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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Tola and Jair Judge Israel</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/t/tola_and_jair_judge_israel.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/judges/10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/t/tola.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Tola and Jair Judge Israel</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/t/tola.htm" title="Tola">◄</a> Tola and Jair Judge Israel <a href="/topical/t/tola_becomes_judge.htm" title="Tola Becomes Judge">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Tola</b><br><br>Tola, a judge of Israel, is a relatively brief yet significant figure in the biblical narrative, found in the Book of Judges. His account is recorded in <a href="/judges/10.htm">Judges 10:1-2</a>. Tola was the son of Puah and the grandson of Dodo, belonging to the tribe of Issachar. He rose to leadership after the tumultuous period of Abimelech's rule, providing stability and peace to the nation.<br><br>The Berean Standard Bible states: "After the time of Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir" (<a href="/judges/10.htm">Judges 10:1-2</a>).<br><br>Tola's judgeship is marked by a lack of recorded military exploits or significant events, suggesting a period of internal peace and consolidation. His leadership was characterized by a return to order following Abimelech's destructive reign. Tola's residence in Shamir, located in the hill country of Ephraim, indicates his central role in the governance of Israel during his tenure. His burial in Shamir signifies the respect and honor he held among the people.<br><br><b>Jair</b><br><br>Following Tola, Jair became the judge of Israel, as recorded in <a href="/judges/10-3.htm">Judges 10:3-5</a>. Jair hailed from Gilead, a region east of the Jordan River, and his leadership spanned twenty-two years. The BSB provides the account: "After Tola, Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys, and they controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon" (<a href="/judges/10-3.htm">Judges 10:3-5</a>).<br><br>Jair's judgeship is notable for the prosperity and influence of his family. His thirty sons, each riding a donkey, symbolize wealth and status, as donkeys were considered valuable assets in ancient times. The control of thirty towns, known as Havvoth-jair, underscores the extent of his family's influence and the stability of his rule. This period likely reflects a time of economic growth and territorial expansion for Israel.<br><br>Jair's burial in Kamon, a location not precisely identified today, marks the end of his leadership. His legacy, however, is preserved in the continued reference to the towns of Havvoth-jair, indicating the lasting impact of his governance.<br><br><b>Context and Significance</b><br><br>The judgeship of Tola and Jair occurs during the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterizes the Book of Judges. Their leadership represents a period of relative peace and stability between the more tumultuous and militaristic judgeships of their predecessors and successors. Tola and Jair's roles highlight the importance of governance, justice, and the maintenance of order in the life of Israel.<br><br>Their accounts, though brief, serve as reminders of God's provision for His people through appointed leaders. Tola and Jair's judgeships underscore the need for righteous leadership and the blessings of peace and stability that come from adherence to God's covenant.</div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/t/tola.htm">Tola</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/tola--a_judge_(leader,_hero)_of_israel.htm">Tola: A Judge (Leader, Hero) of Israel</a></p><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/naves/t/tola--son_of_issachar.htm">Tola: Son of Issachar</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tola.htm">Tola (5 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/t/tolaite.htm">Tolaite (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/eltolad.htm">Eltolad (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/ezem.htm">Ezem (3 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/b/bilhah.htm">Bilhah (11 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/s/simeon.htm">Simeon (48 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/t/tola.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Tola"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Tola" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/t/tola_becomes_judge.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Tola Becomes Judge"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Tola Becomes Judge" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>