourged by the tyrant Abimelech, ver. 6. (Haydock)

Haydock: Jdg 10:4 - Havoth Jair

Havoth Jair. This name was now confirmed to these towns, which they had formerly received from another Jair, Numbers xxxii. 41. (Challoner) ---

Sixty are there specified, and only 30 here, which might either be the same, or different from those villages to which the former Jair had left his name. Grotius thinks that judge Jair was the son of Segub, who left 23 cities to him. These, with seven belonging to his grandfather, Hesron, make up the number here specified, 1 Paralipomenon ii. 22. ---

The Hebrew does not say that these 30 cities were called after the judge: "they had 30 cities, which are called Havoth Jair, " &c. (Calmet) ---

Some copies of the Septuagint add "two" to the number of sons, asses, and cities, as if there had been 32 of each. In other respects they agree with the original. It was formerly a mark of distinction to ride on fair asses, chap. v. 10. (Haydock) ---

St. Jerome thinks that horses were prohibited, as they were in Egypt, without the king's leave. But we nowhere find this law recorded , (Calmet) and it is not universally true that it existed. (Menochius) (Hieropolit. iii. 15.) ---

Some have inferred from Jair's children having 30 cities, that he exercised a sovereign authority over Israel: but he might only give his children the authority of magistrates in them, as Samuel did, 1 Kings viii. (Estius) ---

We know not by what means Jair was raised to the chief command, nor what he did for the benefit of the people. He is supposed to be the same who is called Bedan, 1 Kings xii. 11. Serarius; Usher, &c.); though others think that Bedan is a title of Samson. He was of the tribe of Manasses in Galaad. Having kept the people under due restraint during his administration, they burst forth, like a torrent, at his death, and, on all sides, abandoned themselves to a multiplicity of idols, so that God made some difficulty in restoring them again to favour. (Haydock) ---

Cornelius a Lapide thinks that they had begun to relapse 18 years before the death of Jair, and were, consequently, chastised by the Ammonites. Serarius is of a contrary opinion, though Houbigant rather inclines to the former sentiment, as it is not said that Jair gave rest to the land, nor more than Samgar. (Haydock)

Haydock: Jdg 10:5 - Camon

Camon is placed in Galaad by Adrichomius, though St. Jerome mentions another, six miles from Legion, where he supposes that Jair was buried. It seems more natural to say that he was interred in his own country, on the east side of the Jordan. (Bonfrere) ---

It is, probably the same city as Hamon (1 Paralipomenon vi. 16,) and Hammothdor, Josue xxxi. 32. (Calmet)

Haydock: Jdg 10:6 - Gods

Gods. The sun and moon were principally adored among these nations, under different names.

Haydock: Jdg 10:7 - Ammon

Ammon. While these infested the eastern parts, the Philistines made incursions into the territories of their neighbours. (Haydock) ---

This servitude resembled that of Madian. Jephte attacked the Ammonites, and Abesan, with other judges, made head against the Philistines (Calmet) in the west. (Haydock)

Haydock: Jdg 10:8 - Years

Years by the Ammonites, whose dominion was suppressed by the victory of Jephte. When the servitude commenced is uncertain, ver. 4. Hebrew, "and that year they vexed," &c. (Calmet) ---

Roman Septuagint, "at that time." Grabe's copy has "in that year;" and though the former expression appear to be more indefinite, yet it must refer to some period, (Haydock) either prior to the death of Jair, (Salien) or subsequent to that event. (Eusebius; Genebrard.) ---

The text will not decide with certainty. How long the Philistines harassed Israel is specified, chap. xiii. 1.

Gill: Jdg 10:1 - And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel // Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar // and he dwelt in Shamir in Mount Ephraim

And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel,.... To save, deliver, and protect Israel; which does not necessarily imply that Abimelech did; for he was no judge of God's raising up, or the people's choosing, but usurped a kingly power over them; and was so far from saving and defending them, that he involved them in trouble and distress, and ruled over them in a tyrannical manner, and left them in the practice of idolatry: it only signifies that after his death arose a person next described to which this may well be attributed, that he was raised up as a judge by the Lord; and though we read of no enemies particularly, that he delivered the people from in his days, yet it is not impossible nor unlikely that there might be such, though not made mention of; besides, he might be said to save them, as the word signifies, in that he was an happy instrument of composing those differences and dissensions, which Abimelech had occasioned, and of recovering them from the idolatry they had fallen into in his times, and of protecting them in their liberties, civil and religious: and this was

Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; he was of the tribe of Issachar, and bore the same name as the eldest son of Issachar did, as his father Puah had the name of the second son of Issachar, 1Ch 7:1 and as for Dodo his grandfather, this is elsewhere mentioned as the name of a man, as it doubtless is here, 2Sa 23:9 though some copies of the Targum, the Septuagint and Vulgate Latin versions, render it, the son of his uncle, or father's brother; meaning that his father Puah was the son of Abimelech's uncle, or father's brother, and so was one of the family which was raised up to be a judge after his death; but it is not likely that Gideon, the father of Abimelech, and Puah, the father of this man, should be brethren, when the one was of the tribe of Manasseh, and the other of the tribe of Issachar:

and he dwelt in Shamir in Mount Ephraim: that is, when he became judge in Israel he removed to this place, as being in the midst of the tribes, and near the tabernacle of Shiloh, and so fit for a judge to reside in, to whom the people might apply from all parts to have justice and judgment administered to them. It is called Shamir in Mount Ephraim, to distinguish it from another of the same name in the mountain of Judah, Jos 15:48 it seems to have its name from the thorns which grew about it.

Gill: Jdg 10:2 - And he judged Israel twenty three years, and died // and was buried in Shamir

And he judged Israel twenty three years, and died,.... He did not take upon him to be king, as Abimelech did, but acted as a judge, in which office he continued twenty three years, and faithfully discharged it, and died in honour:

and was buried in Shamir; the place where he executed his office. It is said ^t, that in the first year of Tola, the son of Puah, Priamus reigned in Troy.

Gill: Jdg 10:3 - And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite // and judged Israel twenty two years

And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite,.... Who was of the half tribe of Manasseh, on the other side Jordan, which inhabited the land of Gilead, and who is the first of the judges that was on that side Jordan; it pleased God, before the government was settled in a particular tribe, to remove it from one to another, and to honour them all, and to show that though the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, were separated from their brethren by the river Jordan, they were not neglected by the Lord; and generally speaking judges were raised up in all those parts which were most oppressed, and liable to be oppressed by their enemies, as Gilead by the Ammonites; wherefore this, and the next judge that followed him, Jephthah, were of Gilead:

and judged Israel twenty two years; protected them from their enemies, administered justice to them, and preserved them in the true religion.

Gill: Jdg 10:4 - And he had thirty sons that rode upon thirty ass colts // and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead

And he had thirty sons that rode upon thirty ass colts,.... Which to ride on in those times was reckoned honourable, and on which judges rode in their circuit, Jdg 5:10 and such might be these sons of Jair, who were appointed under him to ride about, and do justice in the several parts of the country, as Samuel's sons were judges under him, 1Sa 8:1,

and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead; or the villages of Jair. There were some of this name that belonged to Jair, a son of Manasseh, in the times of Moses, Num 32:41 and these may be the same, at least some of them; for they were but twenty three he had, whereas these were thirty, 1Ch 2:22 and these coming by inheritance to this Jair, a descendant of the former, and he being of the same name, and these cities perhaps repaired and enlarged by him, the name of them was continued and established, for it is not reasonable to suppose, as some have done, that this is the same Jair that lived in the times of Moses, who, if so, must have lived more than three hundred years, an age men did not live to in those times.

Gill: Jdg 10:5 - And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.

And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. A city of Gilead, as Josephus ^u calls it; Jerom ^w, under this word Camon, makes mention of a village in his times, called Cimana, in the large plain six miles from Legion to the north, as you go to Ptolemais; but, as Reland ^x observes, this seems not to be the same place, but rather this is the Camon Polybius ^y speaks of among other cities of Peraea, taken by Antiochus.

Gill: Jdg 10:6 - And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord // and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth // also the gods of Syria // and the gods of Zidon // and the gods of Moab // and the gods of the children of Ammon // and the gods of the Philistines // and forsook the Lord, and served not him

And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord,.... After the death of the above judges they fell into idolatry again, as the following instances show:

and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth; as they had before; see Gill on Jdg 2:11, Jdg 2:13 and, besides these:

also the gods of Syria; their gods and goddesses, Belus and Saturn, Astarte and the Dea Syria, Lucian writes of:

and the gods of Zidon; the goddess of the Zidonians was Ashtaroth, 1Ki 11:5 and it seems they had other deities:

and the gods of Moab; the chief of which were Baalpeor and Chemosh, Num 25:3.

and the gods of the children of Ammon, as Milcom or Molech, 1Ki 11:5.

and the gods of the Philistines; as Dagon the god of Ashdod, Beelzebub the god of Ekron, Marnas the god of Gaza, and Derceto the goddess of Ashkalon:

and forsook the Lord, and served not him; not even in conjunction with the above deities, as Jarchi and others observe; at other times, when they worshipped other gods, they pretended to worship the Lord also, they served the creature besides the Creator; but now they were so dreadfully sunk into idolatry, that they had wholly forsaken the Lord and his worship at the tabernacle, and made no pretensions to it, but entirely neglected it.

Gill: Jdg 10:7 - And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel // and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon

And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel,.... His anger burned like fire, he was exceedingly incensed against them, nothing being more provoking to him than idolatry, as after mentioned:

and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon; that is, delivered them into their hands, and they became subject and were in bondage to them, as such are that are sold for "slaves"; part of them, that lay to the west of the land of Israel, fell into the hands of the Philistines; and another part, which lay to the east, were oppressed by the children of Ammon, particularly those that were on the other side Jordan came into the hands of the latter.

Gill: Jdg 10:8 - And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel // eighteen years // were all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan, in the land of the Ammonites, which is in Gilead

And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel,.... The Philistines on one side, and the children of Ammon on the other; meaning either that year in which Jair died, as Jarchi; or the first year they began to bring them into bondage, as R. Isaiah: "and from that year", as Kimchi and Ben Melech, that they vexed and distressed them, they continued to vex and distress them

eighteen years; or, as Abarbinel interprets it, "with that year", they vexed and oppressed them eighteen years, that is, so many more, or reckoning that into the number of them; and these eighteen years of their oppression are not to be reckoned into the years of Jair's government, and as commencing from the fourth of it, as Bishop Usher, Lightfoot, and others; for it does not appear that there was any oppression in his days, but from the time of his death to the raising up of Jephthah a new judge: and the people oppressed by the children of Ammon during that time

were all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan, in the land of the Ammonites, which is in Gilead; even the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh.